Stoker Review
I've been a fan of Park's work since I saw Oldboy 3 or 4 years ago, since then I've been hooked on his films, so naturally I was excited about seeing his first American picture Stoker. I'm glad to say that I wasn't disappointed, and while the film may not be as good as some of his previous works, it was still a beautiful and savage film.
The film is set presumably in the present day, although the decor, costumes and general atmosphere are more reminiscent of a period drama than a present day thriller. The plot concerns a wealthy family who live in a remote mansion, when India's father dies her uncle comes round to visit, and eventually stays with her and her mother. It is apparent instantly there there is something wrong about the situation, and the twists and turns of the plot begin. I won't spoil it any more for you, suffice to say that the sheer eroticness of this film, as well as the sometimes unbearable sexual tension mixed with scenes of shocking violence are what makes this film truly extraordinary for something that has come from the Hollywood system.
The camera work in the film is a thing of beauty, the shots are all thought out to the absolute maximum, and look breathtaking as they soar and swoop through the beautiful sets. Each shot attempts to connote an idea, and eventually you start noticing all of the references the film is making through the shots and action on screen. It's a refreshing change from the stale technical work of some of the recent films I have seen, and you can tell that Park was specific to the utmost degree about what he wanted the film to look like. The costumes and environments all echo this as well, and provide a stunning backdrop the film's dark themes.
The performances were again superb, with Nicole Kidman making a surprising lasting impression on me, especially in one particular scene where she looks directly at the camera and seems to be staring into the audience. Mia Wasikowska again provides a good performance, and manages to portray India's internal feelings wonderfully, Matthew Goode is also brilliant as the manic uncle Charlie, establishing an instant sense of unease about him.
There are a few tiny niggles here and there, while the script is nearly perfect there are some plot holes here and there which can distract from the immersion of the film. I'm not sure whether this can be classed as a negative as I found it easy to watch, but Park has managed to create an American film which uses the traits of his Korean films and which for a certain kind of audience may be confusing and make the film hard to watch. Its mostly due to the timing and framing of the film, which is remarkably more Asian feeling than American which might put some people off.
With these niggles aside, I would still recommend this film wholeheartedly to anyone who wants to see a refreshing change to the thriller genre, and to anyone who wants to escape the mundane Hollywood formula film. Just know that this film is a very mature film, it revolves around ideas of sex, murder and mystery, and is very erotically charged.
9/10
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