Stoker(film)

Stoker
Theatrical release poster
Directed by	Park Chan-wook
Written by	Wentworth Miller
Produced by	Ridley Scott Tony Scott Michael Costigan
Starring	Mia Wasikowska Matthew Goode Nicole Kidman Dermot Mulroney Jacki Weaver
Cinematography	Chung-hoon Chung
Edited by	Nicolas De Toth
Music by	Clint Mansell
Production companies	Indian Paintbrush Scott Free Productions
Distributed by	Fox Searchlight Pictures
Release dates	20 January 2013(2013-01-20)(Sundance) 1 March 2013(2013-03-01)(United States)
Running time	99 minutes
Countries	United Kingdom United States
Language	English
Budget	$12 million
Box office	$12.1 million

Stokeris a 2013psychological thrillerfilm directed byPark Chan-wook,in his English-language debut, and written byWentworth Miller.The film starsMia Wasikowska,Matthew Goode,Nicole Kidman,Dermot Mulroney,andJacki Weaver.

Stokerhad its world premiere at theSundance Film Festivalon 20 January 2013, and was theatrically released in the United States on 1 March 2013, byFox Searchlight Pictures.

Plot

On her 18th birthday, India Stoker, a girl with a strong acuteness of the senses, is left with her unstable mother Evelyn after her loving father Richard dies in a car crash. At Richard's funeral, Evelyn and India are introduced to Richard's charismatic younger brother Charlie, who has spent his life traveling the world. India, who didn't know Charlie existed, is perturbed by his presence. He announces that he is staying indefinitely to help support India and Evelyn, to Evelyn's delight and India's chagrin.

Shortly after, India witnesses Charlie argue with Mrs. McGarrick, the head caretaker of the house. Mrs. McGarrick complains to Charlie that she has been his "eyes and ears" since he was a boy. Mrs. McGarrick then disappears. Charlie and Evelyn grow intimate while India continues to rebuff his attempts to befriend her. India's great aunt Gwendolyn visits the family, to Evelyn and Charlie's dismay. Gwendolyn shows surprise at Charlie's claims of traveling the world and tells Evelyn that she needs to talk to her about Charlie. Gwendolyn changes hotels due to an unexplained fear and suspicion of Charlie. She loses her cell phone and tries to call the Stokers' home from a phone booth, but Charlie arrives and strangles her to death with his belt. Meanwhile, India discovers Mrs. McGarrick's body in the freezer and realizes Charlie is a murderer.

India unleashes her inner aggression at school and stabs a bully, Chris Pitts, in the hand with a pencil after he tries to land a punch to her head. This draws the attention of another classmate, Whip Taylor. At home, India witnesses Evelyn and Charlie growing intimate. She wanders off to a local diner where she runs into Whip. She and Whip go into the woods, where they proceed to make out, until India aggressively bites his lip. Whip attempts to rape India before Charlie intervenes and breaks Whip's neck with his belt while Whip's body lies on top of India. India aids Charlie in burying the body in her garden. She attempts to call Gwendolyn, but hears her phone ring in the garden, realizing Charlie killed her too. While showering, Indiamasturbatesto the memory of the murder, clima xing as she remembers Charlie breaking Whip's neck.

While going through Richard's office to gather things of his she wants to keep, India discovers that a key she received as a birthday present belongs to a locked drawer to Richard's desk. Inside, she finds dozens of letters Charlie wrote to her over the years, which detail his travels and his love for his niece, although they have never met. However, she sees that the sending address is amental institution.She confronts Charlie, who explains the truth: Charlie killed his and Richard's younger brother Jonathan as a child by burying him alive in a sandbox because he was jealous that Richard paid more attention to him. He was then put in a mental institution. When released on India's 18th birthday, Richard gave Charlie a car, money, and an apartment inNew York Cityon the condition that he stay away from Richard's family. Feeling hurt and betrayed, Charlie bludgeoned Richard to death with a rock and staged the car accident.

India is shocked and angered, but Charlie explains he has come for her and gives her a birthday present, a pair ofstiletto heels,to replace her more childishsaddle shoes.She seemingly forgives Charlie and grows closer to him after he provides an alibi for her when Sheriff Howard questions her about Whip's disappearance. They grow close to intimate before Evelyn witnesses them. Charlie tells India that, after waiting until she came of age, he wants her to come to New York with him. Later, Evelyn coldly expresses her desire to watch India suffer before confronting Charlie, implying that she knows the truth about Richard's death and Charlie's institutionalization. Charlie seduces Evelyn and then attempts to strangle her with a belt, but India fatally shoots him in the neck with herrifle.She buries Charlie's body in the backyard, then leaves for New York in his car.

India is pulled over for speeding by Sheriff Howard, who asks her why she's in a hurry. She replies that she wanted to catch his attention, then stabs him in the neck with a pair ofpruning shears.She pursues the bleeding sheriff into a field to shoot him with her rifle.

Cast

• Mia Wasikowskaas India Stoker
• Matthew Goodeas Charlie Stoker
• Nicole Kidmanas Evelyn Stoker
• Dermot Mulroneyas Richard Stoker
• Jacki Weaveras Gwendolyn "Gin" Stoker
• Lucas Tillas Chris Pitts
• Alden Ehrenreichas Whip Taylor
• Phyllis Somervilleas Mrs. McGarrick
• Ralph Brownas Sheriff Howard
• Judith Godrècheas Doctor Jacquin
• Harmony Korineas Mr. Feldman

Production

Wentworth Miller,mostly known as an actor, wrote the screenplay forStoker,as well as a prequel,Uncle Charlie.He used thepseudonymTed Foulke for submitting his work, later explaining "I just wanted the scripts to sink or swim on their own."On the 2010Black List,a list of the best unproduced screenplays then making the rounds in Hollywood,Stokerfinished in the top 10.Miller described it as a "horror film,a family drama and apsychological thriller".Although influenced byBram Stoker'sDracula,Miller clarified thatStokerwas "not aboutvampires.It was never meant to be about vampires but it is a horror story. Astokeris one who stokes, which also ties in nicely with the narrative. "Alfred Hitchcock'sShadow of a Doubtalso influenced the film. Miller said: "The jumping-off point is actually Hitchcock'sShadow of a Doubt.So, that's where we begin, and then we take it in a very, very different direction. "

The film marked directorPark Chan-wook's English-language debut. In January 2011, it was reported thatMia Wasikowskawas in negotiations to play India,and in February,Nicole Kidmanalso entered negotiations to join the cast.Back in June 2010, before Wasikowska and Kidman were ultimately cast, bothCarey MulliganandJodie Fosterwere reported to be in talks to star in the film.In June 2011, it was reported thatMatthew Goodewas in talks to play Charlie,afterColin Firth,who was attached earlier, had to drop out.Jacki Weaver,Lucas Till,Alden Ehrenreich,Ralph BrownandDermot Mulroneyjoined the cast in July and August 2011.

Filming took 40 daysbeginning inNashville,Tennessee,in September 2011.The motel scenes were filmed in nearbyMurfreesboroon 22 September, and additional scenes were shot inSewanee,home of theUniversity of the South.Principal photography wrapped on 23 October. The film is dedicated to the memory of producerTony Scott,who died after production wrapped.

Music

Main article:Stoker (soundtrack)

ComposerPhilip Glasswas originally hired to compose the film's score but was replaced byClint Mansell.Two of Glass' compositions for piano are still included in the finished film however, as revealed in the movie credits.

Hitchcock influence

In addition to screenwriter Wentworth Miller stating that the film was influenced byShadow of a Doubt,there are a number ofHitchcock's themes, plot devices and motifsused within it. Both Matthew Goode's character andJoseph Cotten's character inShadow of a Doubtshare the name "Uncle Charlie", as well as Hitchcock's use of the likeable criminal. The complex relationship that develops between Uncle Charlie and India alludes to Hitchcock's use of the double, with the young Charlie and Uncle Charlie inShadow of a Doubt.Many of Uncle Charlie and India's key interactions occur on a staircase, which is a Hitchcock motif also used inShadow of a Doubt.There is a pivotal scene inStokerthat takes place near a train track and the rumbling train makes an aural intrusion, which plays into Hitchcock's use of trains as a sexualeuphemism.

Release

Critical reception

On thereview aggregatorwebsiteRotten Tomatoes,70% of 204 critics' reviews are positive, with an average rating of 6.7/10. The website's consensus reads: "Its script doesn't quite carry the dramatic heft of his earlier work, but Park Chan-wook'sStokershowcases his eye for sumptuous imagery and his affection for dark, atmospheric narratives populated by mysterious characters. "Metacritic,which uses aweighted average,assigned the film a score of 58 out of 100, based on 42 critics, indicating "mixed or average" reviews.

The filmpremieredatSundanceand the reviews were mostly positive. InThe Guardian,critic Jeremy Kay called the film "a gorgeously mounted family mystery dressed up as a gothic fairytale", and said the film presents viewers with clues worthy of Hitchcock: "Literary references and symbolism abound inStoker.You can get tied up trying to figure out who is what. That is the idea. All the clues are there. You just have to look closely. "The GuardianawardedStokerfour out of five stars in its review.

Richard RoeperofChicago Sun-Timesgave the film 3.5 out of 4, calling it "disturbingly good".Peter TraversfromRolling Stonegave it 3 out of 4, and called it a "thriller of savage beauty".Writing forVariety,Guy Lodge praised the film, calling it "a splendidly demented gumbo of Hitchcock thriller".

Brian Moylan ofHollywoodpraised the performances of Nicole Kidman and Matthew Goode saying "Kidman is at her finest as a disinterested mother. She shows fear and disdain in the most subtle ways, never overplaying a character that could turn into a campy arch villain with just the tiniest bit of scene-chewing. And Goode is the most menacing of all, the malevolent force that hides behind the facade not only of normalcy but of something attractive that you know is incredibly dangerous."

Not all reviews were positive;David Thomson,writing forThe New Republic,said that "Stoker trembles between the portentous and the ridiculous, and I think you know which one is going to win."In addition, Josh Slater-Williams ofThe Skinnylabelled the film a "relentless, hollow mess".

Andrew Chan of theFilm Critics Circle of Australiawrites, "Stokeris constantly engaging, suitably intense, certainly different, always suspenseful and even stylishly directed, but it is notOldboy".

Kidman's performance as Evie was included on TribecaFilm as one of the year's most underrated performances. The author claimed "Kidman exploits Evelyn’s fragility with her every glance and gesture. Kidman as Evelyn radiates a strange kind of unnerving elegance."

Empireranked it No. 6 on its list of Best Movies of 2013.

Accolades

Year	Award	Category	Recipient	Result
2013	Online Film & Television Association Awards	Best Titles Sequence		Nominated
	Golden Trailer Awards	Best Thriller		Nominated
		Best Original Trailer		Nominated
	Fright Meter Awards	Best Screenplay	Wentworth Miller	Nominated
		Best Director	Park Chan-wook	Nominated
		Best Editing	Nicolas De Toth	Nominated
		Best Cinematography	Chung-hoon Chung	Nominated
		Best Actress	Mia Wasikowska	Nominated
		Best Actor	Matthew Goode	Nominated
		Best Supporting Actress	Nicole Kidman	Nominated
		Best Ensemble Cast		Nominated
2014	Central Ohio Film Critics Association Awards	Best Overlooked Film		Nominated
	London Film Critics' CircleAwards	Technical Achievement	Kurt Swanson, Bart Mueller (for costumes)	Nominated
	Saturn Awards	Best International Film		Nominated
		Best Actress	Mia Wasikowska	Nominated
		Best Supporting Actress	Nicole Kidman	Nominated
	Fangoria Chainsaw Awards	Best Leading Actress	Mia Wasikowska	Third
		Best Supporting Actor	Matthew Goode	Won
		Best Screenplay	Wentworth Miller	Runner-up
		Best Limited-Release/Direct-to-Video Film		Runner-up
	Empire Awards	Best Supporting Actress	Mia Wasikowska	Nominated

Home media

The film was released on DVD andBlu-ray Discon 18 June 2013.

External links

• Official website
• StokeratIMDb
• StokeratAllMovie
• StokeratRotten Tomatoes