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Movie Review: The Strangers Stav 14 August, 2008 - 7:47 AM

Starring: Liv Tyler, Scott Speedman

Another "Based on true events" movie hits our screens and while none of what we see is actually factual, the horror and torment inflicted on a young couple through the course of a night is terrifyingly plausible.

Liv Tyler and Scott Speedman are in a relationship that, only moments before we met them, has taken a wrong turn. Returning to the family holiday home with the relationship in tatters, they soon find themselves in much bigger trouble than a lovers' tiff. While they stay up through the night discussing where they are headed, they get a knock on the door at 4am. A young lady inquires if Tamara is home. There is no Tamara there, and from then on the couple are pitted against three masked intruders in a deadly game of cat and mouse.

This is a scary movie, although never truly terrifying. The strangers are extremely creepy, skulking around the homestead in some of the scariest masks since Jason Voorhees took up ice hockey but I kept waiting for a twist or turning point to ratchet up the tension. Chosen at random by 'The Strangers', the couple rush around desperately trying to elude their assailants who seem to plod along behind them popping up with almost supernatural ability. It's almost like a Pepe le Pew cartoon if Pepe was trying to stab the cat with the painted strip instead of sleep with it.

The violence is extremely realistic and though sparingly used, quite graphic. Liv Tyler and Speedman do an admirable job in roles that pretty much just require them to look terrified throughout the film and the masked nasties are effectively  disturbing. All that said not much actually happens and at times I found myself wanting to yell at the screen as our heroes walk into yet another darkened room by themselves (surely by now even movie people have seen enough horror movies to know not to do that?!?).

Will you lose sleep after watching The Strangers? Maybe. Will you remember the film three weeks after you have seen it? Probably not. After all the blood and gore has dried on the walls, perhaps the most truly terrifying thing about The Strangers is the completely random reason behind the events, which is sadly, in the world we live in, the most believable thing about the whole film.

:: Photos from The Stangers
:: The Strangers Trailer

QUOTABLE NOTABLES:
Kristen: Why are you doing this to us?
Dollface: Because you were home.

Kristen: What are you thinking?
James Hoyt: Since we've been here, I haven't heard a dog bark...or a car pass. Nothing. Just us and them.

STAV'S RATING:

2 1/2 Wookies out of 5

(8) »

• Tasha says

  It looks soooooo scary! I can't wait to see it.

  Posted Thursday 14 August, 2008 7:49 AM
• Jon says

  I went to the sneak preview and have to say that the movie is definitly worth more than 2 1/2 wookies.

  Posted Thursday 14 August, 2008 7:51 AM
• Hayley Tehan says

  My girlfriend and I went to the sneak peak last night. Whilst the start of the movie was great and I even jumped in one part, all in all I thought it turned to rubbish. Very long and drawn out movie. Sorry guys!

  Posted Thursday 14 August, 2008 12:03 PM
• zara says

  i watched this film! whats it all about ?! no meaning to it at all is jumpy but it drags and is rubbish

  Posted Tuesday 26 August, 2008 5:11 AM
• Andy =D says

  It's one of the worse scary movies i've seen in my life.... theres absolute no point to it, why are those people trying to kill them wats the point behind it, if the killer were gona stab them why not just do it in the house, why didn't they take the friends car, who came to get the guy, and leave... the killers a normal humans so how can you not kill one of them if you have a gun... the film just makes white people look naive in those kind of situations. waste of time and money if you ask me!!!

  Posted Monday 1 September, 2008 12:12 AM
• madie says

  ok this was THE DUMBEST movie i have ever seen! it was slow, boring, not scary, & POINTLESS! why did the mask people ever wear masks? whats up with the ending...did she die or what? & what did thr faces look like? WHY WERE THEY EVEN TRYING TO KILL THEM IN THE FIRST PLACE!?!?! wow, worst movie ive seen in a loooonnngg time, (& im 13!)

  Posted Monday 20 October, 2008 12:10 AM
• jonny says

  Everyone here missed the point; that there was no point to stalking/killing with no motive, which is why it is disturbing, they were just having fun and they are nuts!

  Posted Saturday 1 November, 2008 4:32 AM
• HuntBelow says

  stupid movie with stupid thingz going on with stupid ppl. why did they not shoot them? why did they not drive away? how did the girl move so freakishly fast? now, im bored

  Posted Sunday 9 November, 2008 11:33 AM

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