Review of Long Weekend (1979) by Nicholas H — 05 Aug 2009

One of my favorite films of all time, Long Weekend is quite a unique nature run-amok film about an couple on the rocks taking a camping trip on an exotic coast in order to mend their troubled marriage.

Their blatant disregard for nature and the living things within it causes it to turn on them in a very bad way, from small animal attacks to downright creepy mind games (like a dead manatee carcass that mysteriously winds up closer and closer to their campsite.

Yes, this little known Australian flick really packs a nice decent-sized punch, with an ending that can either be described as chilling or funny as hell, but clearly with a message on man's common disregard of nature and its inhabitants.

Superb acting from the leads, including the late John Hargreaves and Briony Behets as the doomed couple. Excellent direction from Colin Eggleston, who really took advantage of the beautiful Outback landscapes to deliver a chilling and effective tense story.

I liked this film a lot and would hope that any true fan of cinema would seek this movie out first before watching the inferior, shot-for-shot remake (Nature's Grave). Honestly, I cannot say enough good things about this movie.

Excellent.