Park Chan-Wook brings his Asian chops to the American Stoker

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Most people know director Park Chan-Wook from his Vengeance Trilogy (including Oldboy). But his first success came with Joint Security Area (2000), a great and much less violent film about the South and North Korean border. It’s not a big surprise then, that his American debut is more about its dark atmosphere, than it is violent — although there are some tasty moments in there. And it’s actually not even that dark. Most scenes are creeping you out in broad daylight, especially when featuring Matthew Goode’s character Uncle Charlie.

After the death of her father, India (Mia Wasikowska) is left alone with her mother. But at the funeral, her uncle Charlie shows up. Someone she didn’t know about, but feels a weird connection to. India’s mother Evelyn, who she doesn’t get along with, is intrigued by him as well. And a weird battle for attention starts to brew between them.

Stoker is a great first American step for Chan-Wook. When watching this in cinemas earlier this year I found it to be a bit over the top, or unnatural. But on second watch, this is what keeps the film interesting. It has a sort of Asian tone to it you can’t really define. The settings, lighting and camera work is pretty stunning. On top of that, the cast is just impeccable. Nicole Kidman, Mia Wasikowska and Matthew Goode are all playing some of their best parts.

In the end though, a film is only as good as its story. And Stoker lacks depth and has too many weird quirks to fully recommend it. But Park Chan-Wook didn’t write this film. And as he wrote all of his Korean films himself, maybe his next step should be to write and direct his next American film as well. filmOA end logo