Stoker marks South Korean director Park Chan-wook’s first English language film. This dysfunctional family tale oozes atmosphere and a theatrical madness that makes it the first real treat of 2013.
Following the death of her father, 18 year old India Stoker (Mia Wasikowska) and her mother Evie (Nicole Kidman) struggle to continue with their collapsing relationship. That is until Evie invites Uncle Charlie (Matthew Goode) into their home. Charlie arrives with a past shrouded in mystery and a palpable sense of danger beneath all the charisma and it's not long before people start disappearing.
The film’s influences are obvious from the outset. Chan-wook himself has said it is inspired by Hitchcock and the similarities with A Shadow of a Doubt are more than passing. Uncle Charlie's wit and charm, coupled with his boyish good looks, will make you believe he's stepped straight from a Hitchcock set. Maybe that's where he's been all these years?
There is more going on here however than merely Hitchcock homage. Stoker is an incredibly rich film with symbolism running through almost every shot. You can't help but feel that every shot could be deconstructed and analysed, and whilst all this is going on it is strikingly beautiful. The film manages to carry it off without crumbling under the weight of it all.
It all plays out in a way that revels in its own madness. It's not difficult to see where the film is heading but it enjoys surprising you along the way. Its own shower scene showing just how twisted this fairy tale can get. Loss of innocence and coming of age all take part in this incredibly creepy fable. If this is a sign of what's to come from Park Chan-wook’s English language work, then the future looks bright indeed.
Following the death of her father, 18 year old India Stoker (Mia Wasikowska) and her mother Evie (Nicole Kidman) struggle to continue with their collapsing relationship. That is until Evie invites Uncle Charlie (Matthew Goode) into their home. Charlie arrives with a past shrouded in mystery and a palpable sense of danger beneath all the charisma and it's not long before people start disappearing.
The film’s influences are obvious from the outset. Chan-wook himself has said it is inspired by Hitchcock and the similarities with A Shadow of a Doubt are more than passing. Uncle Charlie's wit and charm, coupled with his boyish good looks, will make you believe he's stepped straight from a Hitchcock set. Maybe that's where he's been all these years?
There is more going on here however than merely Hitchcock homage. Stoker is an incredibly rich film with symbolism running through almost every shot. You can't help but feel that every shot could be deconstructed and analysed, and whilst all this is going on it is strikingly beautiful. The film manages to carry it off without crumbling under the weight of it all.
It all plays out in a way that revels in its own madness. It's not difficult to see where the film is heading but it enjoys surprising you along the way. Its own shower scene showing just how twisted this fairy tale can get. Loss of innocence and coming of age all take part in this incredibly creepy fable. If this is a sign of what's to come from Park Chan-wook’s English language work, then the future looks bright indeed.