Stoker (2013)

Stoker is a well-made, bizarre dysfunctional drama that is difficult to like, yet hard to stop watching.  The acting was very solid.  The dialogue was very delicately written.  The editing was fantastic.  However, the story was bitterly perverse.  It was fine writing, but twisted subject matter.  The filmmakers took a pretty messed up story and through the art of storytelling, they dressed it up and made it almost hypnotic.

Some parts of the movie were predictable, while others completely took me by surprise.  For the most part, the film keeps you guessing throughout.

After the death of her father, India (Mia Wasikowska) and her mother (Nicole Kidman) are visited by his brother (Matthew Goode) whom she never knew existed.  He decides to move in with them.  Why she had not met him before is a mystery in itself.  Why he waited to visit until after her father died is puzzling.  His presence is disturbing and India becomes obsessed with learning more about him and what he wants.

The film is directed by Chan-wook Park and the rest of the noteworthy cast includes Dermot Mulroney, Jacki Weaver, Alden Ehrenreich, Lucas Till, and Phyllis Somerville.

In Stoker, Wasikowska proves that she has the ability to carry the majority of a film by herself.  She is an excellent actress and I wouldn’t be surprised if she gets an Academy Award nomination in the near future.

Kidman continues to choose darker roles and this one turns out to be one of her better performances in recent years.  Given her recent movies, that might not be saying that much.

This is the first film that I have seen Goode in and I thought that he was superb.

When the credits rolled, it was hard to tell right away if I liked or disliked the film.  In that sense, it sort of toyed with my emotions.  It does a great job of being disturbing.

If you are looking for a positive and uplifting movie, Stoker is not for you.  If you like twisted dysfunctional stories, then you will probably enjoy this film.

I rate this movie a 7 on a scale of 1-10.

Buy, rent, or run?  Rent.