Review of Straw Dogs (1971) by Max K — 14 Mar 2010
Fantastic and disturbing picture from Sam Peckinpah, who brings the violence of his early pictures to the most horrifying venue of all: the home. Dustin Hoffman gives a great performance as the mousy, naive, and often unlikable David Sumner, who moves to the UK after witnessing the violence in the United States.
Having not been in any confrontations himself, he finds himself in the middle of a series of horrific events and attacks at himself and his wife. David finally finds himself in the start, the middle, and the end of the violence which he claimed to be so against.
This is a profound film about emotional as well as physical strain and the effects of Vietnam and post-Vietnam exposures to violence in the media. "Straw Dogs" is a complex and uncomfortable film, but nevertheless essential viewing.
This review of Straw Dogs (1971) was written by Max K on 14 Mar 2010.
Straw Dogs has generally received positive reviews.
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