If you've seen the other films by Chan-Wook Park, then you'll know what to expect: creepy, moody, disturbing, violent, but with a delicate tone. Stoker embodies all these same aspects: it is creepy and moody, it gets disturbing, and there are a few violent deaths involved, but it's all done with taste and style. The film follows a little girl as she copes, grieves, and eventually grows into wickedness. The film takes on a pretty even pace; it's never too fast or too slow, and it takes its time to let the atmosphere sink in.
The story, however, doesn't feel like it goes anywhere. Its greatest strength is in handling the characters and their nuances. The film is an intimate portrayal of the main character, India, and we really get to feel for her as the film tracks her thoughts, feelings, and even her sensuality. As far as the plot goes, it feels pretty thin to me, lacking in any particular conflict or direction. The film does cover a lot of the same ground as the director's other films: you can expect subtle themes of incest, violence, and wickedness to emerge.
As expected, the film looks stylish, with decent photography, and decent attention to small details that help paint an overall picture and invoke a sense of texture and feeling. Editing is good. Acting is great from the cast: Mia Wasikowska does an exceptional job bringing India to life. Writing is not bad. This production has okay-looking sets, props, and costumes. Music is not bad either.
The film is certainly stylish, morbid, and rather disturbing, on a level reminiscent of the director's previous efforts with Sympathy for Mr. Vengeance, or Thirst. I don't think Stoker is quite as good as the man's other work from Korea, but it can stand pretty well on its own as a moody, character-driven thriller. I just wish there was more to its plot.
4/5 (Entertainment: Pretty Good | Story: Pretty Good | Film: Very Good)
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