Straw Dogs - (September 16th, 2011): R
Distributor: Screen Gems
Opening Weekend Box-Office: #5 with $5,123,760
Domestic Box-Office Gross to-date: $9,251,081
Gross Revenue: $9,251,081
Production Budget: $25 million
Directors: Rod Lurie
Believe it or not, Straw Dogs is actually a remake, but since the original starring Dustin Hoffman was released forty years ago, it is not all that surprising that such a realization is missing from common knowledge. Now, because the original was very well received and undoubtedly has some kind of fan-base, you would think that Screen Gems would go out of their way to leverage some kind of connection between the two, but promotions remained fairly lukewarm, simply showing trailers that would cause some to question how they would react in a situation where violence is the only clear solution. The cast had the potential to draw in a respectable audience, as James Marsden has fans in both the male and female demographic as a result of his work in the superhero (the X-men trilogy) and musical (Enchanted, Hairspray) genres, while Kate Bosworth has some undoubted blockbusters (Superman Returns, 21) under her belt. Add in the fact that Alexander Skarsgård stars in the insanely popular HBO series True Blood, and there were more than enough familiar faces to make this remake entertaining. I was skeptical for a while, but after a few sneak peeks during the Screenvision pre-trailer entertainment at theaters, my curiosity was piqued for Straw Dogs.
Based on the Gordon Williams novel The Siege of Trencher’s Farm, Straw Dogs introduces audiences to young married couple David (James Marsden) and Amy Sumner (Kate Bosworth) as they move to Blackwater, Mississippi, Amy’s hometown. David, a Los Angeles scriptwriter, seeks seclusion to finish his newest project, while Amy, a TV actress, relishes moving into the house in which she was raised. David soon meets Amy’s ex-boyfriend Charlie Venner (Alexander Skarsgård) and his friends Norman (Rhys Coiro of Entourage fame), Chris (Billy Lush), and Bic (Drew Powell), whom he graciously hires to repair his damaged farm roof. Concurrently, it is revealed that the town’s former football coach, Tom Heddon (James Woods), is struggling to keep his 15-year-old daughter Janice (Willa Holland) away from a local mentally handicapped man, Jeremy (Dominic Purcell), whom she often flirts with openly. With the wide disparity between David’s personality and local customs immediately apparent, Charlie and his friends soon begin to taunt the young couple, but that taunting rapidly turns into open harassment and eventual sexual assault. As the situation continually escalates, tensions finally explode and David is forced to take matters into his own hands as the violence committed against him and his family reaches a breaking point.
From the moment that David and Amy arrive in Blackwater, director Rod Lurie cleverly builds a palpable amount of tension between the newcomers and the locals, and that building atmosphere keeps the viewer slightly on-edge and uncomfortable throughout until the gory and intense climax. Add this tension to the very convincing portrayal of a timid man out of his comfort zone given by James Marsden, and Straw Dogs earns an undeniable element of reality in its narrative. Granted, I doubt such drastic events would ever unfold in the exact same manner, but everyone has had a neighbor from hell, and this film is more than enough to have anyone think “what if?” As far as antagonists go, Charlie’s friends and Coach Heddon shamefully demonstrate some of the worst elements of human nature, but the real psycho is Charle, whom Alexander Skarsgård brings to life in a chilling and conflicted manner. These standout elements are more than enough to make Straw Dogs enjoyable, but a number of shortcomings prevent Straw Dogs from being memorable.
I completely concede that this Straw Dogs is a remake and that the story is one made famous four decades ago, but even though some narrative elements are updated, the project in its entirety still feels dated. Tension and drama abound, but nothing truly feels like a blockbuster-worthy element, and I have seen countless other films of similar quality never climb above made-for-television status. As far as some of the weaker acting goes, it was no surprise that Kate Bosworth once again delivered a slightly wooden and thoroughly unenergetic performance. And while I understand that the overall theme of the film rests on violence and brutality, this focus leaves no room for humor or joy, making the end result decidedly one-sided. Again, there is nothing overtly terrible about Straw Dogs, and the story told is enjoyable despite some of its stretches in logic, but even the most brutal elements are not enough to leave a lasting impression.
Well, from a critical standpoint, I certainly felt that Straw Dogs was mediocre, and from a commercial standpoint, the results are much of the same. Opening against The Lion King and festival sweetheart Drive, I didn’t expect Straw Dogs to take top spot, but $5.1 million still falls short of expectations…at least one movie has now conformed to traditional September box office patterns. Against a $25 million budget, an avalanche of new offerings, and no international presence, this newest thriller is virtually guaranteed to lose money. And with so many Awards Season favorites currently saturating theaters and the Holiday Movie Season just around the corner, this thriller will largely be forgotten. If you have ever had domestic disputes with neighbors, longed to release some violent tendencies, or wondered what lengths you would go to defend yourself against others, then Straw Dogs definitely has something for you.
Overall Recommendation: Medium
