Straw Dogs (2011)

Straw Dogs – a term used to describe a type of person that excels during high school only to stay stuck in their home town, permanently. Dreams of moving away, becoming successful, slowly lose focus. This re-make of the 1971 original starring Dustin Hoffman (which was banned when first released because of the controversy of certain scenes) focuses on a wealthy and prosperous couple, Amy (Kate Bosworth - Blue Crush, Superman Returns) and David Sumner (James Marsden - Superman Returns, The Notebook). Looking for serenity and peace whilst working on his new screenplay, David convinces wife Amy to move back to her father’s secluded house in Blackwater, Mississippi.

The setting is ‘south’ through and through, with swamplands and low hanging trees, the audience can feel the dense humidity and hear the folk songs play from thousands of miles away. Very different to the original setting in Wakely, England where the sun’s rays don’t filter through the clouds and its perpetually grey.

On arrival the class difference between the out of towners and the locals is evident. The setting illustrates the low income town in comparison to the wealth that the new couple have (despite one half originally coming from there). The Jaguar they drive into town is prime example of the different walks of life, as everyone else owns dilapidated trucks. A hurricane having just wrecked havoc within the area, means the barn on their land needs of reconstruction work. Enter the 4 men who play crucial parts throughout the next 110 minutes.

The leader of the group, Charlie (Alexander Skarsgård – Melancholia, True Blood) sets his sights on his old flame Amy, possibly thinking she still has feelings for him and they can resurrect their love that died a long time ago. The other 3 men play up to their redneck roles but don’t come off altogether convincing. They try to charm the ladies with their southern drawl, yet undertones of menacing threat remain present. As they begin work on the roof of the barn, Charlie and his men begin to aggravate the couple. Its starts off with small incidents such as loud music, lewd looks and ‘southern’ hospitality, until it begins to escalate out of control. Amy and David find themselves in situations that the men construct out of pure despicableness, until one of the mentally challenged town folk changes this. Then the trouble hits boiling point.

In comparison to the 1971 version a lot of factors have been changed to keep it updated and fresh. The first instalment introduces David Sumner as a mathematician, its 2011 now and he is a screenwriter – more of a rock’n’roll profession. The acting felt different to the original, the men are perverted and small minded, but manipulative using false kindness. The 1971 English males were twisted and oddly inbred.

Alexander Skarsgård is domineering and threatening on screen as one of the three protagonists, he belittles James Marsden’s character time and time again, but in a teasing way that makes the audience hate him less. James Marsden does Dustin Hoffman’s character justice as he plays the hesitant David combined with the right amount of quirkiness. He captures the reluctance that the protagonist has at getting involved in uncomfortable situations until he realises he needs to take a stand. The last 30 minutes of the film show him becoming proactively violent to kick some serious ass. Cue the fire and explosions.

Kate Bosworth however was disappointingly cold. Throughout she winds her husband up, and toys with him, which is possibly the only note worthy part of her performance. Instead of appearing laid back, she cheapened the role. Walking around without a bra on and in skimpy clothes is seen as provocative instead of liberated. The infamous scene that caused the controversy 30 years ago was severely lacking in terror which is surprising as times have changed and there are no restrictions on film content now. They could have really gone for it, but were perhaps worried about shocking audiences, and a drop in sales unlike Sam Peckinpah. She proved she can scream the house down, but it just felt false.

Straw Dogs in 2011 is vastly different compared to 1971. There are different issues occurring in the US now compared to that time period of the Civil Rights Movement and Vietnam War. Times are less volatile, yet it felt as though it should have been received as it was in the 70’s. Meaning in this day and age it needs to be grittier. There was a certain raw quality to the filming, yet I didn’t feel shocked just stressed. The film kept the audience on the edge of their seat but Rod Lurie needed to add a element of psychological distress to get the full affect.

Rule number 1: don’t piss off your neighbours.