Straw Dogs

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Draco W Feb 1, 2019 Holy hell, what happened here? I suppose I knew what I was getting myself into, given the rating and notoriety â" but Sam Peckinpahâ(TM)s look at rural England is darker and more violent than I expected. Dustin Hoffman, a math/astrophysics researcher, and his English wife Susan George, travel back to her hometown when he gets a grant that allows him to study independently. He may be fleeing something (workplace politics, perhaps) but the locals do not make him welcome either. Worse, there seems to be an increasing barrier between Amy (George) and David (Hoffman), reinforcing his separateness as an American outside of his own culture. A bunch of handymen hired to put a roof on the garage start to menace them, including one who knew Amy in the past. They kill the cat and then there is a horrible, even worse than usual, rape scene. Peckinpah came under fire for this and there doesnâ(TM)t seem to be any justifiable reason why one would film it. Certainly, it increases the tension â" but it isnâ(TM)t clear that Hoffman ever finds out and thus the threat to his masculinity (which must be Peckinpahâ(TM)s theme) isnâ(TM)t clear either. Except these local rapists really do taunt him and her and also an intellectually disabled man (David Warner) who is possibly a pedophile â" their desire to lynch the latter sets the final showdown in motion when David seeks to protect this problematic character from the gang. Then further intense brutality ensues as they lay siege to the house and David must find his masculinity (including slapping Amy around) to fight them off. Given Peckinpahâ(TM)s reputation for drinking and womanizing, it is hard not to think that he approves of this change in David. But letâ(TM)s hope that, close to 50 years later, this championing of a âmasculinity contestâ? (there is new social psych research on this) can be seen as the catastrophe it really is. It canâ(TM)t solve interpersonal problems and the consequences for society can only be dire. Peckinpah doesnâ(TM)t stick around to show us. See more

Anakin G Jan 21, 2019 A distinct attempt thus jewel to watch.

Theodore P Dec 27, 2018 One of the most visceral and controversial films to ever be released, especially during the 1970's. A powerhouse performance from Dustin Hoffman and sharp direction from Sam Peckinpah. See more

Luke R Nov 1, 2018 Oscar nomination-deserving leads and director for this violent, dark, rural tale. Paced like a home-thriller it is charming and captivating. One of Peckinpah's very best. See more

Ron S Oct 24, 2018 A tense drama showing that even a mathematician can become dangerous when pushed to his limits

Luke S Jul 1, 2018 "Who cares if you're an intellectual," Peckinpah seems to inquire, and indeed his hero, played by Dustin Hoffman, is a math scholar and bores anyone when he talks about his work, his passion, and eyes glass over - even his wife's (Susan George). The workman in the small English village they've moved to disrespect him, milking the labor, laughing at him to his face, and eyeing his wife lecherously. "What is it that makes a man a man in a world that only respects violence?" One of the best films ever made if you ask me, looks at some answers. See more

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Straw Dogs

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