Movie Review
Review Stoker
Stoker is such an elusive of a movie because it transcends a lot of different genres and refuses to be pinned down. On the surface it’s a psychological thriller, but there’s elements of a more traditional horror story mixed with motifs typical of early American gothic literature.
The story is so dark, tense, and saturated in repressed sexual desires and sexual awakenings that the audiences has no idea where the movie will take them or what the motivations are for any of these lonely characters to be with each other.
India Stoker (Mia Wasikowska) is an unusual teenager. She has a knack for the arts, hates being touched, and dresses in a very old-fashioned way. Her relationship with her mother, Evelyn (Nicole Kidman), is tense, and she often finds herself being sexually harassed by the jocks in her high school. On her 18th birthday, her father dies in a horrific car accident, and during his funeral she meets a man she did not know existed, her uncle Charlie (Matthew Goode). India does not trust this new man but slowly India and Evelyn are drawn to him, for different reasons.
Nicole Kidman plays mother 'Evelyn Stoker', and Matthew Goode plays charismatically creepy Uncle 'Charles Stoker', but there's simply no argument as to who steals the limelight and it's Mia Wasikowska (Alice In Wonderland, Jane Eyre), as 18 year old 'India Stoker'. The actress is 23 but easily passes for an 18 year old. Her character is the main focus of the movie and I feel she was perfectly cast for the role. She's old enough to be sexy, yet young enough looking so you feel a little conflicted about thinking so, and, despite her innocent appearance, has a facial quality that you can believe hides a personality more sinister. The character she plays is deeply intriguing and her acting as a dark, sexually ripe, moody introvert was magnetic and convincing. If it happened to be awards season, I'd say she was in with a chance of some nominations, but then when does subtle acting as a quiet introvert ever get nominations?
The movie is beautifully shot with accompanying music composed by Clint Mansel. Stoker is one of the best movies of its genre I have seen. It is a suspenseful ride with more twists than your typical rollercoaster including an ending that blew me away. I loved every minute of it.
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