"Stoker", by Park Chan-Wook, arrives at cinemas
"Stoker", by Park Chan-Wook, arrives at cinemas
The Hollywood debut of the South Korean film maker stars Mia Wasikowska, Matthew Goode and Nicole Kidman
Ten years ago, the South Korean film Oldboy directed by Park Chan-Wook revolutionised the foundations of the thriller as much in Asia as on an international level. The film, the middle part of a trilogy dealing with revenge, met with instant acclaim by critics and audiences alike and immediately achieved cult status. With Stoker, Park Chan-Wook has produced another thriller, though on this occasion the film, leaning more towards psychological thriller, was filmed in the United States and has allowed the director to expand his appeal to a wider audience without sacrificing his personal style.
In the film, the young actress Mia Wasikowska, known for her appearances in Alice in Wonderland and Restless, plays the part of India Stoker, a somewhat eccentric adolescent who sees her world fall apart when she loses her father in a car accident. When her uncle appears unexpectedly at the funeral he decides to take charge of the young girl and her unstable mother. Shortly afterwards, India begins to suspect that this mysterious yet fascinating man has ulterior motives. Instead of feeling outrage or horror, however, the girl becomes increasingly obsessed with him.
In Stoker, Park Chan-Wook, the author of other recent films such as I’m a Cyborg, But That’s Ok and Thirst, blends concepts such as human obsession and irrationality with the customary ingredients of the psychological thriller. In addition, the film has both a powerful visual impact and a screenplay signed by Wentworth Miller, the first screenplay by the well-known star of the series Prison Break. The film arrives at cinemas on the 10th of May.
Publication date: Monday, 06 May 2013