Finally a remake that isn't a shot for shot carbon copy of it's predecessor. Straw Dogs is about what it means to be pushed to your limits and eventually doing something against your values. Initially I was skeptical about replacing Dustin Hoffman's character with the guy who played Cyclops, but Marsden surprisingly holds his own as the man who must defend himself from a barrage of shotgun shells. Though controversial in it's time, the current incarnation is pretty tame for an audience that has seen both Hostel and The Last House on the Left.
The story is simplistic and unoriginal, but then again its based on a film from over thirty years ago. A young screenwriter and his lovely wife, an actress, move back to her childhood home in small-town Mississippi. From there its a typical fish out of water story where the young couple must readjust their lifestyle to keep up with local sensibilities. What prevents Straw Dogs from being a truly terrific film is that much focus is placed on the three leads rather than fully forming the interesting stories of the local residents that surround them. Granted this is not an ensemble piece, but a sub story involving a local handicapped man dating the head football coach's daughter is lost in the shuffle and never fully explained - though it should be noted that this particular relationship single handily creates the events that lead to the powerful third and final act to the film.
Hollywood has discovered an emerging leading man in the form of Alexander Skarsgard, son of noted actor Stellan Skarsgard. Here his charm and devilish good looks help the audience feel some odd sympathy even though he is rarely portrayed as 'good'. The major weakness of the film lies with Kate Bosworth as she fails to convincing play an actress who made it big only to have her life turn into a living hell. The person for her part needed to have a impressive range to convey some sense of sorrow but none is felt. From start to finish we get the exact same character, unmoved by the events that comprise her return to home. For some it will be easily overlooked, but seeing as how the film relies on the reactions of three characters, having one refuse to adapt sets the entire film ablaze.
For his part, Rod Lurie gives us a remake that stands out differently from the original and is modern enough to still connect with today's audience. The film is violent, volatile and leaves very little to the imagination. It isn't for everyone, but for those who enjoy the genre, Straw Dogs is a worthy entry.
