X
- 2008
- R
- 1 h 26 m
- 2008
- R
- 1 h 26 m
Summary The Strangers is a terrifying suspense thriller about a couple whose remote getaway becomes a place of terror when masked strangers invade. The confrontation forces Kristen and James to go far beyond what they thought themselves capable of if they hope to survive. (Rogue Pictures)
Directed By: Bryan Bertino
Written By: Bryan Bertino
- 2008
- R
- 1 h 26 m
- 2008
- R
- 1 h 26 m
The Strangers
47
8.6
Where to Watch
Summary The Strangers is a terrifying suspense thriller about a couple whose remote getaway becomes a place of terror when masked strangers invade. The confrontation forces Kristen and James to go far beyond what they thought themselves capable of if they hope to survive. (Rogue Pictures)
Directed By: Bryan Bertino
Written By: Bryan Bertino
Where to Watch
Top Cast
Metascore
Mixed or Average
Based on 27 Critic Reviews
47
44% Positive
12 Reviews
12 Reviews
15% Mixed
4 Reviews
4 Reviews
41% Negative
11 Reviews
11 Reviews
Metascore
Mixed or Average
Based on 27 Critic Reviews
47
44% Positive
12 Reviews
12 Reviews
15% Mixed
4 Reviews
4 Reviews
41% Negative
11 Reviews
11 Reviews
It isn't particularly original--for one, it owes an unacknowledged debt to the French film "Them"--but as an exercise in controlled mayhem, horror movies don't get much scarier.
Both Speedman and Tyler deliver solid, nuanced performances as a couple caught at the most fragile moment in their relationship.
User Score
Universal Acclaim
Based on 381 User Ratings
8.6
82% Positive
311 Ratings
311 Ratings
14% Mixed
54 Ratings
54 Ratings
4% Negative
16 Ratings
16 Ratings
User Score
Universal Acclaim
Based on 381 User Ratings
8.6
82% Positive
311 Ratings
311 Ratings
14% Mixed
54 Ratings
54 Ratings
4% Negative
16 Ratings
16 Ratings
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Bertino teases with the unknown until he's left no pimple ungoosed. Sometimes avoiding the synapse-raping bad habits of splat packers Eli Roth and Alexandre Aja is its own reward; doing so without also submitting to Michael Haneke–style hand-slapping is nearly monumental.
Bertino does an excellent job building dread, especially during the first half of the movie. Every silence, pause and sudden noise startles - and the results, frankly, are more frightening than the graphic torture scenes in movies like "Hostel" and "Saw."
Bertino directs at a funereal pace. Speedman remains comatose, though Tyler flickers fitfully to life. The mournful look on her face suggests she's remembering the days when she was given more psychologically complex scripts, such as "Armageddon."
All it offers is sadism, impure and simple.
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+,+,,÷,÷,÷,÷,÷,÷,=,=,=,=,=,=,=,=.=.=.=.=.=,=,=,..=.....
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This film plays with one of the biggest real life scares of being alone in your house terrorized by strangers, especially with the whole "this film is being taken from real life events" line included at the beginning.
What i felt the strangers does well making us care about the main characters. This isnt a simple horror movie with multiple characters and huge body counts of people we don't care about.
There's some bone chilling moments early on but the films looses most of its magic once "the strangers" start their full scale attack.
The two lead characters must be some of the most dumb people i've ever watched in a horror movie. I was taken aback many times by some of their idiotic behavior, so much so that i wasn't sure if i was watching a parody. Every sane thing you would do, they decide to do the opposite.
The ending may not be to everyone's taste, but i personally liked it and id be lying if i said i didn't want to watch the squeal.
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'The Strangers' is quick to deliver the scares and intensity that is vital in a good horror film but it lacks logic and innovation. Yet in saying this the film still keeps it interesting with its raw edge and psychological build; so basically its not like the other run-of-the-mill home invasion horror's, but its not the best of them either
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This movie tells the story of a couple who are alone in a very quiet and isolated house when three individuals with malicious intentions begin to harass them. What might just be an annoyment, however, quickly becomes a life-and-death situation as the three strangers prove themselves willing to all atrocities. Well... this film is allegedly inspired (lightly) in a real crime case but the idea is not entirely original, so the film is no more than a remastering of existing material mixed with tons of horror clichés, then ruminated in other films such as "The Last House on The Left" or "You're Next". So, we already know the story and we even know how it will probably end. Worse: the film basically consists of pure harassment, there is no story. Its a couple running in a house, fearing for their life, period. This would work on a short film but not on a one-and-a-half hour movie. It simply tires us through too much tension and suspense with nothing to which it can support itself. Bryan Bertino signs the film, being his first work as director. Of course, a newbie, a freshman wanting to show himself and show talent that he does not have yet. The film makes abundant use of sound effects to suspense, but some of them are so cliché that they end up making the film even more predictable. Liv Tyler is the only actress I've ever seen in other works ("Armageddon", "Lord of the Rings"), and although I see her talent, I do not think this movie would be the right fit for her to shine. It was a mistake for her to accept the role because she never adapted herself to the character or the film. The rest of the cast virtually does not stand out. Despite all this, its a film that can be watchable one time or another, when we have forgotten enough of it.
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Production Company
Rogue Pictures,
Intrepid Pictures,
Vertigo Entertainment,
Mandate Pictures,
Mad Hatter Entertainment
Release Date May 30, 2008
Duration 1 h 26 m
Rating R
Tagline Lock the door. Pretend you're safe.
Awards
Fright Meter Awards
• 4 Nominations
Teen Choice Awards
• 3 Nominations
Scream Awards
• 1 Win & 2 Nominations
