The 1978 Australian film 'Long Weekend' wasn't a hit when it first came out, but overtime became iconic enough to warrant a remake 30 years later. It is the story of Peter and Marica (John Hargreaves & Briony Behets) a suburban couple in their mid 30's who decide to take a long weekend vacation at an isolated stretch of beach. The couples relationship is not in the best place, swingers who've recently decided to revert to monogamy to try and save things, they have secrets from and hidden resentments towards one another.
The whole weekend begins wrong, a fight at home about bringing the dog (they do), and getting lost on the way there. When they arrive in addition to their domestic problems nature seems to be against them, Peter is attacked by an eagle and chased by a shark while surfing, ants get at the food, small animals into the tent, the dog disappears, and the corpse of a Dugong (a sea cow like marine mammal) keeps moving locations. In addition there is a van parked further down the beach and a small base camp, but the people that go with it are never seen.
The film is an intriguing mixed bag, there is much slow tension building that can get a little old, punctuated by intense moments. There's seeming homages to things as diverse as 'The Bird's' and 'Whose Afraid of Virginia Woolf'. Things get increasingly surreal, and it's never entirely clear exactly what's happening. The wrath of God for disrespecting the environment? Ghosts? Are they victims of a prank gone out of hand? Are they just going mad? I can't say I really enjoyed it, but I was kind of impressed by it, and may have to watch it again to try and make more sense of it. Sometime graphic, very not for everybody. ***
Currently free on Prime.
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