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Screen Gems
Not part of a collection.
Everyone has a breaking point.
A young couple moves to a quaint southern town. Soon their perfect getaway turns out to become a living hell when dark secrets and lethal passions spiral out of control.
Wuchak
Oct 30, 2024 · via TMDB
**_How far can a civilized man be pushed?_** A well-to-do couple from Los Angeles (James Marsden and Kate Bosworth) move back to the wife's hometown in southern Mississippi and settle into the now vacant homestead. They enlist some roofers whom she knows from growing up, the leader being 6'4" Charlie (Alexander Skarsgård), a former boyfriend. Rivalry is in the air as he subtly tries to emasculate Amy’s brainy husband and she starts to question his manhood. Havoc ensues. “Straw Dogs” (2011) was shot in late summer, 2009, but not released until two years later. It’s a remake of the Peckinpah's film from 40 years prior, which changes the setting from the Cornish countryside of southwest England to the modern Deep South. It’s a psychological-thriller and so there's a lot of drama and subtle suspense build-up; things don't blow-up until the final act, similar to “Cop Land.” Anyone looking for mindless action should stay away, but those who enjoy films shot in the Deep South will likely appreciate this newer version. There are also similarities to "Of Mice and Men," like the mentally challenged guy who doesn't know his own strength (Dominic Purcell). The conflict here is basically brawn vs. brain or Lynyrd Skynyrd vs. Bach. Some have complained that Marsden was wrong for the role of the protagonist since it called for someone of shorter stature, like Dustin Hoffman in the original, but I feel Marsden is an improvement as David. This is a totally civilized man of average stature (5'10") with an intellectual occupation who is forced to shed all his civilized conditioning and revert back to the barbarism of his ancestors. Meanwhile Bosworth is superior to Susan George IMHO because she’s more intelligent and less all-around annoying. In fact, every key character is superior to the 1971 movie because of quality casting. Skarsgård, for instance, is both more likable or respectable (initially) and intimidating as Charlie compared to Del Henney. And James Caan is simply more entertaining in the role originally played by Peter Vaughan. There are also additional scenes that make it better than Peckinpah’s rendition, like the confrontation in the church parking lot and David’s explanation of what ‘straw dogs’ means. Questions are raised: Why would a rape-victim keep silent? Why is the popular high school cheerleader interested in the local mentally-challenged hunk? Why does the ex-coach hate this poor sob and why is he so rash? A little reflection will answer these and other questions. I like it when films don't spell everything out and make you think. If you appreciate Southern Gothic or Rural Gothic, as well as psychological crime thrillers, you should appreciate this. The flick is sophisticated and sneers at binary good/bad characterizations, rubbing the viewer’s face in humanity’s animalistic (or fallen) nature, which lies just beneath the veneer of civilized proprieties. I should add that there's a hard-to-watch rape scene and at least one other sexually suggestive scene (where you can't make anything out, but you know what's going on), not to mention the mayhem of the climax. But it's mostly an intelligent drama that slowly builds tension. It runs 1 hour, 50 minutes, which is 8 minutes less than the 1971 version (making it more streamlined). It was shot in Shreveport/Bossier City, Louisiana, and Vivian, which is a half hour drive northwest of the city. GRADE: B
User reviews courtesy of TMDB.
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Fandango At Home
Spectrum On Demand
James Marsden
David Sumner
Kate Bosworth
Amy Sumner
Alexander Skarsgård
Charlie Venner
Dominic Purcell
Jeremy Niles
Laz Alonso
Deputy John Burke
Willa Holland
Janice Heddon
James Woods
Tom Heddon
Walton Goggins
Daniel Niles
Rhys Coiro
Norman
Billy Lush
Chris
Anson Mount
Coach Milkens
Kristen Shaw
Abby
Drew Powell
Bic
Wanetah Walmsley
Kristen
Randall Newsome
Blackie
Tim J. Smith
Larry
Rod Lurie
Logger
Alik Sakharov
Director of Photography
Mic Rodgers
Stunt Coordinator
Clay Cullen
Stunts
Rod Lurie
Director
Sarah Boyd
Editor
Sharon Bialy
Casting
Marc Frydman
Producer
Joel Fletcher
Animation
David Zelag Goodman
Original Film Writer
Sam Peckinpah
Original Film Writer
Rod Lurie
Screenplay
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Grandview, U.S.A.
Sep 16, 2011
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Bicara Cinta
2020
The Pied Pipers of Harlow
1965
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Battle your watched movies head-to-head
Community Top Movies
Evil Dead II
1987 · 14 wins
The Dark Knight
2008 · 14 wins
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1978 · 13 wins
Final Destination
2000 · 12 wins
Halloween II
1981 · 11 wins
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