Long Weekend (1978)

Synopsis:

Mother nature snaps after a troubled suburban couple commits a series of crimes against the animal kingdom. Will they survive nature’s wrath?

Reaction & Thoughts:

This slow burn Aussie thriller is an environmentalist’s wet dream. The film’s message is simple: human beings are the most destructive force on Earth. Long Weekend, directed by Colin Eggleston from a script by Everett De Roche, takes a simple premise and mad-runs with it. I loved the formula used here — an uncomplicated storyline, a dash of social commentary, all sprinkled with a generous dose of technical genius, and wallah … it all worked, like all great thrillers do!

Nothing much happens here — a strange sound at night, a group of ants feasting on spoiled food, etc. — but the images are like musical notes in a melody. The result is a level of creepiness that becomes nearly unbearable. You kind of know where the whole thing is heading to, but you develop a perverse delight in watching the couple being harassed by the wild life. The genius of the film is that you start taking the animals’ side without being aware that you are doing just that.

The actors are props. That being said, John Hargreaves (Mad Dog Morgan) and Briony Behets (Inside Looking Out) are very good as the bickering couple. They play unlikable characters, so easy it’s easy for the viewer to turn against them.

The real stars of the film are the technical crew. It’s one of those films that succeeds because of the great expertise of the people behind the camera. Cinematographer Vincent Monton (Thirst and Road Games) and editor by Brian Kavanagh (The Quest) deserve special mention for creating the ominous atmosphere. Michael Carlos’s (Storm Boy) music score is good too.

Conclusions & Final Thoughts:

Long Weekend is a nice exercise in pure cinema. It’s the kind of movie that gets under your skin. Remade in 2008. Color, 97 minutes, Rated R.