Stoker

Stoker

Grade: B+

Directed by: Chan Wook-Park

Starring: Mia Wasikowska, Nicole Kidman, Matthew Goode

Chan Wook-Park arrives with his English directorial debut and make no mistake, this is his movie. That's not to say that the actors aren't good (they are) or the story isn't solid (it's effectively creepy, if a little predictable) but it's his directorial flourishes and borderline showboating that delivers, and almost upends at times, the film. It's interesting that his first english language film would be a gothic tale, a very western hemisphere type of story. If anything, he proves beyond a shadow of a doubt, that he belongs making films on this side of the pond.

Stoker opens fittingly, with a funeral. We see a dark, morbid sort of girl, the kind that Twilight has hijacked and turned into a mushy mess. Wasikowska proves to be a far superior ("surprise!" thought no one) actress that Stewart in this type of role. We see India (Wasikowska) looking distant, her grieving mother (Kidman) and in the distance, a figure, watching. We hear him say hello to India. Who is he? Why is he at India's funeral? He is Uncle Charlie (Goode) and has returned for the funeral after some 20 years abroad. He is magnetic. Sophisticated, good-looking, and charming, nobody can believe he's there. He's actually going to be staying for a while. He seems particularly keen to get to know India, who seems instinctively afraid of him. 

India's mother is all too ready to welcome him, to warm their home, to take her mind off her very cold relationship with her daughter. But all the while, it seems that Charlie has his eyes on India. We follow India to school, where to no surprise she is not exactly popular. But she's no victim either. When a bullying male goes to strike her, she stabs him in the hand with a pencil. She's got a mean streak. The film excels at building these characters and situations, while still maintaining a healthy amount of mystery and intrigue. And as events unfold, and secrets are revealed seemingly much too soon (poor Auntie Gwen never stood a chance), there is still more to come. While this could be too much under a lesser director, Park has a tight grip on the pacing and mood of his film. He won't let there be a lull, even when you perceive there should be one. He keeps tightening the screws.

He allows himself this control by tapping into India's apparent super senses. She can hear, see, and feel the slightest nuances. We hear the squeak and creak of a belt around someone's waist as they move. Whispers under breath. The squish of blood mixed with wood from sharpening a bloody pencil. This hyper-awareness is a bond between her and Charlie, who says he is the same way, and always knew that she would be too. They are meant to know each other. Their relationship grows very strange as Evelyn seems to be falling for Charlie's wiles, but what are his motivations. As he watches India as he caresses her mother, things get complicated. Add in India masturbating in the shower to a murder that happens in the film, and you've got yourself an effectively fucked up gothic tale, that takes the conventions further than they were meant to go.

Wasikowska shines in a difficult role of being cold, innocent, vulnerable, dark, curious, and then dangerous in a turn that feels that way, instead of something that we were just waiting to happen, which would've been the case if too dark of an actress took the role. Kidman is conniving and breathy, and Goode is solid as Charlie, although I didn't see enough of a difference once the character's true nature is revealed. They are all effectively understated, otherwise the film would've collapsed in on itself.

It's not very often we get these Bronte-ish (Wasikowska was also very good in the newest Jane Eyre) dark castle films, featuring a messed up family, and some creepy goings on. Even less frequent that they are done well, and build upon the genre, rather than letting modern trappings undermine the very point of the stories. While the end isn't necessarily where I thought things needed to end up, it's not enough to take away from a stylish film, made by the hand of a craftsman.

Fun fact: Carey Mulligan and Jodie Foster and Colin Firth were originally cast, but were replaced by Wasikowska and Kidman and Goode. A host of young actresses including Kristen Stewart and Rooney mara were considered. As was James Franco and Michael Fassbender.