Review of Straw Dogs (1971) by Sean C — 04 Sep 2011

Very misunderstood movie. It's been both criticized and praised for supposedly showing violence to be heroic. It is also misunderstood by people who feel that Dustin Hoffman's character is the hero of the story.

Sam Peckinpah always felt Hoffman was the villain of the film and if you just look at the way he treats his wife throughout the movie and especially in the finale, you'll see that. I love the way violence is filmed and focussed on.

Sam Peckinpah hated the way movies had been made before when people died quick deaths that meant nothing. In his films, the violence is always awful and painful for the viewer. It is never treated as heroic or glamorous.

This is an uncomfortable movie to watch but it is also Peckinpah's best movie.