Stoker - B

Rated R, 98 minutes

Flawed but entertaining "Stoker" chooses style over substance

Nicole Kidman and Mia Wasikowska

The stylish new thriller "Stoker" is one of the year's most interesting films, an intriguing, gothic blend of family drama and psychological thriller. Directed by acclaimed South Korean director Park Chan-wook ("Oldboy"), the film clearly evokes Hitchcock and drips with style in every scene, probably much more than it should. After India's (Mia Wasikowska) father Richard (Dermot Mulroney) dies in an auto accident, her mysterious Uncle Charlie (Matthew Goode), who she never knew existed, comes to live with her and her emotionally unstable mother (Nicole Kidman). Soon after his arrival, India comes to suspect that her charming uncle has ulterior motives but instead becomes infatuated with him. "Stoker" is a flawed but entertainingly dark film; it certainly has style but it also overtakes its narrative and its characters, particularly in its final chapters. Wasikowska ("Alice in Wonderland"), as the sullen, friendless young girl who is drawn into an unexpected family drama that's bigger than even she realizes, is particularly strong, with solid turns by British actor Matthew Goode, Nicole Kidman and in a tiny role, recent Oscar-nominee Jacki Weaver. While Chan-wook, in his American film debut, is a unique director - he certainly knows the impact of colors, landscape and photography - he lets the style over take the script, written by actor Wentworth Miller, who you may remember from the TV series "Prison Break," and leaving more questions than answers about the story. As with many films where the film's star is clearly the star (particularly in its opening and closing), there's a mesmerizing pull to watch but little depth to what's there. Even with that, "Stoker" (named after the author of the original Dracula, Bram Stoker) is dark and often fun and should be a treat for Chan-wook's large fan base. Definitely worth a look.

Wes's Grade: B