Stuck : Instinct de survie

9/16/2008 Addendum: IMPORTANT! This review applies ONLY to the 94-minute FESTIVAL cut of this film. I see that the DVD version is only 85 minutes ... do NOT buy or rent it based on this review.

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It's movies like this one that will keep me going to the 'Midnight Madness' program of the Toronto Film Festival forever. I saw it at last year's, and have been looking forward to a repeat viewing ever since. I love it when a low-budget film can soar above the corporate mega-movies on a clever script and a cast that gives it 110%, and this is definitely one of those movies. It gave me everything I could want in such a film – sex, drugs, and violence, with some jet-black humor for dessert. (Note to PG-13ers: AVOID!) It probably won't make a big splash when it's released theatrically, but I'd put money on it achieving cult status after coming out on video.

This is easily the best work that director Stuart Gordon has done since REANIMATOR – I'd go so far as to say that it's his best ever. It's a suspense-horror-comedy full of situations that make you laugh and groan at the same time … one that's also refreshingly NOT top-heavy with f/x. The Midnight Madness program has a firm policy that a film has to grab your attention within the first 15 minutes in order to qualify for inclusion, and this film meets that requirement with room to spare. What's more, it never drags for a minute.

The story is based on the bizarre true life tale of a woman who hit a homeless man with her car and let him slowly bleed to death while stuck in her windshield. Gordon calls this "the way the story should have turned out." The homeless man in this case is played by the reliable Steven Rea, whose sad eyes give him a head start on eliciting sympathy. He's newly homeless, and his fall to the bottom is cleverly punctuated by him repeatedly hearing a timeworn cliché uttered by a succession of unsympathetic characters. The woman is played by American BEAUTY's Mena Survari, and this is her richest role since that one. She finally gets to play a character who actually evolves over the course of a film, instead of just doing 9-5 duty in another eye candy role.

I can't overemphasize how impressive the bang for the buck that Gordon gets with this film is. He also makes an amusing Hitchcock-style cameo (one that I'll bet Hitch himself wouldn't have minded making). There was genuinely enthusiastic applause at the screening I went to when the movie ended and the cast (except for Rea) came on for a lively Q & A. If movies lately seem a bit too tame for you, this is very likely just what the doctor ordered.

Going around these user comments and outside reviews, I see that some people have labelled "Stuck" as something of a black comedy. Actually, I didn't see it that way. While the movie does have a share of darkly humorous moments, I felt most of the movie was treated straight, as a thriller. And as a thriller, I really enjoyed this movie. The performances are top notch, especially Russell Hornsby playing the boyfriend who talks tough but turns out to be otherwise. There is a lot of suspense as we wonder throughout if the unlucky protagonist will get out of his painful and unfortunate situation or not. Although the movie does seem a little stretched out at times, and the ending is somewhat abrupt, the movie is never boring and will keep you watching until the end.

First, I should say that Stuart Gordon's "Stuck" is definitely one that squeamish people should avoid. Even as a non-squeamish person, some of the scenes made my skin crawl. But the fact that this is based on a true story just adds to the cringe-inducing factor. Mena Suvari plays a character that I interpret as an extension of her character in "American Beauty": in that one, she was a jerk to everyone, and here she refuses to take responsibility for her actions, thereby getting herself into more and more trouble.

Like I said, this is not for the fainthearted. But I recommend it anyway. Of course, in the end - as Stephen Rea's character often hears - you choose.

Mena "American Pie" Suvari and Stephen Rea star in this remarkable little thriller that manages to deliver despite it's glaring and obvious flaws.

It tells the story of a woman drunk at the wheel looking at her phone who runs into a homeless man with her car. With him embedded into her windshield she proceeds to drive home, locks the car in the garage and mulls over what to do next.

I like the concept, it's handled well and Stephen Rea is fantastic as our protagonist who you really find yourself caring about to levels you rarely see. In fact I haven't cared as much about a character since The Pursuit of Happyness (2006).

Essentially a thriller it has moments of black comedy, mostly due to Russell Hornsby who was really good here.

The films main flaw is that it's essentially following the antagonist, the lead is the bad guy (Or girl in this case) and that comes across odd especially as it's as if you're watching her plight when she's blatantly the antagonist. Watching Rea struggle against the odds is very enjoyable and builds to a decent finale that really underlines the movies quality.

Despite it's flaws this is a great film helped by a solid premise and decent cast.

The Good:

Stephen Rea

Some great ideas

The Bad:

Having the antagonist as the lead is just odd

I still don't like Suvari, no idea why

Stuart Gordon made a masterpiece in Re-animator, and carved a career in the eighties out of schlock horror with a heavy foot in satire. In the nineties he managed to lose his way a little but the naughties has seen him experimenting with genres, providing his most interesting work to date. Edmond was a lurch to the left with Mamet's difficult play, but this film returns him to a genre he's more familiar with, yet the tone is firmly planted in reality.

Some reviewers have suggested that Stuck is simply a thriller but I disagree. Certainly there is a grotesque sort of suspense, yet Gordon has managed to provide humanity to his victim, and show us the type of system that puts so many to the street.

It also shows us how a relatively normal reaction of fear and shock can mislead even the most well meaning person into a situation which climbs out of control with devastating consequences. It will also reinforce the fact that we never know how people will react until placed into a difficult situation, ourselves included.

The film never feels forced. You can believe that this actually happened, (based loosely on a true story) though this takes events to the extreme.

Stephen Rea gives a constrained performance, (pun intended) as the proverbial bug. You'll feel his pain and scream for justice.

I hope Stuart Gordon continues taking risks. His best work may be ahead of him.