MovieChat Forums > Straw Dogs (1971) Discussion > Why do people insist that Amy didn't tel...

Why do people insist that Amy didn't tell David about the rape?


Just because it's not shown onscreen doesn't mean that she doesn't tell him off screen. He comes home to find her in bed sobbing and saying that if he had been there, this would never have happened. Peckinpah didn't need to show the actual conversation between Amy and David, because it is implied. The next day David appears before the men extremely angry and tells them to get the hell off his property. This is not the small anger of a guy who just had a little prank pulled on him, this is the rage of a man whose wife has just been violated. Then, when they are at church, both David and Amy are visibly uncomfortable around the men, and when she starts crying, David seems to know exactly why she's upset and quietly leads her away. Also, during the attack on the house, when Scutt informs David that Charlie had sex with his wife, David does not act in the least bit surprised.

He knows. She told him. For whatever reason, Peckinpah chose not to show that conversation between them. Directors don't have to show everything the characters say and do, sometimes scenes are implied, like when someone is about to be killed but they don't actually show the murder.

reply

[deleted]

Yea I'm sorry but I don't think he knew

When they were driving home he specifically asks his wife if she wants to talk about it. it just doesn't add up that he would start asking about a situation they had discussed off screen as you are saying.

I don't think he knew, I think there were moments where she clearly wanted to tell him, but didn't. It seemed like she was going to in the car, but that was disrupted by them almost hitting the mentally challenged character.

reply

He asks her if she wants to talk about it AGAIN.

He comes home to her in bed sobbing "If had been here none of this happened", WTF do you think he's supposed to think? He would have to be the most clueless husband in the world to not figure out that his wife has just been molested.

His rage at the men the next day, WTF. If it had just been a little prank they pulled on him by ditching him on the moor, he wouldn't have been near that angry.

He has no compunction about killing them all in the end. WTF is up with that? He wants them all dead. Revenge.

reply

[deleted]

He obviously didn't know. I think she didn't tell him because she had hate for men all round by then. A hate for her rapists, matched by a hate for her gutless wimp of a husband.

reply

You must be as beautiful outside as you are inside, this is why no woman ever let you approach her, which in turn explains why you have no clue about women and why you hold such sickening beliefs about them..

I hope no woman who has experienced rape reads your stupid comment.

Seek help, NOW.


People who don't like their beliefs being laughed at shouldn't have such funny beliefs

reply

She didn't tell him. There's no way he would just let something like that go.

He was upset because the hunt meant something to him. He thought their invitation was a show of friendship, and wanted to believe his worst fears about them were wrong. When they ditched him, it was the last straw. He was angry, but still paid them, so he wasn't that furious.

He also shows quite a bit of restraint at the end, tying the one guys hands, and repeatedly warning them not to come in. He kills them because they leave him no choice.


reply

LOL he wants to be buddies with his wife's rapists. David wants to confront them about the rape, but when he is forced to face them to fire them, he's such a wimp that he chickens out in front of such obviously stronger crowd of men that he meekly pays them anyway. Amy is rightfully disgusted at his cowardice and inability to protect her. That is why she cries out for Charlie for help during the attack on the house. She knows Charlie is a real man who can protect her. Not like that pathetic wimp David. Who can't even confront his wife's rapists like a man. Because he is a cowardly pathetic little worm.

reply

Because she thoroughly enjoyed every moment of her rape, she couldn't tell David, could she!

reply

"He knows. She told him. For whatever reason, Peckinpah chose not to show that conversation between them. Directors don't have to show everything the characters say and do, sometimes scenes are implied, like when someone is about to be killed but they don't actually show the murder. "

Directors don't have to show everything, true, but I would say a wife telling a husband about being assaulted is pretty significant plot-wise and not comparable to not showing a murder or moment of violence. Why not show that, but show her complaining about the cat being killed or the men staring at her legs?

The director does not show any such scene and never indicates it happened in the dialogue or actions of the characters-- so safe to say, David was never told about the assault. And considering how condescending and heartless he is with Amy in general, she likely did not tell him because she only expected to be told she asked for it since he's criticized her behavior around the men before.

reply