Stuck (2007)

User Rating:

7.2/10   

Director:

Stuart Gordon

Writers (WGA):

John Strysik (screenplay)
Stuart Gordon (story)

Release Date:

12 September 2008 (Turkey)

Genre:

Horror | Thriller

Plot:

A young woman commits a hit-and-run, then finds her fate tied to her victim. |

Plot Keywords:

Catfight | Kicked Out Of Room Naked | Hit With Frying Pan | Stabbed In The Eye | Hit And Run

Awards:

2 wins

Cast

Mena Suvari	...	Brandi Boski
Bunthivy Nou	...	Gloria
Wayne Robson	...	Mr. Binckley
Carolyn Purdy-Gordon	...	Petersen
Stephen Rea	...	Thomas Bardo
R.D. Reid	...	Manager
Suzanne Short	...	Receptionist
Patrick McKenna	...	Joe Lieber
Rukiya Bernard	...	Tanya
Lionel Mark Smith	...	Sam
Russell Hornsby	...	Rashid
Wally McKinnon	...	Beat Cop (as Wally MacKinnon)
John Dartt	...	Cop
Liam McNamara	...	Thin Young Man
Shûko Akune	...	Hospital Voice Menu (as Shuko Akune)

MPAA:

Rated R for strong violence, disturbing content, sexuality/nudity, language and drug use.

Runtime:

Canada:94 min (Toronto International Film Festival)

Country:

Canada | USA | UK

Language:

English | Spanish

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Certification:

Canada:14A | USA:R | Australia:MA (DVD release) | Australia:MA (2008)

Filming Locations:

Saint John, New Brunswick, Canada

Company:

Prodigy Pictures

Trivia:

Scriptwriter John Strysik has stated that the last name of Stephen Rea's character -- Bardo -- comes from the Buddhist term for an intermediate or transitional state of being, and thus is a reference to the life-or-death situation Tom experiences.

Moral Ambiguity at its best

Watching "Stuck" is not a comfortable experience. Beyond the obvious gut-wrenching events of the film, it will make you wonder, "What would I do in a similar situation?" Stuart Gordon's direction is excellent, as is John Strysik's screenplay. Together they set the stage perfectly for what could easily be an unbelievable series of events. Such is their skill in their respective arenas that you never once feel that the story is contrived.

Mena Suvari and Stephen Rea both deserve kudos as well. It would be easy to lose interest or feel trapped (in a bad way) given the unavoidably claustrophobic nature of the story. Both Rea and Suvari's performances, however, are so fantastic that my interest never waned.

Russell Hornsby, Rukiya Bernard, and Carorlyn Purdy-Gordon add the details to this world that bring it all together. Russell and Rukiya, as Suvari's boyfriend and friend respectively, are fantastic. Purdy-Gordon's turn as Mena Suvari's boss gives us just the right amount of evil-employer without delving into satire.

All in all, a fantastic movie.