Straw Dogs

How far can a civilized man be pushed?

A well-to-do couple from Los Angeles (James Marsden and Kate Bosworth) move back to the wife's hometown in southern Mississippi and settle into the now vacant homestead. They enlist some roofers whom she knows from growing up, the leader being 6'4" Charlie (Alexander Skarsgård), a former boyfriend. Rivalry is in the air as he subtly tries to emasculate Amy’s brainy husband and she starts to question his manhood. Havoc ensues.

“Straw Dogs” (2011) was shot in late summer, 2009, but not released until two years later. It’s a remake of the Peckinpah's film from 40 years prior, which changes the setting from the Cornish countryside of southwest England to the modern Deep South. It’s a psychological-thriller and so there's a lot of drama and subtle suspense build-up; things don't blow-up until the final act, similar to “Cop Land.” Anyone looking for mindless action should stay away, but those who enjoy films shot in the Deep South will likely appreciate this newer version. There are also similarities to "Of Mice and Men," like the mentally challenged guy who doesn't know his own strength (Dominic Purcell).

The conflict here is basically brawn vs. brain or Lynyrd Skynyrd vs. Bach. Some have complained that Marsden was wrong for the role of the protagonist since it called for someone of shorter stature, like Dustin Hoffman in the original, but I feel Marsden is an improvement as David. This is a totally civilized man of average stature (5'10") with an intellectual occupation who is forced to shed all his civilized conditioning and revert back to the barbarism of his ancestors.

Meanwhile Bosworth is superior to Susan George IMHO because she’s more intelligent and less all-around annoying. In fact, every key character is superior to the 1971 movie because of quality casting. Skarsgård, for instance, is both more likable or respectable (initially) and intimidating as Charlie compared to Del Henney. And James Caan is simply more entertaining in the role originally played by Peter Vaughan.

There are also additional scenes that make it better than Peckinpah’s rendition, like the confrontation in the church parking lot and David’s explanation of what ‘straw dogs’ means.

Questions are raised: Why would a rape-victim keep silent? Why is the popular high school cheerleader interested in the local mentally-challenged hunk? Why does the ex-coach hate this poor sob and why is he so rash? A little reflection will answer these and other questions. I like it when films don't spell everything out and make you think.

If you appreciate Southern Gothic or Rural Gothic, as well as psychological crime thrillers, you should appreciate this. The flick is sophisticated and sneers at binary good/bad characterizations, rubbing the viewer’s face in humanity’s animalistic (or fallen) nature, which lies just beneath the veneer of civilized proprieties. I should add that there's a hard-to-watch rape scene and at least one other sexually suggestive scene (where you can't make anything out, but you know what's going on), not to mention the mayhem of the climax. But it's mostly an intelligent drama that slowly builds tension.

It runs 1 hour, 50 minutes, which is 8 minutes less than the 1971 version (making it more streamlined). It was shot in Shreveport/Bossier City, Louisiana, and Vivian, which is a half hour drive northwest of the city.

GRADE: B