As a fan of HBO’s True Blood since the beginning, I could not imagine passing up the opportunity to see the movie Straw Dogs. Starring Kate Bosworth,

James Marsden, and of course Alexander Skarsgard, the 2011 remake of the 1971 movie with the same name is fast paced, provocative and terrifying.

Originally based on Gordon Williams’ novel The Siege of Trencher’s Farm, Straw Dogs is set in the rural south and somehow encompasses many aspects of modern American tension at the same time as telling a captivating story. The realities of racism, post-traumatic stress disorder, mental disabilities, lawlessness, and small town politics are all woven into a web of drama and violence, all with the undercurrents of a love story.

When Bosworth’s character Amy and her husband, Marsden’s character David, move into her childhood home, they get much more than they bargained for. The team they contract to fix their roof, Skarsgard’s character Charlie and some of his friends, have a not-so-hidden past with Amy, and a pretty obvious ax to grind. When their dangerous intentions become obvious, it’s too late for Amy and David to escape. They are left with no option but to weather the fight of their lives.

This movie is definitely rated R for a reason. It gets graphic at many times, and some of the scenes make you question whether or not Charlie is even human. Regardless, the caliber of acting by the three leads is outstanding. If you don’t mind the difficult messages, going to see Straw Dogs is definitely worth it.