LONG WEEKEND (1978)
Label: Second Sight Films
Region Code: B
Rating: Cert.15
Duration: 95 minutes
Audio: English PCM 1.0 Mono, English DTS-HD MA 5.1 Surround with Optional English Subtitles
Video: 1080p Widescreen (2.40:1)
Director: Colin Eggleston
Cast: John Hargreaves, Briony Behets
Peter (John Hargreaves, Mad Dog Morgan) and Marcia (Briony Behets, Nightmares) are a married couple struggling to cope with issues that have begun to corrode their relationship from within. In an effort to mend their broken coupling they plan a weekend trip to a remote stretch of beach. Peter has bought all sorts of expensive camping gear and is anxious to get to the beach, while Marcia makes it quite clear from the very beginning that she would have preferred to be spoiled at a modern resort of some sort.
The drive out to the beach proves to be problematic, the couple quarrel over the radio punctuated by long spells of outright ignoring each other or monosyllabic communication. As Peter grows tired on the drive he runs over and kills a kangaroo without so much as hitting the brake, which is our first hint at how little disregard this couple have for nature. The secluded beach turns out to be difficult to find in the dark of night, the couple becoming lost in a maze of brush thickets and circular trails. They spend the night in their Jeep, haunted by strange and pained sounds of an animal howl that send chills down Marcia's spine, it's a creepy little touch. When the sun rises they manage reorient themselves and find the beach, where they set up camp and try to enjoy what nature has to offer them.
It seems the troubled trip was worth it though, the beach is a gorgeous with miles of sandy white shoreline and deep blue waters to enjoy, but Marcia seems content to stay at the camp and read trashy romance novels, while occasionally blasting ants with the spray insecticide, and dropping her top to tan her tits properly. Meanwhile wanna-be outdoorsman Peter wanders the shoreline with his gun, casually shooting the local wildlife and tossing empty bottle of lager into the ocean before blasting them with his weapon. While he's surfing the waves Marcia observes a large ominous shadow in the water behind Peter and becomes frightened, worrying it might have been a shark, but it turns out it's something else, something strange. This is sort of the starting point of an eerie tone that settles over the film, with Marcia becoming more unsettled as odd things things begin to happen, like a spear gun misfire that nearly kills her.
The romantic trip to the beach turns out to be anything but for the couple, they're an unsympathetic couple to say the least, with Peter coming off a bit more agreeable that his wife, who is painted as cold and bitchy, though some back story does help explain in part her coldness and sexual indifference towards her hubbie, who himself becomes less sympathetic as the story unfolds.
There's been a quiet menace building up all the while, things begin to turn for the worse when an eagle tears into Peter after he finds a bird egg, cracking a joke that perhaps they could make an omelet from it. After the bird attack Marcia smashes the eagle egg against a tree while broaching the subject of an abortion she was forced to endure, obviously things are complicated. Later that same night a possum invades the camp and takes a bite out of Peter when he gets a too close for comfort, we're starting to see that the wildlife around this place don't seem to want this couple in the area, as if nature itself is turning on the couple who have shown such little regard for their surroundings.
The next day the couple continue to argue while the creepy sounds of that pained animal continue to fill the air, which at times seem to be a figment of Marcia's imagination. Venturing further down the beach they happen upon an abandoned campsite, empty except for a snarling dog who doesn't seem too friendly. Seeing something out in the surf they discover what appears to have been a tragic accident of some sort, perhaps foreshadowing their own fate. As night descends the couple's sanity crumbles as they experience something more harrowing than anything they could have imagined, with nature fighting back against the couple who are a blight on the environment.
Audio/Video: Long Weekend (1978) makes it's UK Blu-ray debut from Second Sight Films, having previously made it's worldwide HD debut from Synapse Films. Second Sight present the film in 1080p HD framed in the original 2.35:1 widescreen, it's a very solid transfer with a natural looking layer of grain providing some nice depth and clarity and good contrast, the wildlife and scenic landscapes looks amazing. The color timing and framing here are identical to the Synapse Films region-A release, this looks to me to be the same HD restoration, but I give the Second Sight release the edge as it has loads more extras as detailed below, with what looks to be all the stuff from the Australian Blu-ray from Umbrella, a release I have not seen to compare.
Audio options on the disc include English PCM 1.0 Mono and DTS-HD MA 5.1, the surround does a great job of enhancing the creepy atmosphere and dread, assisted in no small part by the score from composer Michael Carlos (The Odd Angry Shot), the mono audio is also solid, everything sounding natural and balanced. Optional English subtitles are provided, which the Synapse release did not.
Special features on the disc begin with an informative audio commentary from Producer Richard Brennan and Cinematographer Vincent Monton offering memories of making the film, it can be a little dry as they go on about achieving certain shots in the film and memories of cast and crew, but an enjoyable listen for fans of the film.
We also get a new round table discussion about eco-horror with Film Historians Lee Gambin, Alexandra Heller-Nicholas, Emma Westwood and Sally Christie - it's a fun discussion of the film, pointing out that the only thing the couple in this film hate more than nature are each other, how damn unlikable they are. They do a great job of digging into the themes and symbolism of the film.
The disc is finished-up with 19-min of uncut ‘Not Quite Hollywood’ interviews with Everett De Roche, Briony Behets and Vincent Monton, plus a five minute archival audio interview with actor John Hargreaves that plays over an image gallery, and a very creepy trailer for the movie. As usual Second Sight don't do anything half-assed, this is a a top-notch release.
Special Features:
- Audio Commentary with Executive Producer Richard Brennan and Cinematographer Vincent Monton
- ‘Nature Found Them Guilty: Examining Long Weekend’ – Panel Discussion with Film Historians Lee Gambin, Alexandra Heller-Nicholas, Emma Westwood and Sally Christie (24 min)
- Uncut ‘Not Quite Hollywood’ interviews with Everett De Roche, Briony Behets and Vincent Monton (19 min)
- Extensive Stills Gallery Accompanied by Audio Interview with Actor John Hargreaves (5 min)
- Original Theatrical Trailer (2 min)
Long Weekend (1978) is an effective and unnerving nature gone wild entry infused with an strange eeriness not often associated with these sort of movies. This lesser acknowledged gem of Australian cinema is both unsettling and creepy, the Second Sight release comes highly recommended.
