Nature’s Grave (2008/aka The Long Weekend/Screen
Media Films DVD)
Picture: C Sound: B- Extras: D Film: B-
Nature’s Grave (2008) is a remake of a 1978
Australian exploitation film called The
Long Weekend, the original title the remake was issued under and retained
that title in some markets. We reviewed
the original as part of Umbrella Entertainment’s Oz-Ploitation DVD sets and you can read more about it and films
like it at this link:
http://www.fulvuedrive-in.com/review/7998/Oz-Ploitation+Volume+1+(incl.+Turkey
Though the original was amusing and some purists will are more “Aussie” in some
respect, I think this remake is just better enough that it is a pleasant
surprise and though it still has some problems that were in the original,
co-stars Jim Caviezel and Claudia Karvan (as the married couple) give better
performances and make this more convincing overall.
When
nature turns on the couple, it is more convincing and is at least as well
directed as the original. The animal
attacks and nature issues are partly tied to our abuse of the environment, but
that is only briefly touched upon. We
believe these people are married and they are both likable, but the problems
with their relationship falling apart are not as well thought out and at times,
they seem to be talking at each other instead of too each other.
What
should have been there was character development and character study of both
them and relationships in general, all while the rest of the story
unfolded. The actors are really good
too, but director Jamie Blanks takes on a bit more than is wise and it holds
the final results back a bit. Still, I
like it enough to recommend it and it is a surprise, even flawed.
The
anamorphically enhanced 1.78 X 1 image was shot in High Definition and has
aliasing errors and softness, but I am blaming that on the format and not the
shot, which is not bad. This has already
been issued on Blu-ray overseas and Screen Media should follow suit because
people will want to see this. The Dolby
Digital 5.1 mix is lively, effective and well-recorded, making me wish for a
DTS track and (again) a Blu-ray. There
are no extras.
- Nicholas Sheffo
