The Strangers

Relevant offers

Until his ego exploded and he delivered what is quite possibly 2008's worst movie with schlock-fest The Happening, M Night Shyamalan was a master at crafting intelligent horror films.

With The Strangers, Hollywood might just have found a suitable - and timely - replacement.

That's thanks to Bryan Bertino, a fledgling director with little experience who expertly helms a hand-wringlingly tense and occasionally very scary film.

Bertino understands for a horror film to deliver decent thrills, the 'creep' is scarier than the 'boo'. 

So The Strangers - which lays dubious claims to being based on a true story - is all about the creep. Blood-soaked franchises like Saw and Hostel, this is not.

It follows a couple - played by Liv Tyler and Scott Speedman - who have arrived at a log cabin with their relationship in turmoil after attending a friend's wedding.

When they get a knock on the door at 4am from a creepy girl looking for someone called 'Tamara', it begins a terrifyingly real and horrific experience for the couple - and the audience.

Bertino documents what follows using genuinely unsettling techniques.

The off-camera noises are scary enough, but when combined with shaky camera angles that allow the audience to see what the characters sometimes do not, it can be downright terrifying.

You'll find yourself jumping in your seat, even when you're not supposed to.

It helps that Bertino's got pale-faced beauty Liv Tyler delivering some of the most blood-curdling screams since Poltergeist, even if Felicity's Speedman doesn't always seem to be on the same level.

Some might gripe that The Strangers' plot lacks, er, meat, while there might be one-too-many cliched horror moments for others. Why do characters always insist on going their separate ways in horror films?

But the secret to The Strangers' success lies in its simplicity. There's no big reveal and no real conclusion, and there seems to be no real reason for what happens to the couple.

Therefore, it's easy for audiences to imagine they're in the same situation.

What you see is definitely what you get: A chair-grippingly scary horror film that might very well make you lock your doors, leave the lights on, and probably seek out a stranger for a comfort hug when you leave the cinema.

Isn't that exactly what Shyamalan used to do?

The Strangers
Director: Bryan Bertino
Starring: Liv Tyler, Scott Speedman
Time: 90 minutes
Rating: R16
Trailer: Flicks.co.nz

* What did you think of The Strangers? Post your comments below.

Newest First

Oldest First

Katxoo   #11   05:26 pm Jan 28 2009

Good movie - great creepability - wanted to find out more about the true story and whether or not the real villans were caught??!!!! I look forward to more from this director in the future!

J & S   #10   05:26 pm Jan 28 2009

This was probably the best scary movie we have seen in a very loong time....It was awesome

1977   #9   05:26 pm Jan 28 2009

Saw the movie Saturday. It did not disappoint. The girl who first came to the door freaked me out. Her voice was really eerie. Can be debateable whether a horror or thriller. A sequel seems iminent.

Chaz Harris   #8   05:26 pm Jan 28 2009

It has been four years since I lost sleep over a horror film (The Grudge - Sarah Michelle Gellar version).

Now it's happening again! This movie was CREEEEPY as hell, I have not been so freaked out so much in a movie in a long time. Good job, and Liv Tyler was GREAT. Gold stars all around.

Dave   #7   05:26 pm Jan 28 2009

Saw this over the weekend - was really well done and tense. Probably the best horrow/thriller I've seen in a long time.

Zane   #6   05:26 pm Jan 28 2009

You are a hack Schultz. This is just a collection of idiocies masquerading as an opinion. The film is unoriginal, predictable, and boring. You claim to be film reviewer, but youre just pandering to the children who read your website.

Grow up, get a real job.

Brian   #5   05:26 pm Jan 28 2009

Saw this today, scary stuff, really scary

PHYSCO   #4   05:26 pm Jan 28 2009

i was awesome!

Azariel   #3   05:26 pm Jan 28 2009

"Until his ego exploded and he delivered what is quite possibly 2008's worst movie with schlock-fest The Happening, M Night Shyamalan was a master at crafting intelligent horror films."

What, Lady In The Water???

Makes The Happening look like Apocalypse Now...

Do your homework before you embarrass yourself on the net buddy.

1977   #2   05:26 pm Jan 28 2009

The shorts for this film playing on tv scares the crap out of me.

Ad Feedback