The original Straw Dogs, directed by the legendary Sam Peckinpah and starring Dustin Hoffman is a controversial classic, notorious for its brutal “pleasure rape” scene, ultra-violence and previously banned video release status. Hoffman said he only did it for the money and from the outset, it seems that the new Straw Dogs adaptation remake may have had a similar motive. 

Not true. Talented film critic-turn-director Rod Lurie, the man behind The Contender, The Last Castle and Nothing But The Truth heralds a remake, which is not only faithful to the original, but has actually made some improvements – giving a powerful study on social, cultural and gender issues a slick finish with a taut script, good pacing and fine performances.

The iconic title was derived from Chinese philosopher Lao-tzu, who wrote, “Heaven and earth are not humane, and regard the people as straw dogs.” While the original was an adaptation of The Siege of Trencher’s Farm, Peckinpah went with Straw Dogs, the end result of a title competition among cast and film crew. Watch original trailer…

Straw Dogs is the story of David Sumner (Marsden), an L.A. screenwriter who moves with Amy (Bosworth) his TV star wife to her father’s estate in her hometown in the American South. Sumner is ridiculed by locals and his wife’s history comes back to haunt them as they struggle with their marriage and the increasingly hostile attitude of the people around them.

James Marsden vs. Dustin Hoffman… in Face/Off

The ensemble is terrific. James Marsden delivers a solid performance with one critical slant – he’s portrayed more sympathetically like Michael Douglas in Falling Down. Kate Bosworth makes an excellent substitution for Susan George leveraging her character’s hometown history to good effect. Alexander Skarsgard gives his intimidating character more weight. James Woods may not have the physical presence of Peter Vaughn, but musters an embittered take on the old coach. Dominic Purcell is good, but probably would’ve been more useful as Charlie.

The original Straw Dogs was set in rural Cornwall, England. For once, a remake has been Americanised and actually benefited from the relocation – making a cross-Atlantic transition down South to the U.S. Mississippi Gulf Coast. The North-South tension and small town mentality translates beautifully with an even stronger impact in the bar, hunting and religious themes. The unifying high school football thug camaraderie just seems to gel so naturally.

The Straw Dogs remake has also been updated to the present, moving from the post-Vietnam era of 1971 and leveling with post-9/11 America, 2011 – exactly 40 years since the release of Peckinpah’s version. This keeps the film more relevant and strums the same timeless, hard-to-swallow truths.

The characters have also been revised. Straw Dogs (1971) featured Hoffman as a mathematician working off a grant, while Straw Dogs (2011) updates David Sumner’s profession to that of L.A. period piece screenwriter on a writer’s retreat for Marsden’s role.

Other noteworthy overhauls include: the character substitution of a white Major for a black Sheriff, a stronger focus on David’s classic sports car, more screen time for Charlie played by Alexander Skarsgard, a bigger barn, a more neatly packaged split of the church charity event into a church service and a high school football match, a less graphic and sensual depiction of the rape scene with a couple of new inventions around the grand finale.

Never invite Eric Northman into your home…

Lurie’s adaptation thrives on conflict, keeping the film taut and on edge as the Sumners try to fit in with the community. Wealthy vs. poor, white vs. black, man vs. woman, North vs. South, Christianity vs. Atheism, city vs. town, machismo vs. cowardice, brain vs. brawn… Straw Dogs is riddled with bipolar themes, creating a tense atmosphere with an escalating Southern fever that cracks on toward breaking point.

There are one or two moments that don’t ring true for Straw Dogs, but the whole film has been refined with great intelligence. The tweaks ratchet up the tension and in many ways the revised Straw Dogs is more sensible and superior to the original.

Rod Lurie has delivered a first-class remake, one that is faithful, features a strong ensemble performance, edge-of-your-seat entertainment and a host of smart improvements. As brilliant a remake as it is, you can’t substitute the raw power, audacity and novelty of Sam Peckinpah’s original led by an in-form Hoffman. Both deserve an equal weighting in their respective categories of raw cult classic and slick commercial thriller.

The bottom line: Powerful

Release Date: 18 November, 2011

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