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Straw Dogs

  • 2011
  • R
  • 1h 50m
IMDb RATING
5.8/10
37K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
3,308
419
Alexander Skarsgård and James Marsden in Straw Dogs (2011)
L.A. screenwriter David Sumner relocates with his wife to her hometown in the deep South. There, while tensions build between them, a brewing conflict with locals becomes a threat to them both.
Play trailer2:52
10 Videos
55 Photos
Psychological DramaTragedyActionDramaThriller

Los Angeles screenwriter David Sumner relocates with his wife to her hometown in the deep South. There, while tensions build between them, a brewing conflict with locals becomes a threat to ... Read allLos Angeles screenwriter David Sumner relocates with his wife to her hometown in the deep South. There, while tensions build between them, a brewing conflict with locals becomes a threat to them both.Los Angeles screenwriter David Sumner relocates with his wife to her hometown in the deep South. There, while tensions build between them, a brewing conflict with locals becomes a threat to them both.

  • Director
    • Rod Lurie
  • Writers
    • Rod Lurie
    • David Zelag Goodman
    • Sam Peckinpah
  • Stars
    • James Marsden
    • Kate Bosworth
    • Alexander Skarsgård
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • IMDb RATING
    5.8/10
    37K
    YOUR RATING
    POPULARITY
    3,308
    419
    • Director
      • Rod Lurie
    • Writers
      • Rod Lurie
      • David Zelag Goodman
      • Sam Peckinpah
    • Stars
      • James Marsden
      • Kate Bosworth
      • Alexander Skarsgård
    • 169User reviews
    • 192Critic reviews
    • 45Metascore
  • See production info at IMDbPro
    • Awards
      • 2 nominations total

    Videos10

    Trailer #1
    Trailer 2:52
    Trailer #1
    Straw Dogs (2011)
    Clip 1:20
    Straw Dogs (2011)
    Straw Dogs (2011)
    Clip 1:20
    Straw Dogs (2011)
    Straw Dogs: You're A Coward
    Clip 1:02
    Straw Dogs: You're A Coward
    Straw Dogs: Shall Not Covet
    Clip 1:18
    Straw Dogs: Shall Not Covet
    Straw Dogs: Traffic
    Clip 1:07
    Straw Dogs: Traffic
    Straw Dogs: Kate Bosworth On The Script
    Featurette 0:40
    Straw Dogs: Kate Bosworth On The Script

    Photos55

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    Top cast48

    Edit
    James Marsden
    James Marsden
    • David Sumner
    Kate Bosworth
    Kate Bosworth
    • Amy Sumner
    Alexander Skarsgård
    Alexander Skarsgård
    • Charlie
    James Woods
    James Woods
    • Tom Heddon
    Dominic Purcell
    Dominic Purcell
    • Jeremy Niles
    Rhys Coiro
    Rhys Coiro
    • Norman
    Billy Lush
    Billy Lush
    • Chris
    Laz Alonso
    Laz Alonso
    • John Burke
    Willa Holland
    Willa Holland
    • Janice Heddon
    Walton Goggins
    Walton Goggins
    • Daniel Niles
    Anson Mount
    Anson Mount
    • Coach Milkens
    Drew Powell
    Drew Powell
    • Bic
    Kristen Shaw
    Kristen Shaw
    • Abby
    Megan Adelle
    • Melissa
    Jessica Dockrey
    • Helen
    • (as Jessica Cook)
    Randall Newsome
    Randall Newsome
    • Blackie
    Tim J. Smith
    Tim J. Smith
    • Larry
    • (as Tim Smith)
    Richard Folmer
    • Pastor
    • Director
      • Rod Lurie
    • Writers
      • Rod Lurie
      • David Zelag Goodman
      • Sam Peckinpah
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

    User reviews169

    5.837.1K
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    Featured reviews

    6Leofwine_draca

    Fine as a standalone, but you'll wonder why they bothered as a remake

    Most modern remakes carry with them a whiff of disappointment, a general feeling of déjà vu and a sense that watching is time wasted because they're invariably going to be worse than the original (apart from in a few instances). The same can well be said of STRAW DOGS, a film that relocates Sam Peckinpah's controversial classic in the southern USA but otherwise tells exactly the same story, with the same sequences and even the same dialogue beats.

    Put simply, STRAW DOGS is a fine enough film in itself and would be more impressive if the original didn't exist. Compared to the original, it comes second in every way; the cast is a lot worse, the direction is non-existent compared to Peckinpah's masterful stylistics, and the power is just lacking. Fans of the original would do better to stick with that because there's no way this film has a hope of coming close to it.

    Taken as a standalone movie, though, and compared to other modern thrillers, it turns out to be…well, not bad. The slow-building plot is as effective as ever, and the climax doesn't disappointment when it arrives and unleashes a wave of violence upon the screen. James Marsden struggles because you can't help but compare him to Dustin Hoffman in the role, and Kate Bosworth doesn't really capture that level of coquettishness that the Susan George character had, either.

    But the supporting players are better, and Alexander Skarsgard is particularly sinister as the bad guy who doesn't really do anything all that bad – although we hate him anyway. James Woods ignites the screen, as ever, and Dominic Purcell offers a completely different performance to David Warner's, so his role is all the better for it.

    So what we have here is a film that can be taken in two different ways. As a remake, it's a pale effort compared to the vibrant original. As a standalone movie, it's a pretty tense thriller with a gripping storyline. I liked it enough the first time around, but is it worth a rewatch? Not like the original.
    4kryoung02

    Strong cast - sad remake script

    As a fan of Alexander Skarsgård, I really tried to like the movie - but I just couldn't. If the hushed nature of the theater crowed leaving at the end is any indication - they felt the same way. I feel the cast did well with what they had, but the script was lacking in too many ways. Where the 1971 version had tension and excitement, the 2011 version was often boring and all over the place. I often felt like it was Texas Chainsaw Massacre decided to have a get together with Deliverance and Sweet Home Alabama. The whole thing just felt awkward and thrown together. There were only a handful of scenes where the movie actually had my attention - but they were few and far apart and short lived. There were even moments that were so awkward they were actually uncomfortable. I expected so much more with such a classic movie base and wonderful cast - but ultimately it was disappointing.
    mikethevike

    If you're going to remake a nearly perfect movie, don't botch it!

    This remake has no reason to exist. It is shallow and poorly acted and lacks most of the tense emotions and moral questions raised by the original. Hollywood at its worst, cellophane-wrapped, uninspired, made-for-TV quality, cookie cutter remake. Of course, it is padded with clichés, cheap effects and mass-appeal frosting to bring out brain-dead teen movie goers. Why did a great actor like James Wood let himself get suckered into this disaster? This could have been an so-so B-action movie but trying to cash in on the status of Sam Peckinpah's cult classic is a really cheap move. It also forces me to give it a 1-star rating rather than a 4 to 5 rating it could have earned if it didn't ask to be compared with the former.

    If you consider watching this movie, please rent the original instead. It is still as intense as it was in 1971 and actually raises a lot of disturbing questions. A true classic.
    ManBehindTheMask63

    Intense film, great acting, true to the original

    Sam Peckinpah's original classic is one of my favorite thrillers. So when I heard they were remaking "Straw dogs", I wasn't surprised but somewhat leery of having high expectations. But once I read the casting and saw the trailer, I became excited for the remake. I was not let down. "Straw Dogs" is one of the most intense films I've seen in years.

    "Straw Dogs" (2011) did right, what so many other remakes do wrong. It didn't alter the story drastically or disrespect the original's legacy. The director simply rebooted and modernized the tale for a new generation. Everything that shocked you and every scene you loved in the original is still in the remake. The change of setting actually benefited the film and gave it a little more realism in terms of violence and social dysfunction.

    The violence is high and the rape scene is disturbing. But the acting was top notch by everyone involved. James Marsden did a great job playing the weak, timid, and quiet intellectual who eventually turns into the strong, violent, and "manly" protector. His performance was very "Hoffman" essque but he still made the role his own. I think a lot of girls came to the film solely for Alexander Skarsgard (true blood fans) and they were generally disturbed by his turn as a heel. There were a lot of gasps during a particular bear trap scene. Bosworth, Woods, and Purcell were all perfect in their roles as well.

    "Straw Dogs" is as raw, interesting, and powerful as it's original. A film that deals with aggression, manhood, and human connections pushed to the extremes. There are many subtleties in the performances and some great metaphorical images. A great thriller that literally intensifies until it's satisfying climax. Best film I've seen in months.
    5ferguson-6

    What are You Capable of?

    Greetings again from the darkness. If you have seen Sam Peckinpah's classic 1971 original with Dustin Hoffman and Susan George, it is impossible to watch this remake without comparing the two films. Because of that, these comments will include some comparative notes. After all, it's been 40 years and most people watching this new version have never seen the original.

    Director Rod Lurie follows the Peckinpah version pretty closely with the obvious changes being a move from the English countryside to the deep south (Mississippi), and the main characters are now a screenwriter and actress instead of mathematical whiz and ... well, whatever Susan George's character was in the original. Those are the obvious changes, but not the most significant. I really missed the subtlety and psychological trickery delivered by Peckinpah, especially in the relationship between David and Amy.

    Lurie chooses to take advantage of the physical screen presence of Alexander Skarsgard (True Blood) as Charlie, the local stud and Amy's ex. Charlie's past exploits on the football field and his creepy leadership skills with his posse of thugs, provide the yin of physical strength to the yang of David's intelligence. It's interesting to note that this version spells out Sun-Tzu's description of "straw dogs" while Peckinpah left his audience to fend for themselves. But, of course, what this boils down to is just how far can a civilized person be pushed ... and how far is the bully willing to go?

    James Woods is a welcome and terrifying addition to the new version. Since it is based in the small town south, high school football must play a role. Woods is the former high school coach who is now a violent drunk, and still leader of his former players. He is a sadistic type who picks on Jeremy Niles (Dominic Purcell), the slow-witted brother of Daniel (Walton Goggins) and constantly accuses him of inappropriate behavior with his 15 year old cheerleader daughter.

    James Marsden (Hairspray) and Kate Bosworth (Remember the Titans) play David and Amy. They come back to Amy's childhood home so she can rest and David can have some peace and quiet while writing his screenplay on the Battle of Stalingrad. Well, we couldn't really have him writing a rom-com, could we? From Day One, the peace and quiet is clearly missing and Lynyrd Skynyrd wins out over Bach in the battle of radio volume. Tension builds and David is tested daily over what it means to be a man ... tested by the local hicks and doubted by his lovely wife.

    Things turn from bad to worse when the locals invite David to go hunting with them. What happens with Charlie and Amy during this time changes everything. This sequence was the key to the controversy of the original and what caused it to be banned in many cities and countries. Lurie chooses to handle it in a very straightforward manner - plus, times and mores have changed quite a bit in the last 40 years.

    For me, the Peckinpah original remains a classic film with brilliant psychological undertones which left me feeling very uncomfortable and questioning what I might do in this situation. Lurie's new version offered little of that but does work fine as a straightforward suspenseful thriller.

    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      The film, a remake of the controversially violent 1971 movie, is considered fairly faithful to Sam Peckinpah's original, though the location has been moved from Cornwall, England to the U.S. Mississippi Gulf Coast, and the hero's profession has been changed from mathematician to screenwriter.
    • Goofs
      After the fake hunt, the Sheriff asks David if his rifle is registered. In Mississippi, where the film is set, there is no state licensing or registration requirements for long guns.
    • Quotes

      David Sumner: Hey, Charlie, there is something in the Bible, I do believe.

      Charlie: Whats that, sir?

      David Sumner: "Thou shall not covet thy neighbor's wife."

      Charlie: I believe in that, too. But what happens when thy neighbor's wife covets you?

    • Alternate versions
      The versions released in India (English original and Hindi dubbed) are relatively shorter in duration as compared to the original.
    • Connections
      Features Born Yesterday (1950)
    • Soundtracks
      Take Me Home Tonight
      written by Stephen Edwards

      Published by Source in Sync Music - Provided by 5 Alarm Music

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    FAQ

    • How long is Straw Dogs?
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    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • September 16, 2011 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Official site
      • Official site
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • Perros de paja
    • Filming locations
      • Bossier City, Louisiana, USA
    • Production companies
      • Screen Gems
      • Battleplan Productions
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Budget
      • $25,000,000 (estimated)
    • Gross US & Canada
      • $10,324,441
    • Opening weekend US & Canada
      • $5,123,760
      • Sep 18, 2011
    • Gross worldwide
      • $11,168,712
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Tech specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 50 minutes
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • SDDS
      • Dolby Digital
      • Datasat
    • Aspect ratio
      • 2.39 : 1

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    Alexander Skarsgård and James Marsden in Straw Dogs (2011)
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