The Strangers [DVD]

The Strangers survives on realistic terror but fails to create any emotional depth. I was so looking forward to watching this again, it had been years. I remember this being superbly scary. Now, this really didn't affect me and found it had too many flaws for it to be classed as a good horror film. It's inspired by the true events of a couple returning to their summer house and being terrorised but three masked strangers. That's literally all this is. There is no reasoning for targeting this couple in the first place other than "because you were home". It just lacked certainty and reasoning. I know that's the point of this film, a random attack where the film depicts only the events of the night. This is a fictionalised story based on true events, it would not have hurt to have some backstory on both the couple and the strangers just to add that much required layer of interest. I appreciated the realism, I liked the small environment and I loved the concept of tormenting your victims before actually ending their lives (I'm sane, honest!). However, when the characters have the emotion depth of a lamp post, it means nothing. I didn't care for their fates at all. Liv Tyler was extremely weak in this, her scared acting skills were unbelievably dull. Scream all you want, doesn't make you a good actress. Scott Speedman was fine I guess. The physical presence of the strangers were menacing and I found many of the jump scares were effective, even if they were just loud noises. Suspense and tension were maintained throughout, probably because I had to turn up the damn volume as the voice track was so flipping quiet! What was that about!? Had to turn up the sound bar to 36! That's madness. For all it's technical excellence in the horror genre, The Strangers lacks that connection which makes us invested into the film. Oh and that ending, really? You're going to conclude on a jump scare? I don't care anymore.

Only good thing about it is Liv Tylor. she's gorgeous, I love her in the Lords of the Ring. However in The Strangers, I didn't enjoy it I don't like the way they play out in this film. Its bored, it isn't scary. It was good when i watch it the first time but having seen it b4, the buzz feeling isn't there anymore.its good if you haven't seen it b4 but i advise you to watch it on tv while its there, then you see if you should get the dvd or not. i regret purchased this dvd but i thought i'd enjoy it like i did when i watch it on the tv the first time.im gonna pass it to someone cos im not gonna keep it as i wont watch it again.

WARNING: THIS REVIEW CONTAINS SPOILERS: Scott Speedman and Liv Tyler play a good-looking young couple who are staying in a vacation home after attending a wedding. There is a knock on the door at four o'clock in the morning and a spooky looking girl, her face obscured in the shadows, asks "is Tamara there" in an emotionless voice. From there it is all downhill with just about every cliche in the book. What saves the film is the chemistry between Speedman and Tyler and and their excellent acting. Some of their scenes are full of tenderness and very believable. Ultimately though, this is just another film about mindless, motiveless violence. There are some very graphic stabbing scenes and I wonder that the film wasn't given an 18 certificate. The tension builds very effectively and I think the most chilling scene is where Tyler's character is in the kitchen and doesn't realise there is a masked man looming in the shadows. I think most people, with any common sense, would simply attempt to run for help but of course this is movie-land where common sense never prevails! Far better to stay in a dark house in the middle of deserted woods listening for the next knock on the door.

I bought this due to certain reviews I had read, which claimed that this offering from Bryan Bertino was a top notch thriller. If only. It tries its hardest to be Funny Games without any of the grit or stark creativity. I felt nothing for the characters, the acting was lazy and again predictable. When will American producers and directors bring real panic and fear to one of these stories?

I was not a fan of this movie, most of the movie consists of the main women getting scared of falling items and a banging on the door. The sinister characters on the front only star properly in the movie at the very end, aside from a few supposedly scary shots where they feature hidden in the background.

This film was bought as a present loved it

Christmas gift

Good movie