MovieChat Forums > Straw Dogs (1971) Discussion > So David never even finds out about the ...

So David never even finds out about the rape.

posted 9 years ago by mussobrennon
5 replies | jump to latest

It just seems weird that they didn't use that as his trigger for violence. I got this from Netflix, and it actually says he changes after his wife is raped, which is technically true I guess but he doesn't do it because she was raped and I'm not sure what drove his violence, certainly not because he cared so much about some retarded guy he didn't know who did kill the girl, I just don't feel like we were really set up well for his change, watching it I think he would have just given them Niles. The rape scene was probably more for Amy and therefore not completely unnecessary and I never have a problem with scenes or dialogue in a movie if I feel like it's something that could happen or be set in the setting by the characters in the movie which in this case I think it could.

[–] 9 years ago

[deleted]

[–] Wuchak (8732) a month ago

It was a slow build-up to meek, civilized David finally taking a bold stand against his local persecutors when they threaten to break into his home. As they say, "a man's home is his castle." It was the final straw.

[–] whynotwriteme (7720) a month ago

Although Amy never told David she was raped, I assume he picked up on it and guessed what had happened, but did not want to bring it out in the open with her. David was a professor. As an intelligent man, he likely picked up on clues in her behavior after he got home from the snipe hunt the locals abandoned him on.

[–] Wuchak (8732) a month ago

At the very least, he was upset about their dead cat (which they couldn't prove was done by the laborers) and those guys humiliating him on the hunt by abandoning him, not to mention Amy said they were leering at her. Add to this Amy's accusations that he was a coward.

But I don't believe he knew Amy was raped by them, otherwise he wouldn't have gone to the church social, at least not with the positive attitude he does. It's possible the thought flashed through his mind, but he immediately dismissed it.

[–] TheHardSell (1711) a month ago

But yes, he never knew about the vaginal rape!