Stoker Review

 Stoker

Director: Park Chan-Wook

Stars: Mia Wasikowska, Nicole Kidman, Matthew Goode, Dermot Mulroney & Jackie Weaver

Running Time: 94 mins

Release: 1 March 2013

After India Stoker's father Richard Stoker (Mulroney) dies, her uncle Charlie (Matthew Goode) whom she never knew existed decides to stay to comfort her and her unstable mother Evelyn Stoker (Nicole Kidman).

Mia Wasikowska absolutely steals the film as India. I see her as a grown up Wednesday from The Addams Family but a little less morbid. She is a introvert, intelligent, inquisitive, somewhat emotionless (in a good way) lonely, polite and very peculiar. We see the film through her perspective. In some part I feel this film is about the loss of her innocence as the events of the film transpire, not to spoil anything. By the end of the film you'll either love her or hate her. One thing is for sure she goes through a lot in this film.

It's a very restrained performance which could of easily been overdone because of her characteristics and that of which would of ruined the film. She uses a lot of body language in this film and in one pivotal scene you get the gist of what is going on without saying a single word. Also she shares some brilliant chemistry with Matthew Goode in one really pivotal and somewhat beautiful scene with a piece of music by Phillip Glass.

Nicole Kidman plays India's mentally unstable mother Evelyn Stoker. Her and India have a dysfunctional relationship to say the least. She's also rather unassuming too, she seems somewhat oblivious to the events that happen around her early on in the film. Her one little speech towards the end of the film is very good and may upset tome but it's about her and India's relationship. She feels like having India as a daughter has ruined her and her potential, not much is really said about her past. She also becomes infatuated and charmed by Charlie. I know people give Kidman a lot of flak of late for her acting but she excels in this.

Matthew Goode plays the enigmatic and charming uncle Charlie. He plays the part absolutely fantastically. He's very intelligent, cultured, a charmer and very polite though there is a much darker side to him. Though later on the film I found myself to sympathise with him somewhat as his background is slowly eked out. His performance is perfect very nuanced and chilling. He expresses so much with just his eyes. Outside he looks normal and warm but when you look in his eyes there's a coldness to them. His delivery on the “ I just want to be friends” is faultless. His chemistry with Kidman and Wasikowska is on point it could not be better he is equally attached as he is detached from his family. He also has a great car too.

Dermot Mulroney plays Richard Stoker India's favourite parent of whom she went of hunting trips with. He does not say all that much in the film then again he he has a small role and he features in one pivotal scene of which he really sells. He also looks a bit like Gregory Peck in this film.

Jackie Weaver plays Aunt Gwendolyn Stoker. The only other film that I have seen her in is Animal Kingdom. She is very good in this too and she has a rather small but pivotal role. She's very good in her two scenes that she's in.

The soundtrack is superb to say the least, it's exquisite and it's done by Clint Mansell a british musician mostly known for his collaborations with Darren Aronofsky. This soundtrack is suitably very gothic and deliciously dark I absolutely love it. Park Chan-Wook could of not chose a better choice in my opinion. I also hail this as one of my all time favourite film soundtracks. I love the score when India is down in the basement that sent a chill down my spine. I have to have this soundtrack.

Equally impressive is Park Chan-Wook's filming, it's a thing of pure beauty. Everything is done deliberately. He's a fantastic director who perfectly showcases his artistic vision in the film. I love the shot of Evelyn's hair which turns into grass as he moves the camera down it's done effortlessly. I love the use of the light in the basement shifts between shots. Also the sound design has to be the best I have ever heard. I know some people can find it grating or annoying but I absolutely loved it, the sound of the hard boiled egg shell cracking against the the table. And the tightening of India's grip on the pencil. There's a lot of visual motifs in this film.

I cannot write this review without mentioning Wentworth Miller who wrote this film. For his first ever writing credit he's done phenomenally well. The characters are well drawn out and the script is superb. There's a lot of themes coursing through the veins of this film but I don't want to spoil them for you, but once you've seen it you'll understand. One thing is for sure your in for one delectable, dark, gothic and Hitchcockian treat.