Long Weekend

...when I first saw THE BLAIR WITCH PROJECT, I kept thinking that I'd seen this basic idea before, and this was where it was. The basic setup is different -- this time it's a married couple who take their bickering into a camping weekend -- but the effect is identical, with supernatural forces terrorising them for daring to trespass onto the wrong territory. The suspense is a slow build, and there's even some touches that popped up in later flicks; for instance, the idea for the shot of the scorpion being run over by a truck in close-up during the opening title sequence of NATURAL BORN KILLERS was taken directly from this one. Part of the first major wave of Australian pictures that made a big splash in the States circa '79 and '80 -- among the others were GALLIPOLI, BREAKER MORANT and THE LAST WAVE -- LONG WEEKEND is, unfortunately, one of the forgotten gems of the period. If you ever see an old video of it in a shop somewhere -- anywhere -- grab it. And watch it...

A bickering couple decide to spend a long weekend at a secluded beach. Once there, the disrespect they show for their surroundings leads to nature taking it's revenge on them.

This is the epitome of Australian horror. Not only is it the best horror film to come from down under, but it's one of the best horror films, period. I first discovered this film back in the late 90's and was quite blown away by it. I love the nature strikes back sub-genre, but never had I found such films to be legitimately frightening. "Long Weekend", however, really got to me. I'm happy to say that it's still just as effective to this day.

The mood, the haunting score, the atmosphere of the beach and the overall sense of nature conspiring against the characters all makes for a remarkable amount of tension. I love this film for many of the same reasons that I love "The Blair Witch Project", though there are many differences between the two as well. What's more, the animals attacks never come off as fake. A scene where an eagle comes in search of it's egg is raw and eerie. There are no fake birds on wires or men in bear suits to be found here. Our two leads aren't very likable, but that doesn't keep the film from being an unsettling experience. You have to love the ending too, which brings things full circle.

A masterpiece of mood and tension, "Long Weekend" stands the test of time.

Brilliant film, eerie and atmospheric. Stays on your mind for a long time after watching. One of my favourites. The part where the sea creature wails like a baby is especially good. The image of the eagle egg being smashed against the tree kept coming back and haunting me long after the film had finished. A lot of weird happenings in the film - what happened to the people in the other camper van? You never actually got to see them, just their vicious little dog! This is a film I could happily watch over and over without getting fed up. I would love to be able to get this video either on video or DVD but it seems it's been withdrawn. Can anyone help me get a hold of this video or DVD? I would be grateful to hear from anyone else who likes this movie too.

"Long Weekend" is a well-done, environmentally-conscious horror film from Down Under. The plot is rather simple, but makes a point: when you snooty urban dwellers go camping for the weekend, don't do anything to p**s off Mother Nature! Which is exactly what our two selfish, unappealing protagonists do; they also have a marriage that's on the rocks (gee, I wonder if they'll make it through the weekend alive? Any takers?). The acting is good (though the characters are hateful and stupid), and the emotional intensity is complemented by a very brooding atmosphere of impending horror (the night scenes will give you the willies) as Nature gears up for revenge.

6/10

Peter and Marcia (John Hargreaves and Briony Behets) are having marital problems. In fact, their marriage is almost over. Peter drags Marcia on a trip to the -very isolated- Aussie seashore. Along the way, the couple spend most of their time fighting -they have a secret- and abusing nature in the same callous way that they treat each other. Slowly, very subtly, nature reacts.

Peter and Marcia are so busy hurting and blaming each other, that they hardly notice the growing menace around them. Like a tightening slipknot, the creatures close in.

LONG WEEKEND has a building atmosphere of approaching, encroaching doom, like the changes in the air before a bad storm. It's not your typical "nature's revenge" film. In this movie, the danger grows in proportion to what we learn about Peter and Marcia's history and true character. Highly recommended...