Dark Discussions - Episode 371 - Straw Dogs (1971)

Dark Discussions Podcast

Welcome the newest episode of Dark Discussions, your place for the discussion of horror film, fiction, and all that’s fantastic. The year 1971 was a very important year for cinema. Directors and screenwriters began pushing boundaries never seen in film before. That year such films as A CLOCKWORK ORANGE, DIRTY HARRY, and THE FRENCH CONNECTION released along with Sam Peckinpah’s STRAW DOGS. The film starred Dustin Hoffman and Susan George along with a number of British character actors such as David Warner. David Sumner (Dustin Hoffman) and his young wife Amy (Susan George) move back to her Cornish home from mid-America so David can do work for a college grant that he was granted. What looks like a beautiful little town begins to haunt Amy as old acquaintances return to her life. Soon David’s own life is turned upside down when a group of handymen begin to upend his self-esteem. As time passes, his own relations with Amy turn sour only to be brought to a head when unforeseen circumstances upend their life. One of the most controversial films of its day, the movie is now consider a classic in both cult and mainstream cinema. Peckinpah’s tale touches such topics as masculinity, small town versus big town, foreigners in a foreign land, classism, elitism, and colloquialism. Chosen by one of Dark Discussions patreon supporters, your co-hosts take a look at this very controversial movie. As always we welcome your comments: [e-mail] (written email or attached mp3 files) WWW.DARKDISCUSSIONS.COM