“Just as a flower does not choose its color, we are not responsible for what we have come to be. Only once you realize this do you become free, and to become adult is to become free.” —India Stoker
Do NOT disturb the family. For reals. In this very stylishly terrifying horror flick brought to you by Korean filmmaker Park Chan-wook (known for his violent films like Oldboy and Thirst), you’re taken deep into the south—where India Stoker’s (Mia Wasikowska) father has just been killed in some sort of mysterious car accident. On her birthday.
To make matters worse, it isn’t long before India’s oddball uncle Charles (played oh so perfectly by Matthew Goode, aka Anthony Perkins’ doppelgänger), who she has weirdly never met before (I mean, it’s her dad’s brother for Pete’s sake), starts living with them. India’s mother (Nicole Kidman), as vulnerable as she must be, seeks affection from Charles—making it sort of an awkward situation for India. But it’s not really her mother that he’s after: it’s India.
There’s more to Charles’ strangeness than meets the eye; this will become ever-so apparent the first time he appears on screen (creep smile!). Initially freaked out by his over-friendly demeanor and constant prowling, Charles quickly evolves into somewhat of an infatuation for India. She even goes so far as getting jealous of him and her own mother spending time together—talk about bazaar!
And well, let’s just say this weird almost love triangle turns brutal and bloody. Quick.
Stoker can almost be predicted from its Macbeth-like story beginning, but if you want to be straight up scared shitless, and left in “what the f*ck just happened?” mode, go see this movie that’s a very scary spectacle. I definitely recommend it not only for its screaming-loud abnormal psychological horror, but the set design and detail is so precise and amazing that you’ll sometimes forget you’re watching a movie about a weird pedofile uncle. However, if you’re one of those movie-goers that’s easily offended, you might want to stay home for this one…
(photo via Pajiba)
