Review of Stoker (2013) by Lucy M — 17 Jul 2013

If you've followed my reviews, and this is a hypothetical since I don't think anyone actually READS this anymore and I'm just doing it for my own ego, you know that the films of Park Chan Wook are among my favorites in all of cinema. If you do not know who Park is, he is perhaps most famous for directing Oldboy, which will be getting a remake this October directed by Spike Lee. What most people don't know is that Oldboy is the SECOND movie in his Trilogy of Vengeance. It is exactly what it sounds like, a trilogy sharing the common themes of vengeance and redemption. This trilogy is what he is most famous for, but he also directed a vampire movie called Thirst, which might be one of my favorite vampire movies of all time and a little indie romance called I'm a Cyborg but that's Ok, which was really good as well. Anyway the point is that most criticism from his vengeance films, and to some extent Thirst, is the ultra-violence that permeates these films. Some feel that this violence is used at the expense of characters and I would most certainly disagree with those points. While that can be true of a lot of movies about vengeance, Wook's trilogy is anything but as there, whether subconsciously or not, a connection to these characters and their stories. The motivations of the characters are clear and what they're doing is never drowned out by the violence. His films aren't violent for the sake of it, at least in my opinion.

And this brings us to Stoker, where Park had to adjust to a different style of storytelling, though not that far removed from his own and show far more restraint than he ever has in any of his films. While there are still some violent moments, they're not that over-the-top. Does he adjust to a more American style of filmmaking and manage to make a great movie at the same time? I think it's implied by the rating, but hell yes. He pretty much made the transition while keeping his integrity largely intact. The film is stylish and surreal. There is a far more sinister story that underlines the events of the film, which mostly see the developing relationship between India and Charles. If there's one thing the movie subverts from the typical Hitchockian thrillers is that there's no mystery. You are completely aware from the beginning what type of man that Charles Stoker is. The mystery comes in finding out how he got to be the way he is. But at the same time it's also, in a way, a coming-of-age story as India, with her uncle's arrival, finds herself getting into situations that end up escalating in violence. The first situation has her defending herself against a bully, and the other finds her defending herself against a potential rapist. What happens in the climax of the film, which is outstanding by the way, sees India fully embracing her psychopathic tendencies. It's clear there's some sexual subtext in this film, with India leading a sheltered and dull life that has led to sexual repression. This is sometimes represented in the use of a belt in some crucial scenes. It's a film that's ridden with symbolism and part of the fun is figuring them out. Visually, the film is incredible, not unlike most Park's other films. The really is that gothic fairy tale look to the entire proceedings. The acting is top-notch. Mia Wasikowska, at least physically, reminds me of Winona Ryder, except she's a much better actress. I really enjoyed seeing her character being "liberated" from her mother's control. Matthew Goode is equal parts charming and mysterious, right from the very beginning you can figure out that he's got some ulterior motives, it only takes a while to unearth those motivations. And Nicole Kidman probably has the best scene in the entire movie when she's telling India that she can't wait to see life tear her apart. Her role takes a backseat to Charles and India, but she's excellent here as this completely distant mother who probably hasn't spent that much time with her own daughter. At first the movie can feel a little "slow", but that's before starts revealing its larger story and you can begin to see just how layered and dense the movie really is. It's a movie that demands a lot of its audience, so if you're expecting something that isn't challenging to watch, then this movie is not for you. But I thought it was excellent and another top-notch thriller, but of a very different ilk, from Park Chan Wook. Huge props go to all involved in the making of the film.