Sundance 2013 First Impression: STOKER Delivers on Director Park's Brand

It's been a long wait for Park Chan-wook's (Oldboy) English language debut, but that wait is finally over. Stoker is here - and boy will Park fans be happy. A highly stylized mystery, the film delivers what the South Korean auteur does best: moody mise-en-scene with intense moments of ultra-violence. This is a dark, dark story, yet somehow Park is able to impart a safeness that allows the audience to sit back and enjoy the thrill ride. Stars Matthew Goode, Nicole Kidman, and particularly Mia Wasikowska all shine. One particularly heated scene will really get people buzzing about an all-grown-up Wasikowska. Fox Searchlight already own US distribution rights and the March 1 release should see healthy business and a lot of new Park fans.