A now cult classic Australian horror film about a married couple attempting to salvage their relationship by spending a long weekend camping in untouched forest, was shot on the Far South Coast 40 years ago.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Shooting for the Colin Eggleston film Long Weekend took place in May of 1977 at the Tathra Hotel, and in what was then known as Bournda Nature Reserve.
During their trip, the couple, played by actors John Hargreaves and Briony Behets, pollute the natural environment and kill native animals, before nature seeks its own form of vengeance.
The tale was the first feature script by Everett De Roche, who wrote it in 10 days after being inspired after an Easter long weekend getaway.
“Unfortunately, the bush comes across as a threat too early; it should have emerged as a threat only after the audience had sympathized with the animals. And I don’t think that sympathy is there,” De Roche later said.
Golden Reel award winner Vince Monton was director of photography, and the film tied with Invasion of the Body Snatchers to win the Antennae II Award at the Avoriaz Fantastic Film Festival, and the Special Jury Award at 1978's Paris Film Festival.
At the 1978 Sitges - Catalonian International Film Festival, the film took out the awards for Best Film, Best Actor for Hargreaves, and the International Critics' Jury Prize.
A production office was set up at the Princess Motel in Bega, and scenes were watched by the crew at King’s Theatre during filming.
One of the scenes involved the cutting of tree branches, the crew brought along their own 10 metre, four tonne tree for the shoot.
Tathra Beach Surf Life Saving Club was on site, with 30 production staff traveling in a fleet of four wheel drives each day of shooting.
A 2008 remake, starring Claudia Karvan and James Caviezel, was panned by critics and audiences, earning itself a score of zero on popular website Rotten Tomatoes.