Straw Dogs (1971)

If the kid in Home Alone (1990) was a married adult whose wife was abused by home invaders, it’d be like the Sam Peckinpah classic Straw Dogs (1971) minus the laughs. Not to be confused with the more recent thriller Straw Dogs (2011) starring Kate Bosworth, this R rated pic features Dustin Hoffman as David Sumner, a mild-mannered mathematician who moves into the home of his English wife Amy (Susan George) in rural Cornwall. Dave believes the isolation will help him get some work done, but the locals have other plans. Scutt (Ken Hutchison) and Vennere (Del Henney) want to get their mitts on Mrs. Sumner. And once they do, they’ll have hell to pay from her hubby with a grudge. Director Sam Peckinpah does an outstanding job of blurring the lines between all of the conflicts, except, of course, the revenge aspect which exonerates the hero in the end. Or does it? In any case, Mr. Skin will never look at antiques in quite the same way ever again. Despite the disturbing aspects of the story, Ms. George makes the whole thing worth watching if for no other reason than her braless attire. Whether wearing a sweater or a shirt, the bouncy blonde puts the motion into this motion picture. The retaliation aspect of the movie is also worthwhile for the underdog-rooting fans out there. Yet one glimpse of Susan’s bare breasts will most assuredly make even the hardiest of souls weak in the knees — and strong in the jeans!