Rated R for violence/terror and language.
86 Minutes
Written and Directed By: Bryan Bertino
Staring: Scott Speedman and Liv Tyler
Well they want something. People don’t just stand out there, staring at us like that. They want something. -James
Review
One of the scariest movies of the past decade? The Strangers makes the top five easily. Filmmaker Bryan Bertino wasn’t afraid to utilize elements of terror that have paved the way for horror, while integrating his own unique touch with characters and storytelling, proving that sometimes less is truly more. The intensity Strangers displays often lacks in today’s cinema and the fear of realism is impossible to escape. The opening credits are clever giving you insight on how things are going to turn out, and yet that only escalates the sense of danger already imminent. With no shocking unveiling or explanations, Bertino delivers a raw sense of fear showing how an unknown force can at anytime be sent to destroy your life. The Strangers is too realistic to not inspire some kind of uncomfortable reaction and at the very least makes you contemplate whether or not this could happen to you.
His werewolf/vampire senses should alert him.....wait....wrong movie?
The story centers around the couple, played by Scott Speedman our resident werewolf and Liv Tyler best known for playing an Elf princess in Lord Of The Rings. In true horror cliche form the couple would be on a honeymoon or secret getaway, but that’s hardly the story at all. The two certainly aren’t happy go lucky in love and are struggling with their relationship, even though everything in the surrounding settings would seemingly dictate otherwise. The immediate intimacy of their relationship and lack of dialogue kind of sucks you in, and whether you’re willing to indulge or not, the realism of their relationship just kind of grabs you. Sure this is advertised as a horror flick, but the intensity of what’s happening to them almost distracts you from the fact that something is eventually going to go “Boo” and scare you. The “Boo’s” do eventually come, and though some of the moments and sequences are grounds that have been trekked heavily before, the connection to the characters and their isolation incites a feeling of extreme anxiety.
The pacing is all over the place, but it at least keeps the element of surprise open. Even the moments that do pan out predictably aren’t so bad that you are annoyed like a lot of films in this genre incite. The Strangers is short, to the point, and with a level of realism that really makes it work. Tyler and Speedman really work well together, making the dynamics of their relationship seem entirely plausible. I’m no fan of Liv Tyler nor Scott Speedman, but you forget who the actors are and care about who the characters they are portraying are. Because the characters are the driving force they made all of the elements where their lives were in peril feel like full on terror.
What plays most well is the fact that these main characters aren’t stupid. They try to escape, they try to fight back, and they try to hide. They do what most sentient beings would do, and each time when their plans to avoid the inescapable doom before are foiled it is frustrating even though that first scene lets you be privy to the fact that they aren’t going to escape, which in turn makes all those moments more terrifying because you are waiting for them to get caught.
Never a fan of the kind of scary that makes you jump or screech, there is plenty of that here for those that are into it. It’s too obvious to me and just doesn’t illicit the same intense fright. If anything it detracts from it. For a film that battles more psychologically with your fear, some of those moments seemed unnecessary and out of place, though did manage to keep you distracted enough not to think too far ahead into the story.
The Strangers is a horror film meant for a thinking kind of audience, though has enough typical scary elements to appeal to a more general audience. While it felt like that took away from some of the story it does make it more appealing to a mainstream audience. The way this film should be viewed is alone, late at night when all is quiet, and in the dark. It couldn’t have had the same personal touch in the theatre nor with a group of friends with the light on. For a great Halloween scary watch, have a date night with yourself, turn out the lights, forget to lock your doors, and I guarantee you that you will cautiously pause it halfway threw just to go lock them and take a nervous peek outside your windows. That’s how this movie deserves to be watched, otherwise it may just be another horror movie. Get in the spirit and have fun being scared!
Wow haven’t heard about this movie but your review so makes me want to see it even though I usually avoid watching horror movies. Most horror movies are just so basically ridiculous and stupid so I’m glad to hear this one of the smarter one
Netflixed!
Castor recently posted..
It’s been quiet and it played one night on HBO or something when I had it. The kids were in bed and the husband was on a mandate. I was pretty freaked out.
Heather recently posted..Throwback Tuesday- Poltergeist 1982
There’s some good set-pieces in The Strangers that certainly get under the skin. As you liked this Heather I recommend Them (‘Ils’) which is similar but I think even more frightening.
Dan recently posted..Review- Death Sentence
Never heard of it Dan but will definitely take under advisement and try to see before my 31 Days Of Halloween is over.
Heather recently posted..Throwback Tuesday- Poltergeist 1982
Agreed that this movie is appropriately creepy. Home invasion is my 2nd biggest fear.
FRC Ruben recently posted..Famous Last Words The Rocky Horror Picture Show
There are some elements that are a little blah in my opinion, but the fact that our protagonists aren’t morons and really DO try to get out of the situation at appropriate times makes for a pretty scary run through.
Heather recently posted..Throwback Tuesday- Poltergeist 1982
I saw this twice – the first time with an audience, and then as a rental. I found my audience kind of… annoying, mainly because when I was getting into the scary moments, some of the teen crowd started laughing hysterically.
The 2nd time around, alone in my room at night – definitely goosebumps. Mainly because break-ins are so common here.
I’m glad (and kinda surprised) you liked it this much, since most people seem to think anything that’s not gore is not worth their money.
amy recently posted..Asia Pacific Screen Nominations 2010
And that’s probably why it appealed to me so much Amy. It’s not that gore scares me, in fact I’m completely indifferent to it, but slasher flicks tend to do nothing to unnerve me. I don’t think this flick would render the same affect if not for a solitary viewing, but it’s still a very smartly done film, with essentially only two characters throughout. I have a different taste of the horror genre, and am happy to find someone that shares it with me!
Heather recently posted..Throwback Tuesday- Poltergeist 1982
This is another one of those movies everyone keeps telling me to give a shot, but I just lack the general care. 3 and a 1/2 stars does definitely peak my curiosity though. Perhaps I’ll add it to my list of movies to see for next week’s Halloween blog posts.
Univarn recently posted..
And take into consideration that I cannot stand Liv Tyler or Scott Speedman either. I should have been rooting for their deaths, but never once did I even consider it was the actors they fell so smoothly into their roles. Definitely one of the more intellectually equipped horror flicks of the last decade.
Heather recently posted..Throwback Tuesday- Poltergeist 1982
I like Liv Tyler well enough, though she has become more and more monotone. Scott Speedman is all over the map in my opinion. Though my natural distaste for the Underworld series doesn’t help his cause any.
Univarn recently posted..
I saw this in theatres and it stays with you. Strangers is underrated and not mentioned nearly enough when it comes to good horror.
Fitz recently posted..
When it came out there was a strong buzz and it fizzled out quickly. I had completely forgot about it until I saw it available on HBO and DVRed it. Little did I know I was in for a pretty solid movie.
First of all, it upsets my dearly that you are not a fan of Liv Tyler. She is a Goddess in my book, and now I might have to go watch a movie of hers to get the idea that somebody out there might not like her.
Second, I agree with your review. A different kind of horror compared to what usually comes out nowadays (which is a good thing), and it works. Home invasion is definitely the way to go for horror-type movies.
Red recently posted..
I felt like this movie really took its time and savored its scares, which made them all the more effective. And what I love most about the action is that it’s all mostly quiet. There’s something deeply unsettling about the degree of silence in The Strangers that most modern horror films don’t really go for.
Andrew recently posted..Critical Risks
“Why are you doing this?” “Because you were home” God, that has to be one of the scariest lines in recent film.
Kind of reminds me of Eden Lake or any of the other ones where the main characters are just so unbelievably (almost pathetically) helpless. It really gives ya shivers. Funny enough I just got it again from Netflix so I’ll be watching this tonight. Gonna be a different experience now that me and my wife are home owners that’s for sure:P
I LOVE this movie but it is basically a rip-off of a much better movie called THEM… I had it on my first FILMS YOU DIDN’T KNOW… post. What’s creepier is that it’s based on real events. PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE, find THEM and watch it! It is a french film but no real gore… less than the Strangers.
Kaiderman recently posted..IS IT JUST ME
And Them could be called a rip-off of Funny Games. They’re all great movies and they’re all equally effective in their various ways, though.
Andrew recently posted..Critical Risks
Dude, Andrew, Them is nothing like Funny Games!
Kaiderman recently posted..MILFcast aka: the Man I Love Films podcast Episode9
wow, I’m so surprised to read this. I saw this last year and was so disappointed. But you bring up some very intersting facts that I may not have made myself privvy to while watching it.
anyone reminded of Funny Games with this film or am I completely off base?
Not enough people have seen Funny Games. Either of them. Sort of interesting to watch both of Heinke’s films back-to-back.
Andrew recently posted..Critical Risks
I’ve seen the remake and thought it was a bit disappointing.
Kaiderman recently posted..MILFcast aka: the Man I Love Films podcast Episode9
agreed – very much so.
I was scared to see this movie but I think I should definitely. I agree with Peter about the comparison to Funny Games.
You’re all nuts! One’s a Horror film and one isn’t!
Kaiderman recently posted..MILFcast aka: the Man I Love Films podcast Episode9
What? All of these films– The Strangers, Them, Funny Games– are horror films.
Andrew recently posted..Critical Risks
kids sould defantly not wacth this. im a big horror fan i love wacthing scary movies. its the kind of movie that after you wacth it you will be scard that someone in your driveway with a mask will be stareing at you. i loved this movie its one of my faveorite scary movies. or be afraid that someone with a mask will stalk you.its a romantic and sad movie