Film Review Fridays--The Strangers (2008)
photo courtesy of moviechopshop.com
A lot of my friends think I’m crazy. I absolutely love thriller/horror films; any film that scares me enough to make me fear going to sleep by myself or makes me scared to go downstairs without turning every light on along the way, was well directed. I can say that The Strangers, directed by Bryan Bernito, was a film that put a little fear in me.
Ok, so put yourself in the shoes of the young couple (Liv Tyler as Kristen McKay and Scott Speedman as James Hoyt) in the film. Imagine you’ve just arrived at a quaint country getaway after attending a friend’s wedding. You and your girlfriend/boyfriend have been having relationship problems; there seems to be no trace of love or joy in either party. It seems as if you’ve stayed together out of habit and normalcy. Giving us an entry into the lives of the couple was a great strategy by Bernito. It allows us, the audience, to develop feelings for the characters and see them as humans, like us. Traveling through the ups and downs of their lives, it is revealed that part of the problem was Kristen turning down James’ marriage proposal. As they calmly argue and discuss the broken state of their relationship, a strange knock at the door sounds. It was a stranger looking for someone who does not live there.
This sets the tone for the horrific hours of terror that the couple is about to endure. The stranger is not alone, there’s an additional twosome, one in a burlap mask, the other in a Kewpie doll mask. Did I mention this fearsome bunch is a group of PSYCHOS? Kristen and James, the chosen, unsuspecting and helpless victims are randomly attack with everything, escalating from loud pounding noises, threatening messages written on mirrors and walls, and mysterious records playing to physical violence.
The burning question is “Why Kristen and James?” I assure you, you will get your answer.
I can’t say anymore without giving the film away, but if you’re into horror films, I’d recommend checking this out. Bernito’s debut film, The Strangers, has some delightfully scary moments, but what I liked most about the film was how the tension was built. Anyway, enough from me, check out the trailer and then put it on your Netflix queue.
GRADE: B
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4 comments:
oh Boy.........just 1.29 part of the clip was enough for me......i saw EVIL DEAD as a teenager since then avoided horrors.....i can try this one to check if i have grown up.
Thankyou for visiting my blog and if that was not enough thanx for following .
@kavita, you're welcome. i enjoy your blog. lol. yea, the clip is pretty scary. give it a try and let me know if you were able to watch it all the way thru or not. i'll have to look up Evil Dead and see what it's about.
Homebody, you and I are two nuts on the same Sundae. lol I am a little ashamed that I like horror as much as I do.
What is it about getting that good scare that excites me so much?
Of course, I tell myself that I must watch these types of flicks so that I will be prepared for all the evil that is in the world...but I know better than that. lol
Loved the playlist.
I've got you bookmarked.
@lynne, thanks for stopping by and bookmarking my site; glad you enjoyed it. i'm not sure what excites me about getting scared. it's a thrill ride i think. :-)
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