The Strangers
December 19th 2008 01:29
As it turns out The Strangers was originally penned two years before Them (under the title The Faces). Like Them, The Strangers claims to be based on real events (whereas Them deals with an event that was documented in European media, The Strangers is inspired by a less sensational event that occurred in director Bryan Bertino’s neighbourhood when he was a boy). The whole “true story” angle is always meant to add dramatic-thriller gravitas to a movie, and if it’s a horror movie then even better.
The Strangers opening scrawl about 1.4 million violent crimes in the States every year is pointless, and hardly surprising, but the statement “the brutal events that took place are still not entirely known” scuttles the entire movie … and it's confusing as well, especially after you’ve watched the extended DVD version (more on that later).
Scott Speedman as James
Liv Tyler as Kristen
Aussie model Gemma Ward as Dollface
A house invasion warrants the use of dad's shotgun and the hidden stash of ammo
SPOILER ALERT!
I have too many gripes; the blurb at the beginning which states the events are not entirely known suggests Kristen and James do not survive, yet Kristen is seen regaining consciousness and screaming at the very end (in a Carrie moment) as a Mormon boy who'd been passing by reaches out to touch her, so theoretically she’d be able to tell police everything unless she’s so traumatized she can’t remember.
Kristen is obviously so ignorant she doesn’t know that when you plug a mobile phone in to re-charge you can operate it immediately, unless its completely dead, then you’d only need to wait a few minutes (the whole mobile phone out of range/dead battery conceit in movies is starting to grate on me). Why the hell didn’t she call 911 on the landline instead of James anyway?!
Mike (Glen Howerton) turns up in the nick of time ... 5am!
The assailants, who are supposedly serial killers because one of the girls tells the other “It’ll be easier next time”, reveal themselves to the two Mormon boys on the roadside (one of the girls takes their religious pamphlet, admitting that she sins from time to time), then drive away only metres away from the murder crime scene which the boys then discover; real smart serial killers, these ones!
Aha, the ol' hide-in-the-slatted-closet trick
And what’s James’ wedding buddy Mike deciding to come to pick James up early at 5am?! And no neighbours, even if they were several hundred metres away, heard the shotgun being fired several times in the early hours of the morning?! James does mention he's heard no cars or dogs, but that's a bit too bloody convenient for the killers isn't it, especially when Dollface reasons matter-of-factly with James and Kristen "'Cos you were home".
Pin Up Girl (Laura Mangolis) lets Kristen squirm a little
And then there’s Them, which deals with very similar circumstances (couple terrorized in house by unknown assailants), yet does it with oodles more style and more plausibility. And it’s a damn sight scarier than The Strangers, which is just riddled with clichés.
Kip Weeks realises he doesn't look nearly as cute as his killer accomplices
Here's the trailer:
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Comment by Damo
Now I am reluctant to do so.
Comment by Bryn
Horrorphile
Comment by Damo
If it also has Latin Dancing she will make me watch it.
Comment by Bryn
Horrorphile
Comment by Anonymous
The masks all looked so silly, especially Mr. Potato-Sack-Head who made me giggle every time he appeared.
I also didn't feel any sympathy for the main characters because their tactics at surviving were so morbidly retarded that I wanted them to be captured and gutted to simply keep them from giving birth to any retarded children.
This movie boiled down to 2 retards trapped in a house being chased around by 3 of the WORST, most inefficient killers of all time.
Oh boy.
Comment by Journeywoman
Great Hair Style Tips
I Dream of Hollywood
Fashion Peach
There were moments, though, where I nearly jumped out of my skin - for example, when Kristen's hiding in the pantry and pinup girl suddenly appears... shudder.
But I'm a Liv Tyler fan so I guess I'm biased there
Comment by Anonymous
Having grown up in the country, I can safely say that hearing a shotgun go off at 5AM (assuming anyone else who WAS near enough was awake at 5AM to hear it), isn't that uncommon or worrisome. Hunters get up early because the animals are still sleepy and less alert. Some people just like to get up early, and some of those people may happen to be target-practicing (a bit of a stretch, but not at all implausible).
It was decently acted on Tyler and Speedman's parts, but there wasn't really anything scary about this film. Just largely annoying.
Comment by Bryn
Horrorphile
Comment by _CIA