A Weekend with Strangers aka "Weekend Swingers" (partially found exploitation/grindhouse film; 1971)

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This article has been tagged as NSFW and NSFL due to its references to nudity, violence, and incest.
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Weekendwithstrangersposter1.jpeg

The poster for A Weekend with Strangers.

Status: Partially Found

A Weekend with Strangers (aka Weekend Swingers as per the 1974 UK rerelease) is a 1971 exploitation film distributed by Chancellor Films.[1] It is directed by Allen Savage, and stars David Gale (of Re-Animator fame) and prominent adult film star Jennifer Welles. Part of what makes it a notable picture is that it is the film debut of the aforementioned horror star: David Gale.

Besides being an X-rated movie, the film boasts being particularly vulgar and violent, taking on aspects of the horror genre (there are multiple character deaths, threatening gangs, blackmail, assault, deadly fires, etc.).[2] The trailer for the film is featured in Something Weird Video’s compilation tape Twisted Sex Vol. 1 and can be viewed on The Internet Archive.[3][2]

Plot Summary

The official synopsis sheet for the 1974 UK rerelease reads as follows:

"Dilys has delved deep into the strange and complicated world of weekend encounter groups. To her the Encounter Foundation Clinic - "dedicated to exploring the human potential" - was a haven, a place to give meaning and purpose to her life.

She was a respected and hard-working group leader at the Clinic until Nigel, a former lover and co-conspirator in an extortion racket, unexpectedly appeared and now threatens to expose details of her sordid past.

The price of his silence is a piece of information that he needs from Jenny, a member of the group. Faced with a serious scandal, Dilys is forced to co-operate. A karate-trained killer, an evil dope fiend and a lovely and seemingly helpless girl comprise the remainder of Nigel's gang.

During the blackmail process, Dilys becomes intimately involved with Jenny and is reluctant to hurt her. She is also indirectly responsible for the death of one of the encounter group members.

Having completed her part of the bargain, Dilys realizes that she can no longer remain at the Clinic. She tells Nigel that she will go back to him. She manages to seduce him into dropping his guard and kills him, destroying his evil - and herself - in the process."[1]

Releases

The film was originally released in 1971 as A Weekend with Strangers but got a UK release in 1974 under the title Weekend Swingers.[1] According to BFI vol. 41 iss. 490, the UK version is shorter than the original US release. Weekend Swingers (UK) is 67 minutes while A Weekend with Strangers (USA) is 74 minutes. There is evidence to show that the film had public screenings into at least the 1980s, with the most recent documented showing being advertised in The Indianapolis News (2/19/1986) at the Rivoli Theatre.[4] They advertised the UK version, Weekend Swingers.

Surviving Content

The only accessible content from A Weekend with Strangers is the trailer (NSFW , 18+), which can be viewed on copies of Twisted Sex Vol. 1 or on the Internet Archive,[3][2] and the surviving posters, reviews and lobby cards.

Gallery

References