Straw Dogs (1971 film)

Straw Dogs is a 1971 psychological thriller film directed by Sam Peckinpah and starring Dustin Hoffman and Susan George. Set in rural Cornwall, England, the film explores themes of violence, masculinity, and the nature of civilization through the story of a mild-mannered American mathematician who is pushed to defend his home and wife against increasingly aggressive locals.

David Sumner (Hoffman) and his wife Amy (George) relocate from the United States to Amy's ancestral home in England to escape the pressures of urban life and allow David to focus on his academic work. They hire local men to repair the farmhouse, but soon find themselves subject to increasing harassment and intimidation. The simmering tension escalates into violent confrontation, culminating in a siege of the farmhouse.

The film is known for its graphic violence and controversial depiction of sexual assault. It sparked significant debate upon its release and continues to be discussed in terms of its social commentary and portrayal of human nature. Straw Dogs has been interpreted as an allegory for the breakdown of societal norms and the inherent capacity for violence within individuals. It was initially banned or heavily censored in several countries, including the United Kingdom.

The film has been remade (also titled Straw Dogs, released in 2011), and its themes and imagery have influenced numerous other works of cinema. Despite its controversial reputation, Straw Dogs is considered by many to be a significant and provocative film in Peckinpah's filmography, albeit one that remains challenging to watch and interpret.