The Strangers -A Review-

Lock your doors. Close your windows. This world is so full of people you have to consider that some of them are outside your home right now. Now, as you read this someone could very well be casing your home for a robbery. Or maybe they're just watching you because, as one of the baddies in this film says, "You're home."

The Strangers is an interesting film. The first and second act are VERY effective at creeping you out and even scaring you, to the point I yelled at one scene. The build-up is very well done and is sustained right up until the end. I'll leave it up to you, but I was disappointed by the end of this movie. Without making spoilers I'll just say that the hard-on this film had went flaccid. There was no money shot! Lemme do the shit: Kristen (Liv Tyler) and James (Scott Speedman) have just returned to their isolated country house after Kristen denied James' marriage proposal. He enlists a drunk friend to take him home after this romantic disaster which the two try not to talk about while they are alone in the house. There's a knock at the door. And then another. And another until we establish that someone or some group is fucking with them.

The three perps wear masks and they terrorize the couple under the opening credits' guise of "Based on a true story"; upon research this is a dubious claim.

First time director/writer Bryan Bertino does a great job of amping up the tension from the word Go! As the story moves along I was watching with wide eyes as the frightening events unfolded. Unfortunately when we reach endgame the production falls flat on it's face. Some might like it, but I was annoyed.

All great films have an organic feel to them; even horrors. In this case the pieces just didn't fall into place.

Liv Tyler was great, as was Speedman, but ultimately this pic couldn't be saved.

But that's just my opinion. Buy or rent this flick on October 21.

The idea was very Michael Haneke "Funny Games", but if you're choosing between "The Strangers" and the former I'd suggest renting the former.

The Strangers is, I think, a knee jerk reaction to Hanekes re-release of his original 97' masterpiece.

But thats just me.