Long Weekend
Middle-class urbanites Peter and Marcia, whose relationship appears to be faltering, pack up their car, and head to the countryside by the sea, for a weekend away. Over the course of the weekend, they will vacillate between contempt and desire for each other, ultimately projecting their hostilities, insecurities, and even paranoia, on the landscape around them.
Certainly, there are some environmental anomalies that are quite eerie, and could be described as the wilderness fighting back at the couple’s patent disrespect towards it, as their self-absorbed trek culminates in total devastation.
But this film is best viewed as a drama, rather than a horror. As the latter, it is ridiculous. As the former, it is not a bad film, and is much more interesting than the premise of the wilderness going indescribably berserk. John Hargreaves and Briony Behets as the bickering couple, are both excellent, and despite some ludicrous moments, Colin Eggleston manages to set an atmospheric scene, which is important in a film such as this.
At the time of writing this review, Jamie Blanks (Urban Legend) has been working on a remake of this overlooked classic. It will be interesting to see his take on the tale. Presumably, it will focus on the horrific aspects of the story, which, in his hands, might receive more credible treatment.