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STRAW-DOGS

[Review] ‘Straw Dogs’ an Interesting Variation, Almost Works

Movies
Posted by MrDisgusting on September 16, 2011 @ 4:33am
Category: Movies / News

In theaters tomorrow, September 16th is Straw Dogs, the Rod Lurie directed remake of Sam Peckinpah’s 1971 classic. Replacing Dustin Hoffman and Susan George as David and Amy Sumner are James Marsden and Kate Bosworth. Replacing Del Henney as Charlie Venner is Alexander Skarsgard. Replacing Cornwall, England as the setting is Blackwater, Mississippi.

And replacing a singular classic is… actually a decent movie that is simply done no favors by the comparisons it invites upon itself.

“ ‘Straw Dogs’ almost works. It’s just that, by the very nature of its existence, it invites comparisons to something more iconic and singular and it doesn’t always stack up…It has some interesting variations on the original, but in the end it’s not as satisfying or filling…”

Rounding out the cast are James Woods, Rhys Coiro, Walton Goggins, Willa Holland and Dominic Purcell. Click here for the full review. Write your own here.
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Exclusive

[Interview] ‘Straw Dogs’ Director Rod Lurie

Movies
Posted by Bloody Disgusting Staff on September 15, 2011 @ 10:48pm
Category: Movies / Exclusives

Director Rod Lurie (The Contender, Nothing But The Truth) has had a long three years of dodging and absorbing criticism ever since it was announced that he would be taking the reigns on a remake of Sam Peckinpah’s 1971 classic, Straw Dogs. Loosely basing his film on the book “The Siege At Trencher’s Farm” by Gordon Williams, Peckinpah fashioned a unique statement about the politics of masculinity in his story about American mathematician David Sumner (Dustin Hoffman) and his wife Amy (Susan George) who visit her hometown in England only to find fissures in their marital dynamic. The cracks in their relationship are tested by the differing cultural environment and the local populace (including Amy’s ex-boyfriend Charlie) and by the end of the film, well… things get a little out of hand.

When the wildly controversial original film was released in 1971 it was met with public outcry, forced edits by the US studio, and an `X’ rating in the United Kingdom (in fact, 13 years after the film’s release in the UK the uncut version was banned, which remained in effect until 2002). Many critics felt the film’s exploration of violence and was both fascist and misogynistic. Whatever Peckinpah’s true moral and sociological intentions may have been, the film is a masterpiece.

All of this obviously adds to the stakes of tackling a remake. Taking on one of the hallmark films of a legendary director, a film that touches on issues that are very much still culturally sensitive, well it’s certainly a risk.

I had the chance to touch base with Rod Lurie this week to discuss his version of Straw Dogs which stars James Marsden and Kate Bosworth as David and Amy Sumner as well as Alexander Skarsgard as Amy’s ex-boyfriend Charlie. Rounding out the cast are James Woods, Rhys Coiro, Walton Goggins, Willa Holland and Dominic Purcell.

[Interview] Straw Dogs Director Rod Lurie

Exclusive

[Interview] ‘Straw Dogs’ Star Drew Powell

Movies
Posted by Chris Eggertsen on September 14, 2011 @ 3:23pm
Category: Movies / Exclusives

Director Rod Lurie has taken on an incredible challenge in remaking the 1971 Sam Peckinpah classic Straw Dogs, particularly when it comes to living up to the reputation of such a highly-regarded film. Remaking a movie like Prom Night is one thing; updating a stone-cold masterpiece like Straw Dogs is entirely another.

I recently caught up with actor Drew Powell, who in the remake portrays one of the small-town toughs tormenting Los Angeles screenwriter David Sumner (James Marsden) and his wife Amy (Kate Bosworth) during their stay in rural Blackwater, Mississippi. During our chat Powell spoke of watching the original film for the first time shortly before shooting, how the Deep South setting of the remake reflects the current political mood in the U.S., and his suggestion that it might be a good film for parents and their (older) children to watch together. You know, how you usually go see movies featuring brutal rape scenes with your mom and dad.

See inside for the full interview.

Powell3091411 [Interview] Straw Dogs Star Drew Powell

Movies
Posted by EvanDickson on September 06, 2011 @ 5:30pm
Category: Movies / Editorials

Sometimes there’s nothing more satisfying than seeing one of our heroes, or even just a regular guy, get pushed so far they absolutely snap. It reminds us that we’re not alone on the occasions that we’re full of rage and want to lash out. That’s why the movies are great! We can watch people do it for us so we don’t have to go to jail or actually hurt anyone!

Sony Screen Gems’ Straw Dogs (official website), a remake of Sam Peckinpah’s 1971 classic, arrives in theaters September 16. To say Dustin Hoffman `loses it’ in the original Straw Dogs would be an understatement, so if the remake is anything like it – and it probably is – expect James Marsden to have some seriously crazy blood on his hands by the time he leaves that country cottage.

In the reboot, “David and Amy Sumner (James Marsden and Kate Bosworth), a Hollywood screenwriter and his actress wife, return to her small hometown in the deep South to prepare the family home for sale after her father’s death. Once there, tensions build in their marriage and old conflicts re-emerge with the locals, including Amy’s ex-boyfriend Charlie (Alexander Skarsgård), leading to a violent confrontation.”

Hit the jump for PART ONE of our Straw Dogs sponsored compilation of people losing their cool on film!

[Special Feature] Straw Dogs Presents The Top 10 Bloody Disgusting Scenes Of Normal People Losing It And Going Bat sh*t Crazy! Part One!

Movies
Posted by MrDisgusting on September 01, 2011 @ 6:34pm
Category: Movies / News

I’m literally out the door so I give you a quick three clips from Sony Screen Germs’ Straw Dogs, Rod Lurie’s remake of Sam Peckinpah’s 1971 classic arriving in theaters September 16. The trio of clips build the tension in the violent thriller that looks right out of the world of The Last House on the Left….

James Marsen is a Coward in First ‘Straw Dogs’ Clip

Movies
Posted by MrDisgusting on August 26, 2011 @ 5:53pm
Category: Movies / News

The first clip has been released for Sony Screen Germs’ Straw Dogs, Rod Lurie’s remake of Sam Peckinpah’s 1971 classic arriving in theaters September 16. The clip features Kate Bosworth as “Amy” calling her husband (played by James Marsden) a “coward”. He refuses to be bullied…

In the reboot, “David and Amy Sumner (Marsden and Bosworth), a Hollywood screenwriter and his actress wife, return to her small hometown in the deep South to prepare the family home for sale after her father’s death. Once there, tensions build in their marriage and old conflicts re-emerge with the locals, including Amy’s ex-boyfriend Charlie (Alexander Skarsgård), leading to a violent confrontation.”
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Latest 1971 Homage in New ‘Straw Dogs’ One Sheet

Movies
Posted by MrDisgusting on August 21, 2011 @ 5:15pm
Category: Movies / News

Sony Screen Gems has released another official one sheet and a trio of character posters for Straw Dogs, Rod Lurie’s remake of Sam Peckinpah’s 1971 classic arriving in theaters September 16. After the boxoffice bomb of Fright Night 3D, you have to think Sony is a bit concerned right about now…

Anyways, the official poster is a modern version of the 1971 version, but depicts the film’s antagonist, Charlie, as played by “True Blood” fav Alexander Skarsgård. It’s a nice piece of imagery that will catch anyones eye as they walk by in a theater. On the other hand, the character posters are tedious, spewing quotes from the movie by the character portrayed. A big finger down the throat.

See Baddie Skarsgard, Wuss Marsden in 40 Hi-Res ‘Straw Dogs’ Stills

Movies
Posted by MrDisgusting on August 16, 2011 @ 5:04pm
Category: Movies / News

For those of your disappointed that Alexander Skarsgard has become a super pussy on HBO’s “True Blood,” on September 16 he returns to his evil roots in Rod Lurie’s Straw Dogs, which also stars James Marsden, Kate Bosworth, James Woods, Dominic Purcell and Willa Holland.

This morning Sony Screen Gems has supplied Bloody with nearly 40 hi-res images from the thriller that looks tonally similar to I Spit On Your Grave and Last House on the Left. The casting is truly interesting as it’ll be It’s be quite a sight to see Marsden play a total wuss.

“David and Amy Sumner (Marsden and Bosworth), a Hollywood screenwriter and his actress wife, return to her small hometown in the deep South to prepare the family home for sale after her father’s death. Once there, tensions build in their marriage and old conflicts re-emerge with the locals, including Amy’s ex-boyfriend Charlie (Skarsgård), leading to a violent confrontation.”

Click any still for the entire gallery.

3strawdogs081611 See Baddie Skarsgard, Wuss Marsden in 40 Hi Res Straw Dogs Stills

Movies
Posted by MrDisgusting on July 09, 2011 @ 5:09pm
Category: Movies / News

Last month director Rod Lurie took to Twitter to share the official poster for his remake of Straw Dogs, which stars James Marsden, Kate Bosworth, Alexander Skarsgard, James Woods, Dominic Purcell and Willa Holland. What he put on display was very telling as it was his way of implying that the redo is faithful to the classic. Now, a second version has been released that’s tweaked more in the favor of the original by adding a sorta creepy look at James Marden’s right eye.

Based on the previously released trailer (found at the bottom of the this news story), Screen Gems’ flick arriving in theaters September 16 looks tonally similar to I Spit On Your Grave and Last House on the Left. That’s definitely a good thing.

strawdgs051211 Revised Straw Dogs Poster Has More of an Eye For Original

Movies
Posted by MrDisgusting on May 13, 2011 @ 8:16pm
Category: Movies / News

Just yesterday we brought your the first “tense” stills from Rod Lurie’s remake of Straw Dogs, which stars James Marsden, Kate Bosworth, Alexander Skarsgard, James Woods, Dominic Purcell and Willa Holland.

Being that it’s Sony Screen Gems, it was unclear just how “dark” the redo would be. Tonally similar to I Spit On Your Grave and Last House on the Left, inside you’ll find a pretty violent trailer for the thriller arriving in theaters September 16.

strawdgs051211 Screen Gems Gets Violent With Their Straw Dogs Trailer

Movies
Posted by MrDisgusting on May 12, 2011 @ 7:32pm
Category: Movies / News

In theaters September 16 from Sony Screen Gems is Rod Lurie’s remake of Straw Dogs, which stars James Marsden, Kate Bosworth, Alexander Skarsgard, James Woods, Dominic Purcell and Willa Holland.

Last week EW premiered a few lackluster images, while you can now dig on some suspenseful stills (courtesy of Yahoo!) by clicking the one below.