Stoker (2013)
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A young woman's life is upended when her father's charismatic, mysterious brother arrives to stay with her and her mother.
The story
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 did not 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. The film follows the growing tension and complex dynamics between the three characters as they navigate their new life together in the wake of Richard's death.
Full plot (contains spoilers)
Following the death of her father, India Stoker is left with her unstable mother, Evelyn, and her uncle, Charlie. While India is initially repulsed by Charlie's presence, she eventually discovers he is a murderer after finding the body of a house caretaker. After a series of violent incidents involving a bully and a local man, India realizes Charlie's true nature. She discovers his history of being institutionalized and his role in her father's death. After a tense confrontation where Charlie attempts to assault Evelyn, India shoots and kills him. She then flees to New York, where she is eventually stopped by a sheriff. In a final act of violence, she kills the officer to ensure her escape.
- First release year
- 2013
- Runtime (minutes)
- 99
- Production countries
- United Kingdom; United States
- Original languages
- English
- Directors
- Park Chan-wook
- Writers
- Wentworth Miller · writer
- Cast and characters
- Mia Wasikowska · India; Matthew Goode · Charlie; Nicole Kidman · Evelyn; Dermot Mulroney; Jacki Weaver
- Genres
- Southern Gothic; coming-of-age; psychological thriller
- Themes
- dysfunctional families; mother–daughter relationships; violence
- Tone and mood
- suspenseful; stylish; disturbing
- Premise and plot tags
- psychological thriller; coming-of-age; Southern Gothic
- Reception
- The film received mixed to positive reviews, with critics praising the performances and the atmosphere while some found it to be a 'hollow mess'.
- Reported review scores
- Metacritic · score: 58 · scale: 100 · review count: 42
Film metadata comes from the open sources listed in Credits & Contact. Catalogue details may be incomplete.
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