Straw Dogs (DVD 2002)

A young looking Dustin Hoffman gives a great performance as an American mathematician David Sumner, at first sight a gentle and quiet personality who avoids confrontation. He has moved to Cornwall from the USA with his young wife Amy (Susan George) to the place where she grew up as a child. The locals are rough, ready and game for a fight in stark contrast to the wealthy, quiet, intellectual David. His wife is insecure, flighty and needy of his attention which he resents, preferring to be left alone to work. Trouble brews when David tries to block an impending attack on one man by other locals over a missing girl. Soon the once gentle David defends his house with all his might, against the rising tide of attacks from locals determined to get to the man being sheltered inside, using every means at his disposal. Dustin Hoffman’s transformation into a steely calm determined killer shows his great acting skills to the full. Scenes of rape and violence which may be too strong for some (the film was banned for many years).

Still quite shocking after all these years. It is easy to see why the director stopped its release.

Present for husband. I taped over my videoing of the original tape. he is thrilled to have it replaced

I was pleased to buy the DVD as I saw it at the cinema when I was 16 (I looked 18 and so got in ok). That was in 1971 and the movie was quite shocking at the time. I have often thought that I would like to see it again, but for some stupid reason it has never been allow to be shown on TV.

This was a DVD that a relative had been trying to get from commercial shops for quite a while but it is no longer available in the retail outlets.
I found it on the ebay and it was a very good description and price.
When the item arrived it was in very good, mint condition and my relative was extremely pleased with the purchase

Good sense of menace, and it does hold your attention, but not as shocking as you'd expect from all the controversy surrounding it. Well worth watching but it's definitely 'of its time' and you probably wouldn't both watching it again having seen it once. The DVD extras (including interviews with stars/director) are excellent. Interesting to contrast with modern day horrors which pack in a lot more in the way of shocks, but maybe lose some of the subtlety: the performances are excellent.

I saw this film when it first came out and thought it to be the most violent thing I had ever seen at the time. I have to say though that I rather identified with the character played by dustin hoffman. I bought it because I wanted to see if it still had the same violent impact after all the intervening years. It now seems rather dated and far less shocking than it seemed to be back then although it is still quite disturbing. Sam Peckinpah always packs a punch in his films. I'm glad I bought the film though I would not want to watch it with my grandchildren !!

1st i bought the film due to the purchase price.
2nd i saw this film years ago it was brilliant in it's day.
it was performed on dvd as good or not beter than original vhs (fantastic)

gerallth123

I bought it along with a few other DVD's.
I own lots of old horror and old banned dvd's.
It started from when i was a child n watched EvilDead and scared me to death, so now i watch them to see what i was so affraid of.
But they say the oldies are always the goodies!!!!
And that they are.

Sexual scene in a horror i find hard to watch, so didnt feel right about watching that. I bought this as it is supposed to be based on a true story