Despite being highly touted in the horror genre and being out six years now, I've yet to see The Strangers. It looks to be right up my alley. Masked killers in what appear to be a slasher/home invasion movie. The other thing that goes around often is that it is not only well made by actually scary, which is a rarity that something can really evoke that these days. Well it got popped into the dvd player with some great friends around and I finally got to see what the fuss was about.
The Strangers takes place in a couple's remote summer home after a romantic night that ended with a marriage proposal that didn't quite go as planned. Kristen played by Liv Tyler turns down the proposal which makes for an uncomfortable night. Not long after they settle in for the evening, strange things start to happen. A girl shows up to the door (at 4 a.m.) asking questions and leaves. Our male lead (Scott Speedman) James leaves to get some smokes for Kristen after calling a friend to pick him up and things get really bad. Kristen is stalked by three masked intruders who destroy the couple's phones and isolate them completely.
 |
| This season of It's Always Sunny is really dark... |
The Strangers doesn't do a whole lot in the way of gore of violence, which I guess many wouldn't expect. What it does do though is very shocking and visceral, it means something. You feel a sense of worry for the characters as they become increasingly paranoid and scared. The masked intruders slowly close the net on them and the situation seems more and more hopeless by the minute. The Strangers pulls all those strings of being home alone at night or maybe somewhere remote and hearing strange sounds, getting your imagination going about what could be out there. Rationally, you know it's something mundane. But... what if? What if you're just that unlucky? Can give you the willies if you think about too long.
 |
| These steak knife salesmen are out of control. |
The Strangers reminds me heavily of Halloween (1978). Some of the same lighting tricks used with The Shape back then are on display now in some of the scenes with intruders and they stalk more than personally engage the victims unlike most slashers. Atmosphere and tension take the fore as opposed to the base violence. Violence is by comparison quick and doesn't stick with us because movies have hardened us to such things. But the feelings brought on by the atmosphere of a movie this will stick with you. It'll creep up in the back of your mind when you're home alone. To me, that's the sign of a good horror movie. The Strangers is really awesome.The best viewing is in a dark house, possibly all alone if you really want to be scared. You can easily find The Strangers in a five dollar bin right now and you can do a lot worse for that price on a scary movie these days.
I'm gonna keep on keepin' on with these movie reviews. Thankfully I'm not doing it all alone and my fabulous friends are helping me out. Can't ask for much more than that. I'll be back tomorrow with another review, so until then, remember to lock your doors and don't answer for strangers. Don't be afraid to be a little scary.
 |
| Trick or treat? |
No comments:
Post a Comment