I wanted to take a break from a few not-so-successful movie choices I had recently made, and I decided to check out this thriller that somehow had escaped me all these years. As I saw it was released in 2013
I looked up the cast and story, and it immediately caught my attention. With names like Nicole Kidman, Mia Wasikowska, and Matthew Goode, and a plot wrapped in mystery, Stoker seemed like a promising pick. (The title also made me think of someone who is 'stalking' from the sound of the name)
You know how thrillers are, rarely full of action, instead, they play with the viewer’s mind, expectations, tension, and emotions.
That’s exactly what Stoker does from the very beginning. It opens with a funeral scene, setting a haunting and melancholic tone starting in a cemetery, with the funeral of a little girl's father.
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1682180/
The story
After India's father dies, her Uncle Charlie, who she never knew existed, comes to live with her and her unstable mother. She comes to suspect this mysterious, charming man has ulterior motives and becomes increasingly infatuated with him.
India had a very loving and caring relationship with her father while we cannot say the same thing about her distant mother. In the movie you will seen several of these daughter-mother scenes. When India loses her father suddenly, she gets to meet his brother for the very first time and a lot of dark moments start to take place, while secrets start to unfold...
Suddenly, the line between curiosity and danger has become too thin. Will it break?
Acting & Atmosphere
The performances are really good. The protagonists act as they were the movie characters and never really felt they were acting.
Nicole Kidman’s cold elegance contrasts perfectly with Wasikowska’s quiet intensity, while Matthew Goode delivers a certain charm
My Impressions
There are a few plot twists that keep you engaged, some may be unexpected. A couple of scenes made me a bit uncomfortable, but that’s part of what a good thriller should do, provoke emotions. Overall, the movie fits its genre perfectly.
The IMDb rating is 6.7/10. It received several award nominations and even a few wins. Dont expect an Oscar-level masterpiece, but it’s a solid, stylish psychological thriller that deserves a watch.
If you generally enjoy thrillers, Stoker is worth your time. But if you’re new to the genre, maybe don’t start with this one. It’s subtle, dark, with a few slow moments and a bit unconventional.
As for my personal rating? 6.5–7/10, and the reason it doesn’t go higher is something I can’t reveal… because that would be a spoiler. 😉
I would really like to know your opinion on this if you have seen it or plan to watch it. I watched it on Netflix.
Let me know :)