Oldboy is one of my favorite films of all time. It is a creepy, disturbing, truly bad-ass film with smarts and humor to it. It was also directed by Chan-wook Park who had never made a bad film before. That streak ends with Stoker....a dull, pointless thriller that I was so disappointed by that I actually had to think long and hard before writing this review just to make sure there was something I wasn't taking away from the film. I am sad to report, however, that despite a few moderately creepy performances (mostly from male lead Matthew Goode)...the film managed to be too weird for its own good.
Alluding to Alfred Hitchcock's phenomenal Shadow Of A Doubt through both plot and individual scenes...the film follows India (Mia Wasikowska.) Her father, Richard (Dermont Mulroney) has just died and her mom, Evelyn (Nicole Kidman) invites her Uncle Charlie (Goode) to stay a while with them. India is instantly suspicious of Charlie but Evelyn is turned on by his seemingly charming ways. Evelyn is so turned on by him, in fact, that India is crept out by their relationship.
Upon watching the film...I couldn't help but feel what India was feeling. Charlie and Evelyn's relationship is gross and creepy. I would be willing to feel dirty if it was done in a reasonable manner. Just take the twist in Oldboy, which is hands down one of the creepiest things ever to come out of any film. I was willing to sit there, feeling dirty because that twist was well done and for that matter, well thought out. Here...the relationship between Evelyn and Charlie is just a dumb, recurring theme to keep the plot going. It has no rhyme or reason other than that there would be no film without this plot. As well...the character of India, although we know what she's feeling, belongs in a mental institution. In other words...there's no one to root for in this film. The protagonist is clinically insane and the antagonist is a complete sleazeball.
The film does get a decent performance out of Goode and Kidman and Wasikowska try their best with what they've got. However, what they've got is hardly enough to get a good performance out of anyone. Yes...even Humphrey Bogart or Cary Grant would have an incredibly hard time working with such lame material.
Stoker never really feels authentic. It meanders from scene to scene expecting the audience to enjoy its every twist and turn. However, how is the audience supposed to enjoy every twist and turn when they all feel so phony? The film also made me feel unclean. It is not so much a disgusting film as one that is impossible to swallow. Perhaps this is Park learning his lesson for next time.
(1 and 1/2 out of 5 Stars, The film is rated R for disturbing violent and sexual content)
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