The Strangers
In theaters 30 May 2008
violence/terror and language
Run Time: 90
Matt's rating - 3.5 out of 5
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Review by Matt Mungle
There is an art to making great horror/thriller films.
Anyone can put people in a deserted camp or on a
lost highway and have them try and stay a step ahead
of some insane maniac with a chainsaw. We have all
seen those films that are so predictable the only
difference is the face behind the hockey mask. But the
new film from writer/director Bryan Bertino, though not
perfect or completely unique, does a nice job at
creating a level of intensity and realness that makes it
terrifying and creepy on a new level. It is subtle and
chilling in its setup and hits home with any one who,
well, is simply at home.
A young couple spending the night at a family vacation
home find themselves stalked by three prowlers.
Bored kids or homicidal lunatics? The chilling part of
this tale is that you are not really sure. Or even more
chilling is they could be a combination of both. Kristen
(Liv Tyler) and James (Scott Speedman) have already
had a long and trying evening when a loud bang on
the front door at 4 am starts a whole new level of
intensity. What happens next is a fight to stay alive and
elude the would-be tormentors.
This movie will make you jump and cringe and hang
on the edge of your seat, or your partners arm. That in
itself makes it an enjoyable thriller. Sure some of the
shock is predictable and clichÈ but it still does its part.
My suggestion is to watch as few trailers as possible
so that you aren't as aware of many of the fright
scenes. Much of the films score comes from the old
turntable and the records the couple plays while they
are there. It adds a scary old school creepiness to the
imagery and feel of the film. This coupled with solid
acting from both Tyler and Speedman make this a
better than average thriller. But then I do scare easy so
I was an easy target from the start.
The decision to use masks on the assailants was a
good call and Bertino says that the fact of not being
able to see who your captors are gives it a new level of
intensity and weirdness. And he is right. The placing
of the creeps in the yard and behind trees, just
standing there masked and unmoving is terrifying all
on its own.
The Strangers is rated R for violence/terror and
language. It is intense and at times bloody and
definitely not for younger viewers. There is something
to be said for the realness and unattached way the
crazies in this film act that makes it even more
mentally disturbing than most slasher flicks. That
said, it is well done and far better than most of this
genre. One reason being that we all can relate to the
events and the fact that it could happen to anyone. I
give The Strangers 3.5 out of 5 record needles. Just
leave a light on for when you get home.
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Matt and Cindy are members of the North Texas
Film
Critics Association (NTFCA). For additional
reviews
and interview clips visit the website.
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Mungleshow Productions
Matt Mungle
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