Review of Straw Dogs (1971) by Paul R — 02 Aug 2013

Before there was Kubrick's A CLOCKWORK ORANGE (released right around the same year), before Craven's LAST HOUSE ON THE LEFT, Peckinpah's DOGS tested the endurance of audiences around the world and became controversial enough to provoke discussion over the increase of violence in cinema and whether filmmakers at the time feel the need to debase women. Oh, quite the contrary for this case; Peckinpah intended to debase humanity in general. With Dustin Hoffman giving a phenomenal performance as David Sumner, a nebbish, mathematician who must break all moral code if he intends to survive the ongoing siege of his house by a bunch of drunk, English hooligans. Strikingly realistic, uncompromising, and moreover an unflinching portrait of man and his relationship to violence is what separates Straw Dogs from the onslaught of home-invasion movies that would proceed from it. Further on that note, many critics were split with the infamous "rape" scene depicted. Not that it's bloody, not that it's grotesque, but just how Peckinpah almost eroticised and giving the perspective of Amy ( David's wife) enjoying it is what catapulted this film into infamy.

Regardless if Peckinpah's intentions were good or not is hardly the matter, rather the themes and discussion he provokes is what makes DOGS stand the test of time into one of the most provocative films in recent memory. The line between violence and nonviolence is soon blurred and suddenly we witness the deterioration of a psyche brought up in a classic manner to where courteousness and humility is soon pushed down to the depths of humanity where morality ceases to exist. It's basic survival of the fittest, and David is no animal-- he refuses to compromise with a bunch of monsters who intend nothing but to hurt him and his wife. But what Peckinpah does so cleverly is show even the best, brightest of men can have a breaking point, and whether David will acknowledge it is irrelevant; we see it unfold before our eyes. Let the music of bagpipes roar and sound off to the mayhem unleashed; let the fires rise and encapsulate the decadence happening; pick up your sticks and pipes and get ready for a downbeat, because Peckinpah certainly doesn't care who wins or looses. To him, the nature of human life is about as meaningful as stepping on ants, and that is what makes Peckinpah brilliant here-- his nihilistic attitude is unbiased and fascinating.