Fox Searchlight Pictures, Indian Paintbrush, Scott Free Productions,
Mia Wasikowska, Nicole Kidman, Matthew Goode, Phyllis Somerville, Harmony Korine, Lucas Till, Alden Ehrenreich, Jacki Weaver, Dermot Mulroney
India Stoker (Mia wasikowska) is a young lady who is reeling after the loss of her father in a tragic accident. She’s trying to grieve, but her mother Evelyn (Nicole Kidman) isn’t able to step up to help as she’s very unstable herself. Suddenly her Uncle Charlie (Matthew Goode) shows up and moves in with the family. India never knew he existed, but even though he’s very dark and sinister she thinks he may fill the void in her life. It soon becomes clear that he has ulterior motives and instead of being shocked by his actions, she finds herself more attracted to him. Who is this stranger in her life, and what does he have in mind for India?
This is actually a pretty creepy suspense thriller. This is the first English film for director Chan-wook Park from South Korea, and a pretty good first effort. It’s not one of those films that will wrap everything up in a little package, and it’s not going to resolve all the questions before the closing credits. This film will make you think for a long time after it’s over. The characters are all flawed, but very complex, and it has a lot of loose ends that will give you a lot to work on for a few days after the film is over. Mia does a wonderful job as India, a very strange girl, and Nicole Kidman does another fine job of playing the detached, not all together there Mom. This is not a horror film by usual definitions, but it’s definitely very suspenseful and will keep you on the edge of your seat. It’s a unusual work, and definitely one that will make you wonder what it all means. This is a screwed up family, and if nothing else, at least you’ll appreciate your own family a lot more afterward.
This is an intense film, and not everyone’s cup of tea, but if films like “Silence of the Lambs” is your type of suspense, then this is an interesting little film. It surely made me wonder what’s wrong with this bunch!
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