There is no wonder the cautious film critics wanted this movie banned. The atmosphere created is amazing. Dustin Hoffman are Susan George show top class performances, in fact the whole cast were fantastic. This really is a classic controversial powerful movie. Dont be put off by the age of this moive, in fact if all movies were just half of this calibre movies would all be great. A MUST see classic.

In 1971, Sam Peckinpah began work on his first film not to be set in the American Old West. Instead, he had relocated to Cornwall to make a powerful, harrowing thriller about a man forced to take up arms and defend his property. The story itself is pure Peckinpah in that it could easily have come straight out of a typical western.

This is no ordinary modern western, however; it contains a truly harrowing rape scene which is still very hard to watch after all these years. The climax is brutal and the violence horribly realistic. Nonetheless, this is a brilliant piece of filmmaking from a great director at the height of his powers.

David Sumner (Dustin Hoffman) is a quiet American mathematician who has just moved to Cornwall with his beautiful young new wife, Amy (Susan George), who grew up in the village. On the surface, they seem quite happy, no different to most other newly-weds. When they are at home, however, it is clear that all is not well. David regards Amy as a trophy wife and shows little interest in her, prefering to shut himself away with his mathematical equations. As a result, Amy becomes bored, restless, awkward and disruptive. Petty arguments start to break out. Added to that, the menacing presence of the far too polite labourers working on the garage outside is making itself all too clearly felt. Their behaviour becomes more threatening. The marriage starts to disintegrate and an outbreak of violence isn't far away.

Dustin Hoffman are Susan George are excellent in their roles and they are well supported by a collection of great British character actors, including Peter Vaughan, Colin Welland and T P McKenna.

i dont know if its just me but when i watched Straw Dogs, it seemed like there were bits missing, and i hated the ending it just seemed so rushed and all i could think was when is this going to end??
I also found myself knowing what was going to happen next and if i can guess whats going to happen i tend to get bored of the film very quicky

however Dustin Hoffmen was great and his character got a lot better towards the end

all in all i was very dissappionted with it

Back in the 1970s, Straw Dogs was always mentioned in the same breath as A Clockwork Orange. Unfortunately in recent years, and no doubt helped by being banned for 18 years on account of its infamous rape scene, Straw Dogs has been to some extent forgotten. This is a great pity since it is a work of great sophistication and complexity, far more so than its erstwhile companion piece, and one in which the viewer soon finds himself wallowing in a moral quagmire. Are we really that happy when Dustin Hoffman as abused and ridiculed mathematician David Summer finally takes up arms against his tormentors? And are the latter wholly vindictive or do they have a valid reason for arriving at the cottage Sumner shares with his wife Amy late one evening?

Adding to the power of this film is some breathtaking editing and camera movement, the sheer energy of which has to be experienced to be believed. Good performances by Hoffman and Susan George, together with some haunting images (most notably the religious ceremony in the village hall) make this a film to linger in the viewers mind long after the final credits have rolled.

This really is a must for the discerning viewers collection.