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From Amazon.co.uk
Forty years after Sam Peckinpah's hugely controversial 1971 original, Rod Lurie adapted and directed a new version of Straw Dogs, with a very deliberate change of location and an updating of the social context. Instead of being set in Britain, the story now takes place in small-town Mississippi, where Hollywood screenwriter David Sumner (James Marsden) is moving with his wife Amy (Kate Bosworth). She grew up in Blackwater, which she aptly refers to as "backwater," but has since become a much-desired TV actress. In their isolated house, David will write while Amy's ex-beau (Alexander Skarsgård) repairs the adjacent barn with his redneck buddies. In drawing the unease between this effete, conflict-averse intellectual and the swaggering, flag-waving, God-fearing locals, Lurie (The Contender) seems to be aiming at the hostility between red state/blue state America in 2011. But the movie breaks down when it gets to the sadistic plot turns that lead to the savage finale, a siege in which David is pushed to his primal self. In the Peckinpah film, this was a hellish and ambiguous exorcism, but here the events just seem ugly, and the movie loses control of its perspective about halfway through. James Marsden is a game actor, but he can't be as convincing a bookworm as Dustin Hoffman was in the original film. Kate Bosworth's ambivalence is the most interesting thing at play here, as she suggests the marriage might have been less than perfect all along. That subtle discontent is more intriguing than the movie's lurid collapse into ultraviolence. --Robert Horton
Product Description
A young couple (James Marsden and Kate Bosworth) moves to a quaint southern town. Soon their perfect getaway turns out to become a living hell when dark secrets and lethal passions spiral out of control. Trapped by a pack of depraved locals led by a ruthless predator (Alexander Skarsgard, TV’s True Blood), they face a night of agonising suffering and endless bloodshed. Now their only hope for survival is to become more savage than their merciless torturers. Also starring two-time Academy Award® nominee James Woods (Best Actor, Salvador, 1986 and Best Supporting Actor, Ghosts of Mississippi, 1996).
Special Features:
Special Features:
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Commentary with Writer/Director Rod Lurie
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Courting Controversy: Remaking a Classic
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The Dynamics of Power: The Ensemble
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Inside the Siege: The Ultimate Showdown
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Creating the Sumner House: The Production Design
Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
14 of 14 people found the following review helpful
By M. I Jappy
Format:Blu-ray
Firstly I truly loved the original version.This version which I watched in the cinema did have some merit and some excitement but compared to the original it simply falls flat.Sam Peckinpah's version for it's time was brutal and contained nudity, this version contained some violence and tense situations - no nudity by Kate Bosworth here and the rape scene was no where near as graphic as the original.It seems this version is simply to tame.I am surprised this is getting an 18 rating as I have seen much stronger 15 rated films recently .There are a few differences here and not to give too much away - some of the character names as with the original remain the same and the story has moved to America.This started out on the right track but then feels hurried, when it came to the end I felt cheated big time.My advice would be to just watch the original again...
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful
By BoatDrinks
Format:Blu-ray
What a completely pointless remake. Just the same lack of pace and plot as Peckinpah's original, adding nothing interesting and sorely lacking any credibility. A whole hour limps by without anything happening and every single modification to the 1973 film is laughable. For example the town simpleton, played originally as a creepy misfit by David Warner, has now somehow transformed into a ripped male model who looks like he just stepped out of a Gap catalogue.
James Marsden performs well (despite the dead animal on his head), Kate Bosworth is shallow as his wife (and her obvious no nudity clause makes the bathroom "stripping scene" a waste of time), Alexander Skarsgaard is menacing enough as her ex, but James Woods is hopeless as the drunken Coach. Much more adept at playing smart psychos, he's totally off track here and persistently overacts.
Boring, uninspired and taking no risks at all, this is one dog that should be put to sleep.
James Marsden performs well (despite the dead animal on his head), Kate Bosworth is shallow as his wife (and her obvious no nudity clause makes the bathroom "stripping scene" a waste of time), Alexander Skarsgaard is menacing enough as her ex, but James Woods is hopeless as the drunken Coach. Much more adept at playing smart psychos, he's totally off track here and persistently overacts.
Boring, uninspired and taking no risks at all, this is one dog that should be put to sleep.
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
By Diane
Format:DVD|Amazon Verified Purchase
I liked this film. I know its a remake but having not seen the original I cannot compare it. Whilst watching the film I did get nervous for some of the characters which, I guess is a positive comment to the acting and the direction. It is one of those stories where you think, "if only they hadn't done that...". Alexander Skarsgard is a great bad guy but I kind of liked (fancied) him which I guess helps to understand the connection between him and Kate Bosworths character. As for James Marsden he is perfect in his role of the easy going husband who tries to keep the peace but steps up to protective husband with a convincing change rather than suddenly becoming a trained SAS/Navy Seal type action man. All round good film.
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3.1 out of 5 stars
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
2.0 out of 5 stars
Bad movie
This is not a very good film, but I must admit that I only purchased this as it featured Alexander Skarsgard (Eric - True Blood). Read more
Published 4 months ago by MK
3.0 out of 5 stars
Straw Dogs and Glass Houses
Straw Dogs (Film and DVD)
I'd been contemplating watching this movie for a while but it was never a priority as I was never really a big fan of the original, although it... Read more
I'd been contemplating watching this movie for a while but it was never a priority as I was never really a big fan of the original, although it... Read more
Published 6 months ago by L A. Billingham
2.0 out of 5 stars
just pretty faces
I would definitely recommend rewatching the original rather than wasting time watching this remake.Alexander Skarsgard was miscast as "the baddie" and there was no real build up of... Read more
Published 9 months ago by The Reluctant Hermit
1.0 out of 5 stars
limp
There was no need to remake straw dogs in the first place,the original isnt a five star classic in my eyes anyway but a great film all the same. Read more
Published 11 months ago by sean paul mccann
3.0 out of 5 stars
Haven't I seen you somewhere before?
There are remakes and there are remakes. Granted, right now in Hollywood, you can't step on a celebrity star without tripping over a remake, but, sometimes they can work. Read more
Published 13 months ago by Albatross
2.0 out of 5 stars
STRAW DOGS
Why I do declare, they relocativated Straw Dogs to the deep South for some good ole Tennessee Williams style homoerotic sweaty redneck action. Read more
Published 13 months ago by Nelson Viper
4.0 out of 5 stars
WHEN IN ROME
The buisness of rebranding and almost franchising movies is becoming a common pursuit in Hollywood.Just as common is the teary eyed film lovers bemoaning these movies. Read more
Published 13 months ago by mister joe
4.0 out of 5 stars
Straw Dogs
I can't remember seeing the original but I quite enjoyed this version. It's not your usual 'redneck' type film because I can't recall seeing any 'inbreds' or Hills Have Eyes types... Read more
Published 14 months ago by Je Salter
3.0 out of 5 stars
A good siege movie, American small town horror
This movie is going to suffer if it is considered purely in contrast or comparison to the original, which is arguably a classic. Read more
Published 14 months ago by Lark
4.0 out of 5 stars
A remake which is good.
Forget the original for now,or if you have never seen the 1971 version,then this is pretty good,nasty and violent as before,but what stands out is James Woods,who just beats up the... Read more
Published 14 months ago by Mrgvase
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