The Last Drive In Summer Special: I Spit on Your Grave and Tokyo Gore Police [Review]

Joe Bob Briggs and Darcy the Mail Girl returned for The Last Drive-In: Joe Bob’s Savage Summer with one of the most extreme double features the series has ever programmed. They paired I Spit on Your Grave (1978) with Tokyo Gore Police (2008). On paper, this should have been a celebration of transgressive horror. Instead, it turned into an oddly uneven night. There were questionable programming decisions, familiar guest appearances, and one film that mistakes excess for entertainment.

Felissa Rose returned as the night’s guest, and while she remains an enthusiastic presence with genuine chemistry alongside Joe Bob and Darcy, her appearances are beginning to feel a little too routine. Part of what makes The Last Drive-In exciting is seeing different voices and perspectives on horror. However, bringing back the same guests repeatedly makes the specials feel less special.

I Spit On Your Grave Loses Some Of Its Impact

I Spit on Your Grave remains one of horror’s most controversial films, and regardless of where you fall on its reputation, it is impossible to deny its place in genre history. Joe Bob’s commentary on the film’s production, legacy, and the debates surrounding its release was easily one of the strongest parts of the episode.

At the time of watching this for review, Shudder had only uploaded the censored version of I Spit on Your Grave. They have since uploaded both a version with the uncensored movie, and one without. For the purposes of this review, I did watch the censored version. I have seen the uncensored version. Just something to keep in mind when watching the post-live episode that there are two versions, and I recommend the uncensored version.

Even with those compromises of the censored version, Joe Bob manages to provide enough historical context to make the presentation worthwhile. The discussion surrounding the film ultimately proves more compelling than the edit being shown.

Tokyo Gore Police Confuses Excess With Creativity

Tokyo Gore Police has built a reputation as one of the wildest splatter films ever made. However, watching it today, it often feels like a movie desperately trying to convince you how outrageous it is. Every scene attempts to top the last with more blood, stranger mutations, and increasingly absurd imagery.

That relentless escalation eventually becomes exhausting rather than entertaining. Shock loses its impact when every moment is screaming for your attention. There are flashes of clever satire and impressive practical effects, but they get buried beneath an endless parade of excess.

Joe Bob’s commentary once again adds welcome context about the Japanese splatter movement. However, unlike many cult films featured on the show, this is one that never fully justifies its reputation. It feels less interested in telling a story than proving how edgy it can be.

Conclusion

The Last Drive-In Summer Special has all the ingredients for a memorable episode, but never quite comes together. I Spit on Your Grave loses some of its power by being presented in a censored form; again I recommend the uncensored version. Meanwhile, Tokyo Gore Police mistakes nonstop excess for meaningful provocation. Felissa Rose remains an enjoyable guest, but the show could benefit from inviting some fresh faces.

This is an episode that is more interesting to talk about than it is to watch. Joe Bob and Darcy continue to elevate the material. However, they can only do so much when the programming choices themselves create mixed results. It is a respectable Summer Special, just not one that ranks among the series’ best.

For more Reviews, make sure to check back to That Hollywood Show.