For years now, I have wanted to see the Original Straw Dogs (1971). For one reason or another, I just never got around to it. This is due in most part to Netflix not having it; a travesty! Anyway, I am a fan of horror. And not just a fan of a certain aspect of horror; I love it all. From the Slasher flix of the 70's and 80's, to the "torture porn" (I hate that term) of late; I embrace it all. Above it all, however, I am a fan of that true horror; the horror that is the deprivation that mankind is capable of. My DVD library is overflowing with early exploitation films, as well as a healthy dose of foreign films in the make of Irreversible and I Stand Alone (Gaspar Noe' is by far one of my favorite directors). Seeing as the original Straw Dogs is supposedly of this mold, you can understand my fervent desire to see it. Low and behold I was presented with a perfect opportunity to view this controversial film (banned in the United Kingdom). This would not be a viewing of the original however; instead, it would be Rob Lurie's remake of said film. I must admit; I am and have always been against remakes of great/ground breaking films. Having said that, I am so lucky to have not already seen the original, for if I had, I would not have had the pleasure of not only sitting through this film, but actually enjoying every moment of it!
I do not want to give away too much of the plot and overall story; something I will continue to do in all of my reviews. What I will do is tell you that this is not your typical “home invasion” horror film. There is so much depth to this movie that it hits on many levels. We have direct references to class struggle; the wealthy vs the lower class, and the myriad of perceptions that each have of the other. There are references to God and the conflict of believer’s vs non-believer’s. References to socially accepted norms of female behavior. There are actually quite a few more, but the most impressionable of them all is the struggle of David (played by James Marsden) to “man up” in the face of conflict and confrontation. David is somewhat of a passive person that feels violence and conflict have no place among civilized people. Kate Bosworth plays his wife Amy. Most of the film takes place in her home town in the deep South (David is a screenwriter and she is an actress). Needless to say, old demons begin to present themselves. Alexander Skarsgard (of True Blood fame) plays her old high school boyfriend Charlie. It becomes evident quite quickly that Charlie still has feelings for Amy; however, it is only after a sequence of “questionable” actions on the part of not only Charlie, but Amy herself, that these “feelings” take on a whole different level of obsession.
One of the best things this film has going for it is it’s pacing. Director Rod Lurie does an amazing job of ratcheting up the tension little by little until the brutal, in your face crescendo of violence at the end of the film. The acting was amazing; and I don’t just mean amazing for a horror remake, I mean truly great acting by all. Skarsgard truly makes you feel uncomfortable as you watch him on the big screen. I actually “believed” the emotion that was portrayed in front of me. We are also treated to a great performance by James Woods as Tom Heddon, the former high school football coach turned local drunk. It is because of these amazing performances, and the director’s ability to gradually increase the tension without giving too much up, that I must encourage you to see this film.
Now, I must protest the stigma of this film being a “torture porn” movie. This term has become popular of the past 10yrs or so, as we have been bombarded with “violence for the sake of violence” films, such as the Hostel franchise and the Saw films. Here’s the problem with that label for Straw Dogs; there is actually a story here! Straw Dogs does not go so far over the top that you would get the feeling that it was just violence for the sake of violence. Also, there is a unnervingly realistic rape scene in the movie. Now, were this a true “torture porn” movie, then we would see the gratuitous nudity and sensationalism of such a scene; that is not the case in the least. Instead, there is no gratuitous nudity, yet the rape seems so much more real than almost any other rape scene if encountered (outside of Irreversible, but I hope to never see that kind of realism again). In fact, the most brutal part of the rape scene is off camera with the main focus being a slow zoom on one of our actors faces, as he watches what’s going on. That face is perhaps more haunting than the nightmare going on off camera.
Do yourself a favor and see this movie. I think you will be pleasantly surprised by the acting, subtle references to society, and overall story in general.
Well folks, that’s my first review for Caffeinated Critics. Please check back in for further reviews of those films that scare us, makes us uncomfortable, and requires some of us to have a nightlight.
~Dr. Hannibal Lector
