Review of Stoker (2013) by Jfloyd3 W — 13 Dec 2013

An eerie art-house film of chilly tension and chillier terror - a psychotic-thriller, almost as if Hitchcock made a film today - say a 'Shadow of a Doubt' sans a narrative justification.. an extra 1/2 star for production qualities, stylistic vision, 'narrative' originality and, of course, acting (particularly the choice of actors) - almost anything Wasikowska does becomes appealing if not also interesting.

. here admittedly she is required to play only one note.. suspicious yet grimly intrigued by the cool, charming and casually dapper Charles Stoker (Matthew Goode), always a glint in his eye, often a smile on his lips - in disposition the exact opposite of Wasikowska's character, which may explain her 'grim intrigue'.

. only Nicole Kidman as Evelyn Stoker is expected to exhibit a range of emotions.. 'Stoker' is more a mood piece - full of atmosphere rather than a dramatic narrative - a conventional story...