Review of Stoker (2013) by Josh L — 20 Aug 2013

Stoker is a visually sumptuous film with strong performances, but after a great set up the story ends up fizzling and disappointing leaving a bad aftertaste. I have not been a fan of Chan Wook Park's polarizing directorial style (being one of the only people who didn't think Oldboy was a masterpiece and just exploitive) and he certainly does not flinch in providing more provocative material in Stoker.

This is not for the feint of heart and has some scenes that will turn off any casual viewer of cinema. They caught me off guard with one scene in particular that I don't want to spoil, but I was not expecting it at all and it involves Mia Wasikowska in the shower.

She definitely gives a daring performance and was impressive. Matthew Goode does well also using his charm to hide his secrets that are teased throughout the film until the end. Nicole Kidman is the only one that is kind of just there as here role isn't as prominent.

Unfortunately, after over an hour of them teasing tremendous potential in the story, the final act ends in disappointment. They did a great job of building it up, but it was also their Achilles heel. While not wholly satisfying, Stokers creepy atmosphere, strong visuals, solid performances, and unflinching direction keep it interesting enough to not be a waste of time, but it would have been recommendable with a stronger final act.