Review of Straw Dogs (2011) by Jesse O — 20 Jun 2012

Pretty boring movie by all accounts. While I haven't seen the original, though I greatly wanted to before I saw this but I didn't, I'm sure this movie doesn't compare. I don't know, but if I were making this movie, even if it's full with all the Southern cliches (drunk, racist, and intolerant rednecks populate this movie), I'd have thought this movie would be mostly about a man pushed past the point where even he, a pacifist, is pushed to (as the poster says) a breaking point he can't return from.

The movie is particularly a slow mover. Slow to the point where you think it was purposely done this way so you're just, PRACTICALLY, begging for the violence to start. Say what you will about GoodFellas and its violence but at least it felt it served a purpose and it helped dissuade you from that lifestyle.

Here the movie just sort of gives you all that violence to satisfy a sadistic desire to see people suffer. Especially when you consider that instead of the bad guys TRYING to kill everyone in the house they should've been looking for the person that was lost to begin with.

Not to mention the main characters aren't particularly likable. David and Amy both gave off this air of superiority that made them instantly unlikable. Why go there if you're going to look down on people??? There's also this scene where Amy and David argue because Amy felt that the rednecks were 'practically licking her body' (these are her own words) when they hollered at her.

Then after the argument Amy goes upstairs and shows the rednecks (who are working on the roof) her tits. I do not know what the point of this was. Perhaps set up the rape scene??? I'm not sure. Kate Bosworth and James Marsden are talented enough in the roles, but you don't really feel anything for their struggle.

I think this is a movie that could, and should, have been better than it was. Instead it's boring and the violence is completely glorified and celebrated. Not bad, but not good either.