Stoker Review

Stoker

3.5 stars out of 4

By Brett Takeshita

Do you like your psychological thrillers strange, beautiful, disturbing, stylish, and kinky? Then, Stoker is the perfect movie for you. While some may be totally repulsed by this gothic horror flick, I really loved the dark zaniness of it all.

Stoker focuses upon a weird high school senior named India (Mia Wasikowska). She's not like the other kids at school. She loves old-fashioned clothing and unconventional art. She's truly an outsider. India has a tense, strained relationship with her mother, Evelyn (Nicole Kidman). They are both devastated when India's father dies a tragic death. However, on the day of the funeral, India meets Charlie (Matthew Goode), the uncle that she never knew she had. After Charlie moves in with them, both India and Evelyn are drawn towards this mysterious man that they know nothing about.

This is the first American film that Park Chan-wook has directed. I've never seen any of his other films such as Oldboy or Thirst, but I must say that I was constantly "wowed" by his superb direction. Each of Park's shots is beautifully calculated and executed. His camera movements are so precise, and his knack for visuals is outstanding. He really knows how to rattle the nerves and generate some overwhelming suspense. Park also knows how to balance horror, melodrama, and dark comedy to stellar effect. I look forward to watching Park's other past and future works.

Perhaps the greatest strength in Stoker is the extraordinary cast. Mia Wasikowska is an incredible lead actress. Certainly, she's one of the most exciting young actresses working right now. In each movie that I've seen her in (The Kids Are All Right and Jane Eyre, for example), she plays a completely different character and gets lost in her role. Here, she has a very challenging role, and she succeeds by truly understanding the weird secrets and dark desires that her character holds. Nicole Kidman has a smaller role here than one might expect, but she does a fantastic job with the scenes that she has. In one of the best scenes of the entire movie, Evelyn confronts India after some terrible events transpire, and Kidman acts the hell out of this scene. She is cold, threatening, intense, and absolutely frightening. It shows what an extraordinary "chameleon" actress she is. The highest praise must be given to Matthew Goode for his phenomenal performance. He is handsome and charming, but he is also really creepy and really threatening. There is a palpable sense of menace within him, and he is truly flawless in this film. It's a mesmerizing, jaw-dropping performance. I hope that Goode gets more acting roles in the future. This guy deserves awards.

Not all is perfect with Stoker. For the most part, the acting and direction overpower the script. Stoker feels more like an artsy, poetic piece than a full-out narrative film. The story feels like it comes second to the visuals and mood. It's also hard to tell what the characters' motivations are. I'm not saying that the script is bad by any means, but if it had a little more depth to it, Stoker might've been a classic.

Warning: Stoker is not a film for everyone. It's wacky and weird, and the sexual elements of the film can get downright nasty. However, brave moviegoers should definitely dive right into this film. Let the beautiful imagery wash over you. Let the incredible performances and complex characters sink in. Give Stoker a chance, and you may enjoy it as much as I did. Out of all of the movies that I've seen so far in 2013, Stoker is the best. It constantly challenged, surprised, disturbed, and impressed me. Three and a half stars out of four.