Stoker is a Disturbing Horror Story About Obsession

I had watched Stoker years ago, and I was so creeped out throughout the whole movie. For those who have seen it, I’m sure you know what I’m talking about.

This film… damn, I’m not sure how to go about writing this one.

Stoker is a story about a young girl named India, and her life changes drastically when her father dies in a car accident. All that is left is India and her unstable mother… until her mysterious uncle, Charlie, decides to move in with them.

Right away, we know that something is up with this guy. He seduces India’s mother, but we see how he seems really interested...in India. His niece. Something is obviously wrong with this guy, but even India seems drawn to him. She is introduced to his darker tendencies throughout the film.

She witnesses him commit a murder right in front of her, and she doesn't seem to mind what he did. (To be honest, the guy had it coming, but wow, that part was so creepy).

Charlie also...appears to try and...seduce India in several scenes. She is aware of this, and never tries to resist him. Even though we never see India and Charlie ever do anything (so glad the movie did not go down that route) the implications are already disturbing from what we see.

Then India finds out a dark truth about her uncle.

He killed her father.

India’s father had Charlie placed in a mental institution, after he had murdered their little brother, Richard. Out of revenge, Charlie went after India’s father, and killed him too, staging the car accident.

And if you think that is already bad enough… Charlie is revealed to be a serial killer… and her poor father discovered Charlie's creepy love for his niece, but he never responded to any of his letters. India finds out everything, and instead of turning him in to the police, she appears to grow close with him. And he does too… in a romantic way.

I really struggled to get through this movie...

India and Charlie were a creepy duo, and I’m sure India would have left with Charlie later, if it hadn’t been for the discovery of Charlie killing her father. India secretly decides to trick her uncle, as he gives her an important gift, a pair of heels.

Her mother discovers them together, having a moment (barf), and she loses her mind.

She tells India that something is wrong with her, and wants her to suffer. She confronts Charlie, revealing to him that she already knew he had something to do with her husband's death.

After this reveal, I was honestly so pissed off.

India's mother really sucks in this film. I know that she is most likely grieving over her husband's death, but why did she decide to finally confront Charlie after she saw the attention he was giving her daughter?

(I honestly think she got extremely jealous, and decided to turn on him at that moment. Man, what a despicable character. But...let's face it, the whole family sucks).

India witnesses Charlie attempting to kill her mother, and she tricks him into believing she will run away with him, but she ends up shooting him with a rifle instead. She leaves behind her traumatized mother, and the next morning, buries her uncle's body in the backyard.

She leaves for New York in Charlie's car, the same place they were planning to run away together. A sheriff pulls her over for speeding, and India stabs him in the neck. She finishes him off with the same rifle she used to kill Charlie, ending the film.

I think this ending was strongly hinting that India was born with Charlie’s murderous tendencies. So, I guess, in a way, India would always live through Charlie, since he was the reason why she learned about her dark side.

Sorry for creeping you guys out, but this film is severely underrated, so I thought it needed to be discussed. Despite how creepy this film was, I also appreciated the writing of the film. I thought it was well done, and I think this is probably the most messed up family I have seen in a horror movie.

Will I ever see this movie again?

It’s in between right now. I love a good romance story, but this one…just no. HELL NO.

Thank you for reading!

Emy Quinn