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Straw Dogs

Play trailer Poster for Straw Dogs R 1971 1h 56m Drama Mystery & Thriller Play Trailer Watchlist
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82% Tomatometer 45 Reviews 82% Popcornmeter 10,000+ Ratings
David Sumner (Dustin Hoffman), a mild-mannered academic from the United States, marries Amy (Susan George), an Englishwoman. In order to escape a hectic stateside lifestyle, David and his wife relocate to the small town in rural Cornwall where Amy was raised. There, David is ostracized by the brutish men of the village, including Amy's old flame, Charlie (Del Henney). Eventually the taunts escalate, and two of the locals rape Amy. This sexual assault awakes a shockingly violent side of David.
Straw Dogs

What to Know

Critics Consensus

A violent, provocative meditation on manhood, Straw Dogs is viscerally impactful -- and decidedly not for the squeamish.

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Critics Reviews

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Tom Milne Sight & Sound I can think of no other film which screws violence up into so tight a knot of terror that one begins to feel that civilisation is crumbling before one's eyes. Feb 12, 2020 Full Review Dave Kehr Chicago Reader [T]hough doubtlessly reactionary, Straw Dogs has the heat of personal commitment and the authority of deep (if bitter) contemplation. Jan 9, 2019 Full Review Chuck Bowen Slant Magazine One of the most ambiguous, neurotic, and disturbing of all American films receives a revelatory new restoration, with supplements that ably grapple with its chaos. Jul 10, 2017 Full Review Justine Smith Vague Visages In spite of accusations to the contrary, Peckinpah does not celebrate violence but suggests that it is a part of humanity’s moral fabric. Nov 21, 2023 Full Review Keith Garlington Keith & the Movies “Straw Dogs” is ugly, disturbing, and hard to take in, just like a story of this nature should be. It’s also hard to turn away from thanks to Peckinpah’s direction, John Coquillon’s fiercely hypnotic cinematography, and great performances. Rated: 4/5 May 17, 2023 Full Review Brian Eggert Deep Focus Review While I understand this film and welcome its message, it’s a film that I wouldn’t want to revisit. Rated: 2.5/4 Mar 8, 2023 Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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useyour I “Straw Dogs” is ugly, disturbing, and hard to take in, just like a story of this nature should be. It’s also hard to turn away from thanks to Peckinpah’s direction, John Coquillon’s fiercely hypnotic cinematography, and great performances. Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars 08/19/25 Full Review rex w I saw this 50 years ago. I gave it another chance today. It still makes absolutely no sense. Rated 1.5 out of 5 stars 07/27/25 Full Review Ava S Straw Dogs is an iconic piece of revenge cinema, with its interesting take on masculinity and violence, though its jumbled moral commentary ultimately feels like a cop out. Rated 3 out of 5 stars 06/29/25 Full Review Dani G Typical thriller of early 70's. Same aesthetics as many others visually, in sound, the plot, the acting, the editing... Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars 06/07/25 Full Review Alec B Too downbeat to be "fascist" (sorry Pauline) but it does still effectively make the audience extremely uncomfortable. This is why people feel the need to attack it. Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars 02/28/24 Full Review CaptainMaple This movie was absolutely awful, don't watch it unless you like watching paint dry for the first half, listen to shattering glass for the second half and occasional and motivation less shock scenes for seemingly no reason. In an Age where Death Wish and Seven Samurai also exist, this movie has no right to be as boring as it is for a "thriller" Rated 0.5 out of 5 stars 02/12/24 Full Review Read all reviews
Straw Dogs

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Cast & Crew

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Sam Peckinpah

Director

Dustin Hoffman

David Sumner

Susan George

Amy Sumner

T.P. McKenna

Major John Scott

Peter Vaughan

Tom Hedden

Del Henney

Charlie Venner

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Straw Dogs

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Movie Info

Synopsis David Sumner (Dustin Hoffman), a mild-mannered academic from the United States, marries Amy (Susan George), an Englishwoman. In order to escape a hectic stateside lifestyle, David and his wife relocate to the small town in rural Cornwall where Amy was raised. There, David is ostracized by the brutish men of the village, including Amy's old flame, Charlie (Del Henney). Eventually the taunts escalate, and two of the locals rape Amy. This sexual assault awakes a shockingly violent side of David.
Director
Sam Peckinpah
Producer
Daniel Melnick
Screenwriter
David Zelag Goodman, Sam Peckinpah
Production Co
Talent Associates Ltd.
Rating
R
Genre
Drama, Mystery & Thriller
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
Dec 29, 1971, Wide
Release Date (DVD)
Oct 19, 2004
Runtime
1h 56m
Sound Mix
Mono