batmanthedarkblog

The Lake House (also known as weekend death) is an intense suspense survival drama directed by Canadian author William Fruet (who also created the drama of 1972 white wedding, the funeral creepy, and the murderer telepathic snake show spasms) and fantastic Brenda Vaccaro (fresh from his Oscar nominated role in Once Is Not Enough) and a real menacing Don Stroud (Bloody Mama, The Amityville Horror) in a deadly game, terrible cat and mouse.

Weekend death made some small critical acclaim when it opened in 1976, but was considered, however repugnant to many who could not handle his sexual blatant violence and brutality. (Interestingly, American film debut title The Lake House was a marketing attempt to build on the success of the equally brutal Wes Craven The Last House on the Left. ) If you can imagine Sam Peckinpah's Straw Dogs set in Canada and with a female protagonist of resources (Vaccaro), which is on track to imagine death. They were still based on a true Fruet happened in her native Canada, and the film has a realistic level of ugliness that was rare in the 70 movies and still going to hit today.

Weekend begins with the death of beautiful model Diane (Vaccaro) and hot dentist Harry (Chuck Shamata) accelerate the field happily on their way to the opulence of Harry (and very isolated) assets of a lavish party hosted by the orthodontist rich. After Diane auto enthusiast takes the wheel, the two are contested by four thugs thin in a red pickup a game of chicken, which is all set to Diane. After outdriving leering bullies and takes them to a ditch, Diane and Harry come home - and Diane soon begins to suspect that things are not what they seem to discover that there are no other customers have come to hit is Harry. As luck would have for our hero, Harry becomes a degree that fits a pervert lewd pictures of her in the shower in a secret room behind a two-way mirror and has no intentions of the other guests arrive, preferring to Diane has to himself.

Diane is shocked when he realizes the true motives of Harry and prepares to leave, but she and Harry made a surprise visit for the same underworld quartet terrified beasts on the road before. No wild-eyed leader Lep (Don Stroud), Runt errors with glasses and eye (Richard Ayres), laughing group of clowns Stanley (Don Granberry) and rotten teeth numbskull Frankie (Kyle Edwards), and none of them has the slightest regard for the safety and respect for others. The thugs torment Harry and Diane, holding them captive, and frolicking in the entire property and destroy everything that comes into contact with. Harry tries to negotiate with them and offer them money for your wrecked car if you are just out, but the four crazed villains have other plans in mind - including rape and shoot Diane Harry to death with a rifle. In the end, it's up to Diane to fight for his life against the insane ... and the child does it ever attract a booby-trapped by a fire in, quicksand, and the throat open with a piece of mirror in his attempted rape of Runt, even cutting back.

Death Weekend awards received from Sitges - International Film Festival of Catalonia in 1976 for Best Actress (Vaccaro) and Best Screenplay (Fruet) and deserved the two, Vaccaro, in particular. Her performance as Diane carefree model is immersed in a desperate fight for his life and sanity with four vicious thugs is powerful and real, easily able to engage the audience in your situation. Don Stroud distilled fierce machismo and the threat as Lep reckless sociopath who has little regard for human life and can not stand the fact that a girl like Diane can outdrive - the final blow to his ego narcissist. Chuck Shamata (The Devil and Max Devlin) is convincing as the financial security that Harry is horrified to see their prized possessions - including his luxury motor boat and works of art - cruelly destroyed by the League of brutes.

Weekend death has run for years on VHS and still have not seen a DVD release, so it has become a coveted collector's item. It's hard to believe as a fascinating, well-made thriller has been ignored by distributors for so long, and I think it's worth the high price to be paid these days to buy a copy. Weekend death is always tense, harrowing and brilliantly acted, and the rate is 8.5 out of 10.