Anthony Nichols, Camille Keaton, Eron Tabor

An aspiring writer is repeatedly gang-raped, humiliated, and left for dead by four men whom she systematically hunts down to seek revenge.

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47% liked it

9,106 ratings

R, 100 min.

Directed by: Meir Zarchi

Release Date: November 3, 1978

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DVD Release Date: November 11, 1998

Stats: 1,013 reviews

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Flixster Reviews (1,013)


  • June 11, 2009
    I Spit on Your Grave is a film that will never be accepted as a serious piece of film-making. This is thanks in part to the gratuitous rape and murder scenes, which don't exactly hold back the shocks; and it's also due to the time in which it was made. These days, as proved by th...( read more)e likes of 'Irreversible', films tackling rape in a shocking and disgusting way are more readily accepted, and even gain a strong reaction from many critics. This film was unfortunately (albeit for good reason) caught up in the 'video nasty debate' in the early eighties, and as such it's reputation has been diminished to such an extent that the likes of Roger Ebert have labelled it 'the worst film ever made' (even though The Blair Witch Project is the worst film ever made) and it's reaction in general tends to be of the bad variety. For some reason, we have found ourselves in a world where it's more than acceptable to give praise to 'A class' rape themed dramas such as Irreversible, but woe betide thee who labels this as a good film. Well, woe betides me then.

    For a 'video nasty', I Spit on Your Grave has surprisingly good production values. While the acting often lets it down, the cinematography and even the script are more than decent and this helps the film in it's bid to get the praise it deserves. The story, which follows a New York writer who moves to a backwater part of the USA to work on her new novel, shortly before being horribly raped and beaten, is just a plot device for the more important elements of the plot. The main theme on display seems to be a comment on the male sexual ego and the way that women can have power over them. The film plays out like a revenge thriller, with the protagonist getting her own back on the men who raped her. This disrupts the main argument against this film; namely, that it's misogynistic, as much of the violence in the movie is actually directed against men. Of course, the rape scenes are the main crux of the film; but most of the gore comes later. Don't get me wrong, this is hardly an uplifting feminist drama; but it's not the worst film ever made either. Content caution though; it gets a bit extreme. A certain scene in a bathroom takes the prize for being one of the sickest sequences ever to grace the silver screen
  • April 15, 2009
    Don't let the title fool you into thinking this is some sort of sleazy grindhouse picture intent on exploiting women and violence. In reality, I Spit On Your Grave is quite the opposite. While the first half is indeed a horrific spiral into complete misery and nastiness, the se...( read more)cond half turns the tables and gives us an empowered heroine out for her revenge. This is not a fun or feel-good movie. It is, however, a good story with a very strong, interesting lead character, and it's probably the best film the rape-revenge genre has to offer.
  • August 14, 2008
    Being one of the most famous of the Grindhouse exploitation films of the 1970's, I Spit On Your Grave is one of the most graphic films you'll ever see. A woman from New York City comes to the country for a summer of peace and writing but ends up practically destroyed by four test...( read more)osterone fueled maniacs. She survives the attacks and seeks her revenge on the men that left her violated and near death.
    I Spit On Your Grave is a pure exploitation flick for the sake of exploitation. Opinions vary on whether this film is a statement of woman fighting back against male oppression or garbage. I have to vote for garbage. The cat and mouse 20 minute rape scene is nauseating to watch-and that's why people watch it. It's the old car wreck analogy. You don't want to watch, but you do. And of course this gets asses in the seats. Most of my complaints about the violation scenes would be a little tamer if the second half of the film didn't seem like something tacked on to turn a pseudo snuff film into a feature. The victim doesn't burn to the end of the film in a blaze of glory but seems to dim as we get closer to the ending. Obviously this film was made for that 20 minute cat and mouse chase.
    So why does I Spit On Your Grave still fascinate after all these years. It's the sick human mind. If you want an example check out either Roger Ebert or Gene Siskel's reviews of the film (mainly for their takes on the audiences they viewed it with).
    I Spit is pure '70's exploitation garbage of the lowest sort: a softcore porno that many view to have a heart but doesn't even have a brain (unless you count the one in its pants).
  • August 4, 2008
    Not horrific or shocking enough to warrant its notoriety. In fact this film should certainly not be taken as a horror. The build up is painfully slow, yet doesn't build any real sense of danger. The most interesting aspect of one of the rapists being a good family man is never ex...( read more)plored, so it is simply a woman gets raped, then a woman kills the men. She never seems in any real moral or ethical dilemma resulting in a lackluster film. The effects are also not up to scratch though the performances do become more believable as the film progresses.
  • June 24, 2008
    Ewww. Possibly the greatest of the 70's exploitation flicks, banned down under for 17 years or so, and still a pretty difficult watch. This old school revenge flick is satisfying for the retribution, but pretty horrible for the most part. Graphic, painful, raw and stark, it's leg...( read more)endary for all the right reasons, but still difficult to digest or recommend. Camille Keaton must have endured so much to make this proud piece of B movie nastiness. Bad acting aplenty, but if you ever wanna see a guy (justifiably) getting his dick cut off, then this is for you!!!!
  • October 28, 2009
    A violent and shocking rape and revenge story that raises certain moral issues.
  • October 27, 2009
    Fuck! When i went to the store they just ran out of DVD.

    I have seen this long ago but i was drunk watching it so looking back is just one big blur.
  • October 4, 2009
    I tried to watch this movie and couldn't get past the rape scenes. It is disturbing to say the least. Critic have said that the movie Last House On The Left was bad, they didn't know what they were talking about. I may never see this movie again but at least I tried.
  • October 2, 2009
    Notorious exploitation revenge film known for its seemingly never ending attack/rape scene. 4 bored country boys decide to brutalize a city girl who's rented a summer house in their town. She then decides to get even. I wasn't expecting Shakespeare or anything, but it was pret...( read more)ty lame. The kills (except maybe one) are uninspired and anti-climactic.
  • October 2, 2009
    Memorable 70's exploitation film.

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I Spit on Your Grave (Day of the Woman) Trivia

I Spit on Your Grave (Day of the ... Trivia


  • This film's original title was "Day of the Woman".  Answer »
  • What is the alternate title for the 1978 movie "I Spit On Your Grave"?  Answer »
  • During a review Roger Ebert once wrote "a vile bag of garbage...without a shred of artistic distinction." What movie was he referring to?  Answer »
  • 'An aspiring writer is repeatedly gang-raped, humiliated, and left for dead by four men whom she systematically hunts down to seek revenge.' Plot from....  Answer »

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