Josh’s Review: The Strangers
Josh’s Score: 7.5/10
First time writer/director Bryan Bertino gives us a sharp horror thriller that defiantly works. While some claim that it might not be as smart as this years earlier thriller Funny Games, The Strangers delivers more scares than many of the recent thrillers of the past couple years.The story takes place in a secluded farmhouse that James (Scott Speedman) and Kristen (Liv Tyler) are staying the night in after their return from a friend’s wedding reception. The couple seems to be having some communication issues, and Bertino is brave enough to slowly reveal what exactly those issues are. It isn’t to long after they arrive that someone starts beating on their door. The night suddenly turns into a battle for survival as James and Kristen must overcome their differences to try and stay alive against the brutal actions from the strangers outside.
This film is a good throwback to 70’s horror films. In fact, while I was watching it, I couldn’t help but think of the original Halloween. In Halloween, Mike Myers disappears and reappears within a glance, his murders are viscous, and the suspension in the film carries through the whole movie. The Strangers works in the same way. The villains are able to be in the frame for one second, and then be gone the next. I’m mostly impressed by how Bertino is able to keep suspension lasting as tight as it does the entire film. That aspect can also be contributed to both Liv Tyler’s and Scott Speedman’s believable performances.
Bertino lays a lot of cards down on the table when the scares first pick up. However, the film still manages to stay one step ahead of the audience. That’s what I was really drawn to. Many horror fans will be relieved to hear that this isn’t a “torture-porn” film. I’ll admit that it really does take a lot to scare me, however this film really worked on me. I would highly recommend this film to anyone who is looking for a good scare this summer.
on June 3rd, 2008 at 7:36 pm
Since I haven’t seen either versions of Funny Games I wouldn’t feel right seeing this.
You say that the antagonist act like, “Mike Myers disappears and reappears within a glance,” does the characters in the Strangers see the antagonists early in the film. I always thought Halloween was creepy when Laurie Strode sees Meyers several times during the afternoon before the night begins. Those scenes were so effective creating dread and suspense.
on June 3rd, 2008 at 9:10 pm
There is also a French movie called Il’s (Them) the guys over at the Horror Etc podcast gave it a good review.
Netflix has it on there watch instantly service check out the synopsis:
“Late one night, Lucas (Michaël Cohen) and Clémentine (Olivia Bonamy) encounter strange events in their remote country home. It starts with prank calls and strange noises, but when the power is cut off and their car disappears, the terrified couple is trapped by the unseen force. Is it simply kids from the school where Clémentine teaches, or could it have something to do with a mother and daughter who mysteriously vanished the day before?”
That sounds a lot like the Strangers premise to me.
on June 4th, 2008 at 3:22 pm
Robert- I think that even if you haven’t seen either funny games, you should still give the strangers a shot. In fact you might like this better since you haven’t seen those films because you won’t have any pre-concieved ideas of what could happen. As far as the characters seeing the villains early in the film, it is mostly the audiene that sees them before the characters, we know we are there while the main characters are trying to figure out what is going on. very creepy. As far as “Them” is concerned, I found out about it as I was writting my review for this and i guess there is some speculation as to whether the strangers is in fact a remake of Them. I guess that director Bryan BErtino has come out and said that this was an original screenplay and the only real thing he based it off of was an early childhood encounter when someone was banging on his door late one night. I am curiouse to see Them, I’ll have to netflix it. Thanks for the comments and for reading the review!