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Straw Dogs Reviews

1971

60
from 6295 members

A quiet, peace-loving American moves with his English wife to an isolated village where he is harrassed by town bullies. He is finally pushed into a violent confrontation in order to protect himself and his wife. Read more

Starring	Dustin Hoffman, Susan George, Peter Vaughan, Peter Arne
Director	Sam Peckinpah
Genres	Drama, Thriller

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Critic's review of Straw Dogs
View all critics' reviews (5)
- A Western transferred to the far west of England, where it fits uneasily. Yet this drama of a man redeemed by violence is well-made, full of tension and its release, as well as showing Peckinpah at his most misogynistical.
- 31928
- - Halliwell's Film Guide
  - 02 Mar 2006 at 15:42
Write your own review »
Most helpful member's review of Straw Dogs
View all members' reviews (44)
- - 28
  - 4
  Not pleasant, but unmissable.
  
  The controversy that surrounded this film may have sold tickets, but it distracts from the true qualities of the film. Some film catalogues apparently bill this... read more »
  
  Report this review
- 85134
- [Highly rated reviewer]
  - a customer
  - Wales
  - 25 Mar 2005 at 10:25
Most recent members' reviews of Straw Dogs
View all members' reviews (44)
- - 0
  - 0
  superior version
  
  Re-watched this to compare with the remake and still found it gripping. This is the ultimate 'fish out of water' thriller which asks some interesting ... read more »
  
  Report this review
- 1120890
- - ThomasQ
  - 8 reviews
  - 21 May 2012 at 22:12
- - 1
  - 0
  Not as great as it's reputation would have you believe.
  
  Having never seen this before it was an intention of mine to watch it, particularly with it's cult status and critical acclaim. As one would maybe expect ... read more »
  
  Report this review
- 1116605
- - gingerspike
  - 289 reviews
  - Grimsby
  - 04 May 2012 at 18:47
- - 0
  - 0
  Now a bit of a Dog
  
  I saw this at the time and thought it was an amazing film that broke new ground. I think I was probably dazzled by a young sexy Susan George as we are the same ... read more »
  
  Report this review
- 1102804
- - Bobsview
  - 44 reviews
  - Gloucestershire
  - 15 Mar 2012 at 23:46
- - 0
  - 3
  FF button came in handy
  
  I know some films are slow burners but this was so slow it looked as if it was going to stop altogether. I do like a film that builds atmosphere but to be ... read more »
  
  Report this review
- 1080118
- - Stevmar
  - 32 reviews
  - Coatbridge, Scotland
  - 09 Jan 2012 at 13:42
- - 0
  - 4
  all bark and no bite (from a modern perspective)
  
  I had heard quite a lot about Straw Dogs (its VHS ban in the era of 80's video nasties) particularly the controversial Susan George character's rape ... read more »
  
  Report this review
- 1059715
- - andrew hansen
  - Cardiff
  - 07 Nov 2011 at 14:17
- - 0
  - 7
  Pretty Boring
  
  Pretty bad film to be honest. I realise it is very old film & alot is very dated and tame compared to now a days.
  
  But was just very boring and ... read more »
  
  Report this review
- 991938
- - Ozzy123
  - 6 reviews
  - Penzance
  - 12 May 2011 at 10:54
- - 1
  - 0
  Excellent thriller, you won't be disapointed!
  
  The two best things I can think of about this film besides other things are the beautiful location, and the superb screenplay. I don't think there's too... read more »
  
  Report this review
- 962182
- - sherriffflood
  - 45 reviews
  - Reading
  - 08 Feb 2011 at 19:13
- - 0
  - 1
  Deadly Yokels
  
  Very dated and difficult to see now why this film created such a furore when it was first released. I expect most of the ire came from the people of St Buryan ... read more »
  
  Report this review
- 959326
- - born2run
  - 80 reviews
  - Isles of Scilly
  - 31 Jan 2011 at 19:25
- - 1
  - 0
  straw dogs
  
  This is an entertaining if dated film. A good film with a gripping story. An American with his English wife move to a remote village where he is hassled by ... read more »
  
  Report this review
- 887194
- [Highly rated reviewer]
  - Kernowique
  - 23 reviews
  - Truro
  - 27 Apr 2010 at 20:20
- - 0
  - 0
  Slow-building, still-shocking psycho-drama
  
  David Sumner (Hoffmann) and his English wife, Amy (Susan George), move to a rural English village to escape urban life and so that David can get on with his ... read more »
  
  Report this review
- 827401
- - redzed
  - 31 reviews
  - London
  - 03 Nov 2009 at 14:08
View all members' reviews (44)

- - 28
  - 4
  Not pleasant, but unmissable.
  
  The controversy that surrounded this film may have sold tickets, but it distracts from the true qualities of the film. Some film catalogues apparently bill this... read more »
  
  Report this review
- 85134
- [Highly rated reviewer]
  - a customer
  - Wales
  - 25 Mar 2005 at 10:25
- - 9
  - 1
  Past sell by date
  
  Thought I would give this film a re run since first viewing a number of years ago. It was a good film in its time but has now lost its impact. Nostalgia ... read more »
  
  Report this review
- 67813
- - a customer
  - Sheffield. Engand
  - 28 Jan 2005 at 21:15
- - 6
  - 1
  Straw Dogs packs a punch
  
  As much as any film I’ve seen, Straw Dogs combines tempo, mood and underlying tension in a tone picture where the action takes place in a confined time and... read more »
  
  Report this review
- 298776
- - RustyT
  - Dorset
  - 01 Feb 2004 at 16:56
- - 6
  - 1
  Good to watch if a little brutal
  
  I say this because even if he doesn't always score (The Killer Elite) he always gives a cracking performance and is good to watch if a little brutal. This ... read more »
  
  Report this review
- 301043
- - Simmy
  - West Yorkshire
  - 10 Mar 2004 at 13:04
- - 6
  - 2
  A Study Of Nature
  
  When Sam Peckinpah’s film was released in Britain, it caused a huge fuss, being banned for several decades. It is understandable why, considering how ... read more »
  
  Report this review
- 307300
- - Travis
  - Surrey
  - 05 Aug 2004 at 19:03
- - 4
  - 2
  very good
  
  I thought this was a excellent film,genuinely shocking and a must see,just got a weak ending,watch it.
  
  Report this review
- 3545
- - a customer
  - oldham
  - 21 Mar 2004 at 23:35
- - 3
  - 2
  Big let down
  
  I was really looking forward to seeing this; I had read a lot of good reviews and the fact that it had been banned for over twenty years added to its appeal.read more »
  
  Report this review
- 303345
- - PacDee
  - Wiltshire
  - 08 May 2004 at 11:03
- - 1
  - 0
  Disturbing....
  
  A well acted film, now over 30 years old - it was one I had on my list "to see" and I finally did. It did not disappoint. Well acted and quite ... read more »
  
  Report this review
- 323182
- - doodiz
  - Derbyshire
  - 15 Feb 2005 at 13:45
- - 1
  - 0
  Video not that nasty
  
  Starts slowly and doesn't get going for a while but uses this to good effect in building up an air of menace that culminates nicely enough in its final ... read more »
  
  Report this review
- 398911
- - a customer
  - On top of the world in Hackney
  - 04 Jan 2007 at 17:38
- - 1
  - 0
  Customer Review
  
  This film is indeed set in Cornwall.....where else? Ireland???....Crazy.
  
  When I first saw this film I held it in awe......back in about 1978 I ... read more »
  
  Report this review
- 580565
- - a customer
  - UK
  - 23 Jun 2008 at 15:22

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Critics' reviews
- A Western transferred to the far west of England, where it fits uneasily. Yet this drama of a man redeemed by violence is well-made, full of tension and its release, as well as showing Peckinpah at his most misogynistical.
- 31928
- - Halliwell's Film Guide
  - 02 Mar 2006 at 15:42
- Peckinpah rubbed our noses in the bloodlust. Lurie invites objectivity. He gets strong, complex performances from actors who won't be painted into corners.
- 217400
- - Rolling Stone
  - 22 Sep 2011 at 05:22
- Straw Dogs is an artful provocation - a meditation on masculinity and societal mores in the guise of an explosive thriller.
- 217399
- - Miami Herald
  - 22 Sep 2011 at 05:22
- Taking elements of both the Western and the British horror film, Peckinpah's masterstroke was to shoot Straw Dogs... read more on Time Out
- 45201
- - Time Out
  - 04 Nov 2008 at 00:15
- "...[The film] has lost neither its power nor its filmmaking brilliance..."
- 10765
- - USA Today
  - 11 Mar 2005 at 12:59

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Buy from Amazon.co.uk

- - Buy
- Straw Dogs - Blu-ray
  
  In Sam Peckinpah's brutal thriller, a quiet, peace-loving American (Dustin Hoffman) moves with his British-born wife (Susan George) to an isolated English village where he is constantly harassed by the locals. He is finally pushed into a violent confrontation in order to protect himself and his ...

- - Buy
- Straw Dogs
  
  A quiet, peace-loving American moves with his English wife to an isolated village where he is harrassed by town bullies. He is finally pushed into a violent confrontation in order to protect himself and his wife....