This is a alright remake although the original is more gritty and brutal. But wasn't a worldwide hit or anything, perhaps because the story takes place in England. This one takes place in the south with very stereotypical rednecks and hillbillies. There has been movies about brutal murders and mutant hillbillies that kill people that goes in a bit of a stretch. But this one goes in a more humanistic and a bit of psychological direction that the original "Straw Dogs" was known for. James Marsden takes the lead role this time as David Sumner not Scott Summers. Dustin Hoffman in the original "Straw Dogs" played the role as a very wimpy character that gets pushed to the edge. But the way James Marsden play it or how his character is written. His character is more pedantic than a wimp and just tries to avoid confrontations at all cost. Because he just doesn't want to deal with it. So Dustin Hoffman's version of the character is more likable. In fact none of the characters in this movie is likable and has some flaws even if they aren't the villains in this movie. But I guess that gives it more of the humanistic approach for a movie like this. Alexander Skarsgård actually makes a better leader of the pack of hillbillies. Although the original is more gritty and brutal I thought the build up for this movie was done better. Especially how it explains and shows the meaning behind "Straw Dogs" which wasn't really done in the original. And the siege at the end when compared to the original seemed more like pressure than tension. This movie is basically all about wrong timing. How the protagonist doesn't stand up for himself all the way through which probably escalates the problem and when he decides to fight the problem escalates even more. The original seemed like bullies picking on someone weaker but I didn't really get that feeling with this one but felt slight bit more psychological aspect to it. When it comes to the character Amy Sumner played by Kate Bosworth in this is bipolar or something cause her actions don't make much sense. So when the hillbilly workers come inside the house uninvited goes through their fridge and sit in there home without permission it's okay. But when they check her out while she is running with almost the bare minimum when it comes to running clothes she freaks out. Overall the build up is slightly better than the original but when it comes to everything else the original seem to have the upper-hand.
6/10
6/10