Movie Review: 'Straw Dogs' a tense, violent human drama
Submitted by Carson Now Reader on Sat, 09/17/2011 - 6:17pm
"Straw Dogs," a thriller currently playing at the Fandango Galaxy cineplex in Carson City and elsewhere, is a remake of the 1971 controversial film of the same name directed by Sam Peckinpah, that opened the Hollywood door on a kind of territorial violence. It was widely condemned as preaching violence and misogyny.
Much of the story line is similar to the 1971 version: Harvard educated screenwriter David James Marsden) and his wife actress Amy (Kate Bosworth) come back to her hometown to wind up affairs after the death of her father.
There they encounter her old boyfriend Charlie(Alexander Skarsgard) as part of a roofing crew repairing a barn for them. The tension comes quickly as David works on a script and Amy runs in a skimpy shirt which reveals her nipples.
The problems continue as Amy tries to fit David into the local scene but he rejects local sermons and football. Davis is lured into a hunt for deer while Charlie comes and visits Amy and rapes her, allowing another roofer to also rape her.
She doesn't tell David but becomes withdrawn. Then the village retard accidentally kills the daughter of the local high school football coach Tom (James Wood). David and Amy take him in and the roofing crew and Tom come their house and demand they turn the retard over to them for quick justice.
In the face of threats David refuses and rises to the challenge. The result is a bloody battle with a stunning climax.
Acting throughout is solid with Skarsgard perfect as the abandoned local hero. Bosworth is a fine Southern girl with Hollywood touches. Marsden make a good switch from the Ivy League sensitive triggered to violence by Skarsgard and fellow roofers.
The ending isn't particularly a happy one but the idea is life goes on. Overall, director Rod Lurie keeps things tense and moving along. Apparently the final bit of brutality is lifted from the Peckinpah version and is carefully foreshadowed.
Not having seen the earlier version, can't really compare. But this R-rated film offers plenty of violence and the usual explosions required of almost Hollywood films these days.
Don't expect deep thoughts but do prepare for a well-told story of a man rising to the challenge.
— Sam Bauman
Cast
— James Marsden as David Sumner
— Kate Bosworth as Amy Sumner
— Alexander Skarsgård as Charlie Vennero
— Dominic Purcell as Jeremy Niles
— Laz Alonso as Deputy Johton Burke
— Willa Holland as Janice
— James Woods as Tom Heddon
— Anson Mount as Coach Stan Milkens
— Walton Goggins as Daniel
— Rhys Coiro as Norman
— Drew Powell as Bic
Directed by: Rod Lurie
Produced by: Rod Lurie, Marc Frydman
Screenplay by: Rod Lurie
Story by: David Zelag Goodman, Sam Peckinpah
Based on: The Siege of Trencher's Farm by Gordon Williams
Music by: Larry Groupé
Cinematography: Alik Sakharov
Editing by: Sarah Boyd Studio Battleplan Productions Distributed by Screen Gems
Running time: 109 minutes
