The Strangers

I've wanted to see this movie ever since the trailer first came out. It reminded me of some of my favorite horror books, people being lost or cut of from civilization with something evil on their trail. Well this movie was awesome, I enjoyed the atmosphere and the creep factor was high, a cozy home has never looked as ominous and unfriendly as this one.

When a couple on the verge of a happy moment ( en engagement) suddenly hits a rough patch because the girl doesn't want the ring, they leave the dinner party and head back to on old family house; set up with rose petals and awaiting them with privacy and what was supposed to be a romantic night. Alone in middle of nowhere they try to settle in for the night, their awkwardness visible as James Hoyt (Scott Speedman) tires to lessen his embarrassment from the rejection without cutting out Kristen McKay (Liv Tyler) from his life forever. Depressed and confused up they manage to hug and kiss, when loud knock rattles the door. Seeing that it's 4 am, they make their way to the door with apprehension and open it to see a girl, standing in the shadows, asking for someone who doesn't live there. They eventually get her to leave, but more knocking and strange noises are soon to follow. Out of cigarettes, bad habit in life but worse in horror movies, James volunteers to pick some up for Kristen, leaving her alone in the house. Obviously this is when the scary stuff picks up and she is terrorized and eagerly awaiting his return. He comes back but safety is nowhere in reach, together they try to figure out why someone is knocking on the door and banging on the windows, wearing masks and holding weapons. Pretty soon it's apparent that the three strangers are well organized and they want to do more than scare from people, they are out for blood, for no reason other than they fact that they can do it.

I loved the eerie atmosphere and the dark shadows surrounding the small home, with nowhere to hide and with three clever attackers close behind in pursuit. The couple was driven mad with confusion as to why this was happening and with hope of surviving till dawn, some part of the movie were peaceful, making me feel like all the bad stuff was in my imagination and then the madness would return and paint a grim picture for out couple. This reminded me of "Vacancy" which was another fun horror movie; because when people think they are safe indoors it turns out that they are not safe, instead they are trapped, waiting for the predator to strike.

This is a great movie to watch in the dark, for those who dare of course. The TV looks great blending into the shadows and the movie is thrilling and entertaining and even little strange, but all for its benefit.

- Kasia S.

I was quite surprised to see really negative reviews of this film. Yes, "The Strangers" does make use of familiar plot devices common to several horror or terror films. Plot devices, of course, are necessary to movies, plays, and opera. There is an answer as to why the cell phones don't work: if they did, 911 would have been called with a SWAT team swooping in, and the movie would have been over in 20 minutes! It's not about the devices, it's about execution around the devices. This film really executes.

I found "The Strangers" to be highly suspenseful. This is a terror film, as opposed to a standard horror film. The gore is kept to a minimum, so if you are looking for on-camera decapitations and the like, this is not your film. If you are looking for edge-of-your-seat suspense, you will love it. Like other reviewers, I won't spoil this movie for you by discussing the plot.

I knocked off one star for one issue. In one scene, Kristen falls in a ditch and supposedly sprains her ankle. It's bad enough that she has to crawl. In the next scene, she is walking fine. In a subsequent scene, she is back to the limp. I was surprised to see this when the attention to detail was otherwise so sharp.

Director Brian Bertino got the most of the set, the lighting, sound effects, and his principal actors Liv Tyler (Kristen) and Scott Speedman (James). This is a very scary movie, where the victims are trapped no matter which way they turn. You find yourself hoping against hope for an escape, even though you know the futility of the situation.


Highly recommended.

Let it not be said that fiction is scarier than truth. "The Strangers" shows the viewer what evil is in its purest form--inexplicable, cold, merciless. We are told at the beginning that this is a true story, thus truth is far, far more terrifying than fiction. Because it is true.

James had set up a bower of love to take his beloved Kristen after he proposed. Things went wrong and the bower became a cold place, almost embarrassing in its intended intimacy. Now reread the previous sentence, with the knowledge that a blood bath will take place during the early hours of the morning.

Three strangers terrorize the young couple in one way after the other, extemporaneously making up their next act of terror based on the actions and reactions of the couple. At one point Liv asked, "Why us?" The answer: "You're at home." The setting was a vacation home at the lake.

Evil is cold and merciless and inexplicable. Then it moves on to kill again and again and again. Until it is caught. But we don't know that, not in this story, not in truth and not in the film.

Not for the squeamish. In fact, I wish I hadn't seen it. I rated four stars because the film has a sense of documentary, even of being right there with the characters. Liv Tyler's sense of horror is palpable and our sense of inescapable, inevitable death is totally visceral.

The Strangers is very low-key, it doesn't take speed or any big dramatic measures - instead it very slowly builds to the ending, which is surprisingly lacking in surprises. Liv Tyler and Scott Speedman don't dazzle in their roles, but I'm also sure they're not the worst choices for their parts.

The Strangers is not a great exciting slasher bloodbath, or even an innovative horror-thriller, but it is a pretty eerie and ambiguous film, and while its not the best to come out in some time, it's a pretty decent experience unless you're looking for extreme gore or a very rapid pace. If you can't sit still for an hour without labeling it "boring", go look elsewhere.

There are a few flaws in this otherwise successful film that is in fact as frightening as the trailer makes it out to be. Not being one for the constant barrage of thriller films (the 'Saw' Series, the endless vampire variations, 'I know what you did...', etc) this viewer hesitantly watched what could have been yet another exercise in blood and gore. But surprise! The story (based on a true incident in 2005 as outlined by an off camera narrator discussing the number of violent deaths in America each year before the film opens) is tight, credible, and deals more with the emotion of terror of the unknown than images of gore. Kudos to writer/director Bryan Bertino for finding the core of the macabre. And it is true!

James Hoyt (Scott Speedman) is driving his girlfriend Kristen MacKay (Liv Tyler) to the isolated summer home in the woods that James and his best friend Mike (Glenn Howerton) had earlier decorated with rose petals, candles and champagne in preparation for what was supposed to be a celebration of a marriage proposal. Sadness prevails in the car as Kristen has turned James' proposal down. They quietly enter the decorated house, and almost immediately begin to hear sounds outside and a door knock by a young girl apparently looking for a person not living in this house. Kristen asks James to go out and get her cigarettes and the creepy action begins. Three strangers each in masks terrify Kristen with noises, secretly entering the house, and creating a tense atmosphere until James returns. At this point the story becomes an almost unbearable sequence of events: it is clear the strangers are out to murder James and Kristen. Bound and beaten by the three strangers Kristen asks 'Why us? Why do you want to kill us?' and the simple answer from of the strangers is 'Because you're home'. The ending of the film could have been better handled by someone telling us the results of the night - the follow up to this true story. But instead Bertino elects to keep the level of terror high.

Peter Sova (cinematographer) finds the right amount of shadow and dark to keep us guessing and the musical score by tomandandy is pitch perfect. This is a fine little film, but be prepared to jump in a few spots...and keep the lights on! Grady Harp, November 08