Stoker

Reviews from the Dark Side presents
Stoker
Released 3/1/13, now in theaters

Park Chan-wook of Oldboy fame makes his English language film debut with the thriller, Stoker.  The script was written by Wentworth Miller (any Prison Break fans?) and stars Mia Wasikowska, Nicole Kidman, Matthew Goode, and Dermot Mulroney.  Before I begin, I would like to inform horror fans now who know nothing about the film that Stoker is not about Dracula or vampires period...are you still here?  Let's begin!

India Stoker (Wasikowska) is a reclusive teenager whose only friend is her father, Richard (Mulroney).  When a mysterious car accident claims his life, she is left alone in her family's vast estate with her emotionally unstable mother, Evelyn (Kidman), who makes token efforts to reach her introverted daughter, but can never reach her.

 Both of their lives are upended when they meet Richard's brother, Charlie, at the funeral, an uncle India didn't know existed.   Uncle Charlie seems perfect in every way.  He's smart, charming, and resourceful.  And Evelyn is infatuated with him, a fact that doesn't sit well with India.  She goes on a mission to learn her uncle's secrets and learns some disturbing facts along the way.  When India is attacked by a classmate one night, she is rescued by her uncle in disturbingly brutal manner.  However, instead of being horrified by the act, she is now strangely drawn to her mystery relative.  More disturbingly, witnessing this act may have awakened something in the emotionally awkward teen that his scarier than anyone could have imagined.

When I think about how to describe Stoker, several words come to mind.  Words like strange, disturbing, mysterious, weird...well, you get the point.  The Stoker family could use a lot of time on a psychiatrist's couch.  That is if they aren't cooling it in a prison cell.  It's a darkly Gothic and beautiful film that leaves you with the feeling of dread at times. That said, the plot does meander a little bit as India struggles through what can only be described as a miserable life (albeit self-inflicted) after her father dies.  If you can survive the first 35-40 minutes or so, you will begin to be rewarded as the little action that does happen is often fast and blinding. 

The standout performer in Stoker is easily Mia Wasikowska as the lonely, introverted India.  She has a dark, almost soulless demeanor as she makes her way through the film.  It's a perfect marriage to the dark spirit and themes of Stoker.  Her performance would elicit some empathy if some of her actions weren't so disturbing. 

Stoker may elicit some comparisons to Hitchcock's mind-bending thrillers with its twists and turns. It is not a horror movie in the truest sense, but it can make you a little uneasy at times.  It is a film worth your time if you are a fan of the genre.

The Dark Lord of the Sith says:

***1/2 stars

Ratings Legend
Zero *= Don't waste your time. Pure dreck! Dreck is too good for this! Blind me please!
1 *= Fuggedaboutit!
2 *= Average, Mediocre, Nothing Special
3 *= Good viewing. Much better than a poke in the eye.
4 *= Great. Could possibly foot the price of a non-Matinee. Buy this on DVD when released!
5 *= Pure eye candy. Hall of Fame material here.