Death Weekend
Encyclopedia
Death Weekend is a 1976 Canadian horror/thriller film. It stars Brenda Vaccaro
and Don Stroud
and was one of the first films from Canadian director William Fruet
. The low-budget production was shot in rural Canada
and at a studio in Kleinburg, Ontario
, Canada
.
where Diane forces the punks off the road wrecking them. Diane and Harry escape to their getaway, but little do they know the angry gang has followed them there and they're looking for some vicious revenge against the unarmed couple.
However both the French Canadian and Spanish VHS versions were released uncut.
Brenda Vaccaro
Brenda Buell Vaccaro is an American stage, television and film actress.-Early life:Vaccaro was born in Brooklyn, New York, to Italian American parents Christine M. and Mario A. Vaccaro , both of whom were pioneers in Italian cuisine...
and Don Stroud
Don Stroud
Donald Lee Stroud is an American actor and surfer who appeared in many films in the 1960s, 1970s and 1980s, and has starred in over 100 films and 175 television shows to date.-Early life:...
and was one of the first films from Canadian director William Fruet
William Fruet
William Fruet is a Canadian film and television director, playwright and screenwriter, best known for co-writing, with Donald Shebib, the influential Canadian film Goin' Down the Road....
. The low-budget production was shot in rural Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
and at a studio in Kleinburg, Ontario
Ontario
Ontario is a province of Canada, located in east-central Canada. It is Canada's most populous province and second largest in total area. It is home to the nation's most populous city, Toronto, and the nation's capital, Ottawa....
, Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
.
Plot
Diane (Brenda Vaccaro) and her gentleman friend Harry (Chuck Shamata) are on their way to a weekend getaway at Harry's country house when they encounter a car load of drunken thugs, led by Lep (Don Stroud). They get into a fit of road rageRoad rage
Road rage is an aggressive or angry behavior by a driver of an automobile or other motor vehicle. Such behavior might include rude gestures, verbal insults, deliberately driving in an unsafe or threatening manner, or making threats. Road rage can lead to altercations, assaults, and collisions...
where Diane forces the punks off the road wrecking them. Diane and Harry escape to their getaway, but little do they know the angry gang has followed them there and they're looking for some vicious revenge against the unarmed couple.
Cast
- Brenda VaccaroBrenda VaccaroBrenda Buell Vaccaro is an American stage, television and film actress.-Early life:Vaccaro was born in Brooklyn, New York, to Italian American parents Christine M. and Mario A. Vaccaro , both of whom were pioneers in Italian cuisine...
as Diane - Don StroudDon StroudDonald Lee Stroud is an American actor and surfer who appeared in many films in the 1960s, 1970s and 1980s, and has starred in over 100 films and 175 television shows to date.-Early life:...
as Lep - Chuck Shamata as Harry
- Richard AyresRichard AyresRichard Ayres is a British composer and teacher.Ayres was born in Cornwall, England in 1965. He followed Morton Feldman’s classes at the Darmstadt and Dartington summer schools. He studied composition, electronic music, and trombone at Huddersfield Polytechnic until 1989, graduating with...
as Runt - Kyle Edwards as Frankie
- Don Granberry as Stanley
- Ed McNamara as Spragg
- Michael Kirby as Ralph
- Richard Donat as Policeman
Release
The film was released in the US under the title House by the Lake. At the time of release there was some controversy over the films intense scenes of violence. Still the film was released with only minor cuts to the original version. Over the years the film has gained some acclaim among horror film buffs and though it was released on VHS at one point, the film has yet to receive a DVD release.Alternate versions
The US and English Canadian VHS releases are cut. Edited from the film was an additional shot of Lep on top of Diane as he attempts to rape her, a more graphic shot of Diane slashing Runt's throat, and a longer shot of Stanley burning to death.However both the French Canadian and Spanish VHS versions were released uncut.