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Synopsis
When Adam (Danny Dyer, Severance, Outlaw) is invited by Alice (Gillian Anderson, The X-Files), a woman he has just met, to accompany her to a lavish party in the country he knows he is going to have the best night of his life. Following mind-blowing sex, the pair speed away from the party down a wooded and desolate road in Alice's car.
In a moment of distraction a fateful collision occurs leading to a vicious and brutal attack that results in a consequent vendetta where Adam and Alice must fight violence with violence.
A dark and disturbing sexual thriller, Straightheads is a brutal and uncompromising tale of lust, violence and self-preservation.
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
88 of 99 people found the following review helpful
Straightheads is the story about a successful, controlling career woman, Alice, played by Gillian Anderson, who decides to take her young alarm man, Adam, played by Danny Dyer, on a date.
However both Adam and Alice are assaulted on the way home, following which their lives become entwined, with both obsessed with how they were hurt, unable to speak of it to others. When Alice discovers where one of the attackers lives, she persuades Adam to consider revenge.
The film is not so much about revenge as about violence, in particular how violence begets violence. It explores themes of war indirectly, including how armies protect, and fail to protect, soldiers from the dehumanising effect of perpetrating violence. Although not set in a war zone, many of the characters have a military background - including Alice's father.
It is also a film about moral contingencies, about how it is impossible to judge another's actions by absolute standards, unless you have been in the same situation.
A film about violence that failed to show that violence would be cheating, but this film is never gratuitous or voyeuristic. We understand what happened to Alice and Adam, how the attack felt, how it damaged them, by observing the aftermath it leaves behind.
Set in idyllic English countryside, the film is beautifully shot and elegantly directed.
Anderson and Dyer give brilliant, understated performances, who undergo a real journey in the course of the film. They are ably supported by the rest of the cast.
An pertinent film, that deserves viewing.
However both Adam and Alice are assaulted on the way home, following which their lives become entwined, with both obsessed with how they were hurt, unable to speak of it to others. When Alice discovers where one of the attackers lives, she persuades Adam to consider revenge.
The film is not so much about revenge as about violence, in particular how violence begets violence. It explores themes of war indirectly, including how armies protect, and fail to protect, soldiers from the dehumanising effect of perpetrating violence. Although not set in a war zone, many of the characters have a military background - including Alice's father.
It is also a film about moral contingencies, about how it is impossible to judge another's actions by absolute standards, unless you have been in the same situation.
A film about violence that failed to show that violence would be cheating, but this film is never gratuitous or voyeuristic. We understand what happened to Alice and Adam, how the attack felt, how it damaged them, by observing the aftermath it leaves behind.
Set in idyllic English countryside, the film is beautifully shot and elegantly directed.
Anderson and Dyer give brilliant, understated performances, who undergo a real journey in the course of the film. They are ably supported by the rest of the cast.
An pertinent film, that deserves viewing.
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful
Not for weak stomachs, this is a deliberately challenging and harsh 'eye for an eye' picture. Gillian Anderson and Danny Dyer make for an intruiging couple as Alice and Adam. She's a high flyer. He fits TVs. But when she invites him on a date to a lavish country house party, and the two end up getting together, it looks like things couldn't go much better.
They couldn't. It's horrendously downhill from there as they offend a local driver and he decides to set his psychotic friends on them in order to keep their predatory attentions away from his own daughter.
Suddenly Adam and Alice find their night going to hell, as Adam is savagely beaten half to death, and Alice is gang raped.
Recovering back in her lavish flat, it looks as if the couple might manage to put the events behind them, until Alice runs across knowledge of where the attackers live, and realises that she can't let go...worse, that she needs revenge and won't rest until she's got it...
This turns into a very harsh and challenging film of conflicting goals, tested morals, and a study of how far people can go when driven by rage.
As Adam and Alice close in on their prey, it's obvious that maybe their sanity is cracking along with their bonds.
It's a highly dramatic film. Gillian Anderson is superb as Alice, and Danny Dyer is more serious, less cheeky chappy than usual. As a result they make a fascinating pairing of age difference and culture clash. There's also friction about just how far they should go, which is acted believably and feels very realistic.
The ending, when it comes, is a violent, traumatic and emotionally cathartic climax that is hard to watch but also not unexpected. What is unexpected is the way the different characters react. It's brutal and bleak, and emotionally draining, and you may feel a little uncomfortable afterwards. But any harsh exploitation film that's trying to make an important point should perhaps make you feel that way.
They couldn't. It's horrendously downhill from there as they offend a local driver and he decides to set his psychotic friends on them in order to keep their predatory attentions away from his own daughter.
Suddenly Adam and Alice find their night going to hell, as Adam is savagely beaten half to death, and Alice is gang raped.
Recovering back in her lavish flat, it looks as if the couple might manage to put the events behind them, until Alice runs across knowledge of where the attackers live, and realises that she can't let go...worse, that she needs revenge and won't rest until she's got it...
This turns into a very harsh and challenging film of conflicting goals, tested morals, and a study of how far people can go when driven by rage.
As Adam and Alice close in on their prey, it's obvious that maybe their sanity is cracking along with their bonds.
It's a highly dramatic film. Gillian Anderson is superb as Alice, and Danny Dyer is more serious, less cheeky chappy than usual. As a result they make a fascinating pairing of age difference and culture clash. There's also friction about just how far they should go, which is acted believably and feels very realistic.
The ending, when it comes, is a violent, traumatic and emotionally cathartic climax that is hard to watch but also not unexpected. What is unexpected is the way the different characters react. It's brutal and bleak, and emotionally draining, and you may feel a little uncomfortable afterwards. But any harsh exploitation film that's trying to make an important point should perhaps make you feel that way.
8 of 10 people found the following review helpful
I usually read the reviews before I decide to view the film particularly if I have never heard of it. The reviews were mixed.
I like a good revenge film as it is something we have all thought about but never have the guts to do.
In this case a successful career woman takes up with a much younger man who has just happened to come round and fit safety devices in her house. She is the super sexy and sophisticated business woman and he watches her undress and keeps the clip. She knows she is being watched and then decides to go out with him. She takes him to a party. They hardly know each other but after the party they are attacked on the way home. He is badly injured and she is raped. The violence is not graphic.
Their lives are bound together by the tragedy and they try to recover. Her father dies and she moves back to the area where the attack took place.
One day she spots one of her attackers. There are times in the film when you jump with surprise and shock and that keeps you watching. When she spots her attacker she decides on revenge but the younger lover is not so keen.
If the film has any faults it is the fact that you know so little about the couple that you are no drawn into to be sympathetic of their plight. The attackers are shadowy figures and you know very little about them
You do not have the opportunity to hate them and the main one who raped her is treated sympathetically as he explains why he did it.
In a revenge film you want to have total sympathy wit the victims and total hatred for the attackers. In this film you are torn as you do not know enough about each.
Also normally you are encouraged to relish the end of each of the baddies but this does not happen here.
If you want gratuitous sex and violence this isn't for you . The sex is tasteful and the violence is mainly off camera.
I liked Gillian Anderson's convincing English accent but I think she did attend an English boarding school. Danny Dyer the young love was less convincing but maybe I am wrong and that is exactly how a 23 year old alarm man caught up in a revenge story with an older woman would react.
I liked it and it is definitely worth a watch. The parts I found disturbing were not the overtly violent or sexy bits.
Again I like these films because they are set in Britain and are therefore more realistic and disturbing.If they are set in the mean streets of the US they are just films. unlike some reviews this is exactly the sort of things are lottery money should be spent on. We have enough crumbling churches if people wants to restore them. The British film industry needs funding and maybe like the Olympics we will be up there again.
I like a good revenge film as it is something we have all thought about but never have the guts to do.
In this case a successful career woman takes up with a much younger man who has just happened to come round and fit safety devices in her house. She is the super sexy and sophisticated business woman and he watches her undress and keeps the clip. She knows she is being watched and then decides to go out with him. She takes him to a party. They hardly know each other but after the party they are attacked on the way home. He is badly injured and she is raped. The violence is not graphic.
Their lives are bound together by the tragedy and they try to recover. Her father dies and she moves back to the area where the attack took place.
One day she spots one of her attackers. There are times in the film when you jump with surprise and shock and that keeps you watching. When she spots her attacker she decides on revenge but the younger lover is not so keen.
If the film has any faults it is the fact that you know so little about the couple that you are no drawn into to be sympathetic of their plight. The attackers are shadowy figures and you know very little about them
You do not have the opportunity to hate them and the main one who raped her is treated sympathetically as he explains why he did it.
In a revenge film you want to have total sympathy wit the victims and total hatred for the attackers. In this film you are torn as you do not know enough about each.
Also normally you are encouraged to relish the end of each of the baddies but this does not happen here.
If you want gratuitous sex and violence this isn't for you . The sex is tasteful and the violence is mainly off camera.
I liked Gillian Anderson's convincing English accent but I think she did attend an English boarding school. Danny Dyer the young love was less convincing but maybe I am wrong and that is exactly how a 23 year old alarm man caught up in a revenge story with an older woman would react.
I liked it and it is definitely worth a watch. The parts I found disturbing were not the overtly violent or sexy bits.
Again I like these films because they are set in Britain and are therefore more realistic and disturbing.If they are set in the mean streets of the US they are just films. unlike some reviews this is exactly the sort of things are lottery money should be spent on. We have enough crumbling churches if people wants to restore them. The British film industry needs funding and maybe like the Olympics we will be up there again.
Most Recent Customer Reviews
"..BRILIANT LITTLE GEM.."
This film is without a doubt one of the gems of 2007. Its a simple good old revenge movie! for a first time director he has done a brilliant job!! Read more
Published 1 month ago by S. Drury
GILLIAN ANDERSON at her Best but not the DVD
Straightheads [DVD] [2007]I loved the movie particularly the acting by Gillian Andersen. The story is well edited. The violence though at times seems really repulsive. Read more
Published 22 months ago by JESSICA'S DAD
Brilliant Brilliant Brilliant
I only saw this film the other day, and I thought it was brill! A friend at university had recommended it to me, and as it stars the gorgeous Danny Dyer aswell I thought I ought to... Read more
Published on 23 Oct 2009 by Michelle Harvey
A very cold dish
This movie is an unconvincing descent into gratuitous violence redeemed only by an excellent performance from Gillian Anderson. Read more
Published on 4 Oct 2009 by sft
Dire
One mark only for Straightheads although while I'm writing this I'm wondering why I'm bothering, as all the negative views published for this film pretty well sum up the reasons... Read more
Published on 11 Sep 2009 by Eddie
straightheads dvd
Hav'nt seen this yet but was highly recommended to me and the story line looks good,so cant wait till i can find time to see it,look it up!!!
Published on 19 Jun 2009 by Mrs. S. J. Thurland
waste of money
A boring film from start to finish.Pathetic violence,bad acting.Why a talented actress has lowered herself to be in this trash I will never know. Read more
Published on 20 Mar 2009 by N. Tate
Truly Awful
If you know what's good for you dont watch this film.
One of the worst films ever made.
And what can you say about the perfomance of Danny Dyer? Read more
One of the worst films ever made.
And what can you say about the perfomance of Danny Dyer? Read more
Published on 4 Oct 2008 by C. R. Severn
I would rather sit on the toilet with stomach ache for 1 hour and 20...
This is really the biggest waste of your life if you choose to watch it the acting is so wooden there are chairs flying all over the place, its just pointless its feels like its... Read more
Published on 16 Sep 2008 by K. M. Edwards
Straight-to-DVD-heads
The title is a gangster term for people not (yet) involved in crime, as were the couple in this film. Read more
Published on 11 Sep 2008 by tallpete33
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