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The Strangers

3

How to scare the life out of Liv

Oct 1st 2008

If you’re after a guilt-free (but intellectually malnourished) antidote to Funny Games, this is the psycho-chiller for you. It takes the same motiveless, homicidal-sadists-invade-holiday-house plot and serves it up with all the jump-fright panache that Michael Haneke wanted us to examine ourselves for relishing. It’s like being force-fed multiple tablespoons of cod-liver oil then gorging on strawberry milkshake; the good-for-you factor can’t touch the places a really tasty, gratifying experience can reach.

Of course, the analogy only holds if The Strangers has any merit, which it does, especially in its early frames. Neophyte writer/director Bryan Bertino skillfully contrives a creeping sense of dread as unhappy couple James (Scott Speedman) and Kristen (Liv Tyler), fresh from a wedding, arrive at his parents’ isolated country home in the middle of the night. The pair are soon spooked out of a teary heart-to-heart by a very weird girl knocking thunderously at the door. The midnight stranger quickly gains two accomplices – another female in a mannequin-doll mask, plus a bloke in a scarecrow-style sack – who proceed to toy remorselessly with their stranded prey.

Tyler makes the perfect jibbering emotional wreck. Maximising the scares with limpid doe-eyes and quivering lips, her lack of resourcefulness casts her as a plausible victim. Flashbacks to the wedding, which slowly reveal why James and Kristen are in couple misery, build empathy rather than detract from the tension, even fleshing out some of their more moronic decisions.

Director Bertino does an accomplished job of tightening the anxiety noose with manipulating silences and abrupt jolts, minute gestures (a moved cellphone) and incongruous country ballads. Masks, meanwhile, once again prove their worth as one of the most terrifying tools in the genre box. Things come a bit unstuck in the home stretch thanks to some suspense seepage and plodding mechanics. But for the most part, Bertino’s debut is built for the kill.

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User Reviews

    • jessybaby

      Jan 2nd 2009, 13:47

      not very good in my opinion, very confusing about the whole point of the film, i just hope they don't make a second even though i have a suspicion they will. 2/5

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    • Kingsofleon05

      Jan 14th 2009, 23:41

      Just finished watching this on DVD, must admit I expected more. Still good though....3/5

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    • Kingsofleon05

      Jan 14th 2009, 23:41

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    • RaveyDaveyGravy

      Feb 2nd 2009, 14:46

      Strangers was OK, quite tense where it needed to be, like Funny Games without the annoying spoiler, but they did do some pretty stupid things (Just Drive Man!)

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    • Nealsreviews1

      May 12th 2009, 14:34

      A young couple at a remote house get some late night visitors in debuting writer/director Byran Bertino’s effectively stripped “The Strangers". Providing home invasion antics on a less intellectual level than “Funny Games” strangers should generate some energy with mainstream fright fans. Even if this excersise does leave some viewers wondering what was the point to this punishing journey for this family. In grind house mock horror style from the 70’s genre (we all know the film) Texas in the title, A voice grimmly reads informing us that events were about to see actually took place. It’s a ruse don’t believe the hype as Bertino has explained. A couple gets back from a wedding reception Kristen (Liv Tyler) is in tears as they drive back in silence. The husband James (Scott Speedman) has foolishly did something wrong. Reaching the vacation home lighted with candles & rose petals an unlikely romantic end to the evening maybe the husband isn’t so stupid. They embark on make up sex when there is an unexpected knock at the door. They peer out & it’s a little blond girl oustide asking for her friend. James assures her she has the wrong house. In the classic horror sense James does the obvious unthinkable he leaves Kirsten in the house alone in the woods to pick up cigarettes for her. Here is where the fun starts. She is not alone for very long & comes upon three visitors bearing pretty freaky & scary hood like masks. You guessed it, all hell breaks loose they trap the married couple in the house & torment them to no end. Liv Tyler & Speedman’s acting is excellent the script lacks originality but it is a throwback fright style suspense film reminscent of the 70’s & early 80’s grindhouse slasher films. It is one of those anticipated building up to the climax type of films. You don’t see the hooded terrorizers till late in the movie. Overall it is a nerve jangling & frightful picture. Neal Damiano Film Critic

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    • zakmccormack

      Oct 28th 2009, 14:40

      Recently watched this and the plot was a bit strange but was quite scary in parts

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    • jacoblost48

      Nov 28th 2009, 18:49

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