Stoker

UK Release: 1st March 2013

Watched in Cinema: Sunday 9th June 2013

Rating: 18

Genre: Drama, Mystery, Thriller

Runtime: 1hr 39mins

IMDb Plot Synopsis: After India's father dies, her Uncle Charlie, who she never knew existed, comes to live with her and her unstable mother. She comes to suspect this mysterious, charming man has ulterior motives and becomes increasingly infatuated with him.

My Review: I came out of the screening of Stoker with a grin on my face. I haven’t seen such a well-made, intense and provocative film in a long time and I had missed that feeling! Everything about this film is meticulously thought out and film lovers like me can’t help but sit in awe as the film masterfully unfolds. We are plunged into this unnerving world as the title sequence starts and beautiful editing is displayed and we are shown a number of shots which make up the end of the film. What is so clever is that while they may be in the back of your mind throughout, it isn’t until the very end that we are shown exactly what happened. *Sigh* This is my kind of film!

The cinematography is a feast for the eyes - every single shot is gorgeous. There was also an emphasis on sound as India (played wonderfully by the understated Mia Wasikowska) can hear things more defined than everyone else, and so every crack of an egg shell or whisper of smoke is sharp, with the score adding to the films eerie intensity. It’s a very technical film and would be a gold-mine for any film student with the many parallels and complexities. 

It’s actually rather hard to talk about the actual plot without giving too much away, but essentially India and her mother are left alone after India’s father dies and his brother comes to stay with them after the funeral. They’ve never met before, which is the first sign of something being a little off. It really is all about those claustrophobic little looks and personal tics which the actors bring making you on the edge of your seat until the very last scene. There is so much that can be analysed as there are somethings that are a little ambiguous - it’s not all laid on a plate, you have to work to decide your own meanings and intentions, especially in the nature vs nurture area.

I just loved it, and was enraptured from beginning to end. It may make you feel uncomfortable at times, but it was mostly psychological. I’m still not quite sure why it’s an 18, and those going in wanting to see more, may be a little disappointed (as I was initially). It was sharp, exquisite and potent and I highly recommend it.

Score: 9/10