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32 out of 48 people found the following comment useful :-
The Turning Point, 11 October 2007

Author: loosewigg from United States

When does an ordinary person become monstrous; what is the trigger; when is the fatal turning point? Is fear an acceptable reason for selfishness, brutality and a headlong flight from responsibility?

Gordon deals admirably with this dilemma using a crafty balance of horror and humor in a bloody film about a hit & run driver who becomes inhuman while the victim remains human and humane through relentless pain, shock, & bad luck.

Both Stephen Rea and Mena Suvari offer up fine performances as a middle class guy down on his luck and a hard working and hard playing young woman in a tough and demanding job.

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23 out of 35 people found the following comment useful :-
The best B-movie since BOUND, 10 May 2008

Author: Art Snob from Rochester, NY USA

9/16/2008 Addendum: IMPORTANT! This review applies ONLY to the 94-minute FESTIVAL cut of this film. I see that the DVD version is only 85 minutes ... do NOT buy or rent it based on this review.

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It's movies like this one that will keep me going to the 'Midnight Madness' program of the Toronto Film Festival forever. I saw it at last year's, and have been looking forward to a repeat viewing ever since. I love it when a low-budget film can soar above the corporate mega-movies on a clever script and a cast that gives it 110%, and this is definitely one of those movies. It gave me everything I could want in such a film – sex, drugs, and violence, with some jet-black humor for dessert. (Note to PG-13ers: AVOID!) It probably won't make a big splash when it's released theatrically, but I'd put money on it achieving cult status after coming out on video.

This is easily the best work that director Stuart Gordon has done since REANIMATOR – I'd go so far as to say that it's his best ever. It's a suspense-horror-comedy full of situations that make you laugh and groan at the same time … one that's also refreshingly NOT top-heavy with f/x. The Midnight Madness program has a firm policy that a film has to grab your attention within the first 15 minutes in order to qualify for inclusion, and this film meets that requirement with room to spare. What's more, it never drags for a minute.

The story is based on the bizarre true life tale of a woman who hit a homeless man with her car and let him slowly bleed to death while stuck in her windshield. Gordon calls this "the way the story should have turned out." The homeless man in this case is played by the reliable Steven Rea, whose sad eyes give him a head start on eliciting sympathy. He's newly homeless, and his fall to the bottom is cleverly punctuated by him repeatedly hearing a timeworn cliché uttered by a succession of unsympathetic characters. The woman is played by American BEAUTY's Mena Survari, and this is her richest role since that one. She finally gets to play a character who actually evolves over the course of a film, instead of just doing 9-5 duty in another eye candy role.

I can't overemphasize how impressive the bang for the buck that Gordon gets with this film is. He also makes an amusing Hitchcock-style cameo (one that I'll bet Hitch himself wouldn't have minded making). There was genuinely enthusiastic applause at the screening I went to when the movie ended and the cast (except for Rea) came on for a lively Q & A. If movies lately seem a bit too tame for you, this is very likely just what the doctor ordered.

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17 out of 27 people found the following comment useful :-
Horror? No! Dark comedy? Definitely!, 25 August 2008

Author: bexandbarn from Spain

Lovers of the horror genre who like their movies to be full of blood and action, like the two people who commented on this and gave it a low rating, should perhaps stay clear of this one. Yes, there are some bloody moments but I think this movie being primarily in the horror genre here on IMDb is a big mistake. To me, this was funny as hell and those who criticise it for being too full of 'that wouldn't happen' moments have completely missed the point.

The film is ludicrous but intentionally so, and it is the preposterous nature of the situations where the comedy lies. There are many cringe-worthy moments throughout but again these add to the laughs. Sure, one can look deeper at this tale and argue it is an exploration of morality, but that is down to an excellent and believable script which allows the watcher to interpret the movie on different levels.

If your humour is quite sick then you will get a lot of enjoyment out of this film. It is slick, well acted and directed and highly original. One of the best films I've seen in a long time.

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12 out of 18 people found the following comment useful :-
Moral Ambiguity at its best, 3 August 2008

Author: Knuckle from United States

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.

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4 out of 5 people found the following comment useful :-
A Great Transition for Stuart Gordon, 7 October 2008

Author: Gavin Schmitt (gavin6942@yahoo.com) from Kaukauna, Wisconsin

Mena Suvari plays nurse Brandi Boski who, on the eve of her promotion, strikes a homeless man who gets stuck (hence the title) in her windshield. Not wanting to get fired (or lose her promotion), she decides to hide the man in her garage rather than report him to the local hospital. A problem arises soon thereafter when it is revealed that the man is not actually dead.

When word came my way that a movie was coming out based on the Chante Mallard story, I was pretty pumped. I had written a novella based on the same case back in 2003, so I was not only familiar with it but had something of a personal connection. And then when I heard it was from the legendary Stuart Gordon ("Re-Animator"), I was more than just a little pumped. I was ecstatic. Gordon, back in the director's seat... and soon enough his newest creation was in my hands. It's good to be a horror reviewer.

This was actually a departure for Gordon, being far more a "real" movie (with drama bits) and much less a b-movie. Not much Jeffrey Combs, no Dennis Paoli... and Mena Suvari had been brought in... and the cover of the box is glowing with positive reviews from The New York Times and USA Today. I don't know for certain, but I don't think this is the level of attention he normally musters. You've come a long way from Empire, baby. And as much as I'll always love the Gordon classics, both old and new, it's nice to see him getting the recognition he deserves. There's room for a new giant among Wes Craven and John Carpenter. Maybe Romero will give up his seat.

The film itself is powerful as a drama and the horror elements are downplayed until much later on. We begin by following the homeless man on a regular day trying to find work at the government's assistance bureau. He is less than successful. Suvari, on the other hand, is finally rewarded for putting up with other people's crap (most literally). For the next hour, it is the exposition of these lives that is the focal point. I may never have thought of Stuart Gordon as a dialogue-driven director, but this film really showcases his ability to bring normal characters to life without gimmicks.

By the time you read this, "Stuck" should be available in stores. And you really must give it a chance. Long-time Gordon fans will enjoy it and I think we can safely say this isn't him selling out. (Some Peter Jackson fans likely regret Jackson's move towards the big budget films... but many aspects of "Stuck" hint that no matter how big, Gordon knows his roots.) Those who never heard of Stuart Gordon and are confused by all my ranting and raving will enjoy the film as well, because it's a story that real, with real people and real emotions. A respectable date movie for those who like horror on their dates but may not necessarily want the splatter. Oh, and drink Scotch while you watch it.

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6 out of 9 people found the following comment useful :-
Sticky Situations., 15 October 2008

Author: straighttovideo from United States

Stuck

THE FILM Stuck is a confusing film. On the one hand, the film plays as a deliciously nasty piece of black comedy, piling inhumanity on top of inhumanity and coating it all with sanguine and self-immolation. On the other hand, I have been assured by an industry friend that the film is not a comedy at all, but rather a profoundly confused wouldbe thriller full of inexcusable racist stereotypes. As the DVD has nothing in the way of special features, I have no way of knowing what Auteur/infant terrible Stuart Gordon actually had in mind.

The premise is ripped straight from the strange-but-true headlines. A nurse hits a homeless man while driving drunk. She hits him so hard that he ends up lodged in her windshield. Instead of taking the man to a hospital, she drives home, leaving the man to bleed to death in her garage while she goes inside and has sex with her boyfriend.

Gordon's take on the story follows the real world events quite loosely, changing most everything after the initial crash. In reality, the man died 2 hours after being hit. Here he goes through days of misadventures.

These changes are a point of contention for many. In real life the victim was white and the killer was black. In the film, the victim is white and the killer is a white-trash Caucasian who can easily be read as an extremely stereotyped black woman who has simply been bleached.

And this is where things get confusing. Everyone in the film is stereotyped. There is a "magic negro" who is so broad that even Steven King might find it offensive. A completely subordinate black best friend. Side-of-a-barn cruel police officers. An illegal immigrant family fueled by foolish machismo. An effete gay man walking a fluffy dog. A drug dealing, gun toting, cheating black boyfriend. Helpless, brain dead elderly. And, at the center of it all, a perfect example of "the noble poor." The acting from Stephen Rea and Mena Suvari (who also acts as producer) is quite good but the writing is either totally incompetent or brilliantly subversive.

Many of the elements are incongruous. And, considering that Gordon's last film was the vastly underrated Edmond* I am inclined to believe that the film is intended to be funny. I know I laughed a lot. But, at this same time, it is entirely possible that the film is inadvertently hilarious. The whole thing is very ambiguous if you don't know Gordon's filmography.

And perhaps, it is this very tension that makes the movie worthwhile. It's a horrifically mean spirited film. So dark that it makes Very Bad Things look like Adams Family Values. This bleakness is perhaps confusing some people to the larger social context of the film.

Ultimately, in my mind, the film is a character study about a woman who selflessly works for rich white folks all day and engages in black culture all night. This internal tension makes her a type of Uncle Tom, regardless of her actual skin pigment. The film is about how good people are capable of evil and about how we are all culpable for the crimes of those we look down on.

I've always been a Stuart Gordon fan and this film cements his status for me. Unlike most filmmakers, who cool with time Gordon is on fire. His last 3 films** might well be the best of his entire career. I can't wait to see what he does next.

DVD: There are no special features, but the picture is reasonably clean and the menus are nice. I love Gordon's commentary tracks. It is sorely missed here.

CONCLUSION: Stuck is not a film for everyone. Many will find it too grisly and mean spirited. Others might even find it racist. But, for a select few, the film is a hilariously painful piece of social commentary schadenfreude. A theater of cruelty, but a brilliant one.

The very fact that I can see how someone might be horribly offended, but also find it to mean the exact opposite is enough reason to recommend the film. A movie to watch and discuss over coffee.

FILM: A- DVD: D+

*In my mind the best David Mamet adaptation to date. ** King of Ants, Edmond, Stuck

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20 out of 37 people found the following comment useful :-
Excruciating Pains ..., 8 April 2008

Author: Coventry from the Draconian Swamp of Unholy Souls

Stuart Gordon once more distinguishes himself as one of the most versatile and multi-talented directors active in today's horror film-making industry. This man handles sheer entertaining splatter flicks (loosely inspired on the work of Gothic novelists) as well as he handles far more mature and genuinely disturbing horror themes. Following the critically acclaimed "King of the Ants" and "Edmond", "Stuck" is Gordon's third horror/thriller hybrid revolving on ordinary human beings gradually turning into cold-hearted monsters; mainly as a result of their egocentric and despicable social environments. At least as far as I'm concerned, "Stuck" easily overpowers the other two films because here Gordon has the opportunity to work with really current issues (hit-and-run accidents) and the type of agony everyone dreads (helplessly being left to die like a dog). "Stuck" became something that is almost unique these days: real-life horror that doesn't rely on eerie monsters, deranged killers or supernatural phenomena to be disturbing. Modern society and its docile inhabitants are clearly more than unnerving enough already.

Tom Bardo is going through a difficult time lately, since he lost his job and became homeless. His life literally turns into a living hell when a young nurse, under the influence of drugs and alcohol, hits him with her car. She panics and, out of fear the consequences of this event will unbalance her perfectly stable life, the girl drives home and leaves Tom to perish in the garage; his body still stuck halfway through the windshield. The basic plot is inspired by a true story (which makes everything all the more depressing), but Stuart Gordon masterfully turns the whole event into an extraordinary non-stop spitfire of social criticism. In just this one film, he covers the malfunctioning of public administration services, lodging issues, selective police duties, work pressure, immigration, self-centerings, cowardice and alienation from your own neighbors. This great director literally confronts his audiences with the real illnesses of our time. "Stuck" is primarily a drama but, maybe because he basically remains a horror director or maybe just to remain consequent, Gordon doesn't turn his camera away from the agony inflicted by the accident. The footage where Tom, more dead than alive, struggles to free himself from windshield is very graphic and surely not intended for people with a sensitive stomach. These sickening sequences are actually a form of criticism as well; referring to everybody's morbid reflexes to purposelessly stare at someone else's misery. The film is uplifted to an even higher level of quality by the sublime acting performances. Stephen Rea is always reliable in every role he plays and especially Mena Suvari impresses with her unconventional and definitely inglorious role as Brandi. She depicts a character who worries more about her upcoming promotion and her cheating boyfriend than about the life of a fellow human being, so I imagine it really isn't a preferred role for a young actress. "Stuck" is an unforgettable film, just don't even think about watching it when you're craving for pure and undemanding entertainment.

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4 out of 6 people found the following comment useful :-
Gruesome film that stays with the viewer., 26 October 2008

Author: HumanoidOfFlesh from Chyby,Poland

Mena Suvari plays Brandi,the overworked nurse's aid who,on the verge of a promotion,crosses the line when driving drunk and drugged after a night out partying she hits a homeless man(Stephen Rea)and ends up more concerned about her promotion than his life.Stuck in the windshield of her car badly injured homeless man is along for the ride as she drives home and parks the car in the garage with the hope that he will finally succumb to his injuries.Fantastic horror film from always reliable Stuart Gordon.The gore is quite disturbing with the emphasis on broken bones and physical pain.The story is well-constructed,the acting by Rea and Suvari is strong and there are several moments of black humour to relieve the tension.Very erotic sex scene with Mena Suvari too!

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7 out of 12 people found the following comment useful :-
OOOH, that's GOTTA hurt!, 29 March 2008

Author: gregorgeous from Dallas, Texas

*** This comment may contain spoilers ***

Just saw this movie at the AFI Dallas Film Festival (with star Stephen Rea and the scriptwriter in attendance), and it is excellent! When I read of the premise to the film, I HAD to see it - I was living in Fort Worth at the time of the real incident that inspired the film. Note that "Stuck" is not the true story, but instead a thriller that uses that story as a jumping-off point; as such, the film is free to diverge from that original truth to tell its own grisly and intriguingly moralistic tale. And it delivers the goods: it's suspenseful and believable throughout, with great work by both Stephen Rea and Mena Suvari, surprising plot twists, some REALLY painful stuff to watch (including a wicked girlfight scene and an oh-my-God scene involving a Pekinese dog), and the combination of bloody visuals and dark humor for which director Stuart Gordon is renowned. Kudos also for the sly opening credit sequence, with a profanity-laden rap track played over old people slowly taking drugs (their medications) in an old folks' home. This film is better than most Hollywood thrillers of recent times, and would make an excellent double-feature with "Misery". Highly recommended!

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1 out of 1 people found the following comment useful :-
A story that reflects the times we live in! Well Done!, 28 October 2008

Author: Mark Danchick from Hollywood, CA United States

I picked this movie because Stephen Rea was in it and he didn't let me down! I will also now put Mena Suvari on my top actors list, excellent job! I also think it was well written and directed, because all the characters came together in a way that we could identify with all of them, in ourselves or of someone we know. I understand it was based on a true story and I could see it happening as it was portrayed. People have learned to live in denial and assume that one morning they will wake up and all their problems will be gone. This movie portrayed that trait in people. I love movies like this that make people think and be honest with themselves and realize that a moments choice could effect our whole life. A perfect example of this is a missing little girls Mom waited a month to report her child missing? This is a movie you don't want to miss.

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