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Movie Review - The Strangers (2008)
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(What this rating means)
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| Director: |
Bryan Bertino |
| Starring: |
Liv Tyler, Scott Speedman, Gemma Ward, Kip Weeks, Laura Margolis, and Glenn Howerton |
| Rated: |
R (for violence/terror and language) |
| Length: |
90 minutes |
| Genre: |
Horror/Thriller |
| Tagline: |
Lock the door. Pretend you're safe. |
| Studio: |
Rogue Pictures |
| Website: |
The Strangers |
| Release: |
May 30, 2008 |
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PLOT
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The horrifying events that took place in the Hoyt family's vacation home at 1801 Clark Road on February 11, 2005, are still not entirely known.
Champagne. Rose petals. Candlelight. It was supposed to be a night of celebration for Kristen McKay (Liv Tyler) and James Hoyt (Scott Speedman). But after leaving
a friend's wedding reception and returning to the house, everything had collapsed for the happy couple.
Then came a 4 a.m. knock on the door and a haunting voice.
Is Tamara here?
The stretching of two minutes worth of story into 90 minutes of runtime ensues.
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JOHNNY'S TAKE
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What do you do when you have enough plot for a five minute story, but you've been commissioned to turn it into a full-length film? You slow down the action, employ eerie
music, have creepy people in masks do their stalking very methodically, you tag it with the ol' "inspired by a true story" marketing ploy, and then you laugh all the way to
the bank.
If the only thing you expect from The Strangers is sadism and some effective tension then you'll get a belly full. You want story and characters you can really
root for? Forget it. Was I entertained in an uneasy, edge-of-my-seat sort of way? Sure. Up to a point. But it's like a meal consisting of hotdogs, popcorn, and cotton
candy - no substance. And the sugar rush wears off once it becomes obvious the story has booked no travel plans.
It's no exaggeration to tell you there is no more story (other than a marriage proposal) to the movie than what I wrote in the above plot summary. Consider that a warning.
You'll jump and wince, but don't be surprised to feel tedium set in once you realize there are no plot devices to drive the story forward. The movie hits its peak early
and stays in neutral until its downer of an ending.
The empty moral of the story? Be depressed because there are some sick people out there! Yes, we get it. One guy at the screening was laughing and clapping
at some of the gruesome violence that was perpetrated upon the innocent. I stared at him and his neatly-trimmed beard in disbelief, fighting the desire to inflict my own
brand of violence on his sadistically smug smirk. Have we gotten to the point where certain segments of society applaud absolute depravity?
I was also disappointed in the lack of strong protagonists. If you've got shelter and a shotgun then you're more than equipped to survive the situation our not-so-happy
couple found themselves in. Give me ol' Bessie, a few shells, and a bedroom corner, and it's game OVER for the masked assailants. I certainly wouldn't run out into
the night, amidst the woods and the unknown, and lower my odds.
"But Johnny, then you wouldn't have much of a story!"
*stares at you blankly* Um, we didn't have much of a story anyway! Come on; make me believe you're FIGHTING for your life. Be smart.
The Strangers is a film you enjoy less the more you think about it. Breathing room for the audience is in short supply - the "pantry scene" is especially effective -
and the music, including an annoying old record player, goes a long way in setting a nerve-jangling atmosphere. So I felt the tension. But it's so one-dimensional that
by the time the credits roll, the only question you'll likely ask is, "That's it?" Which will then inspire somebody else to ask, "Wasn't Johnny right again?" To which
the entire audience, in surprising unison, will answer with a resounding "yes."
Now let me guess, you're wondering about the "true story" aspect of the film, huh? Yeah, that's called Movie Marketing 101. It's loosely, and I emphasize loosely,
based on the Keddie Cabin Murders, with dashes of the Manson Family Murders mixed in. Basically this is just about a trio of sick individuals who want nothing more than
to hurt and terrorize. Why can we find no trace of humanity within them? No idea. Writer/director Bryan Bertino explains, "Crimes are committed all the time that nobody
has a chance to explain to the victim why it happened. It just happens. And we're left to deal with the aftermath."
That's true. But I think the majority of society is already aware of that fact. Why monetarily exploit the situation via the art of moviemaking if you aren't going
to offer any theories on why it happens or how to deal with the aftermath? You're bringing nothing new to the table, Mr. Bertino. When you regurgitate common
knowledge without offering your own insight then what's the point? Other than a hearty jaunt to the bank?
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ODDS & ENDS
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- Bertino remembers, "...part of the story came to me from a childhood memory. As a kid, I lived in a house on a street in the middle of nowhere. One night, while our
parents were out, somebody knocked on the front door and my little sister answered it. At the door were some people asking for somebody that didn't live there. We later
found out that these people were knocking on doors in the area and, if no one was home, breaking into the houses. In The Strangers, the fact that someone is at home
does not deter the people who've knocked on the front door; it's the reverse."
- In order to get into her role as the masked "Dollface," actress Gemma Ward reveals, "To get inspiration for Dollface, I read Helter Skelter, so I could get a
feel for twisted girls and how their minds work when they reach a certain point."
- To help realize Bertino's desired sustained pitch of heart-pounding, breathholding fear, both Tyler and Speedman often ran sprints on and around the set, returning
to their marks just seconds before the writer/director called, "Action!" Liv Tyler estimates, "I probably ran a mile a day. Scott and I would be all out of breath and
sweaty."
- A whole mile? Wow. She's ready for the Olympics!
- Liv Tyler was in Jersey Girl with Stephen Root who was in No Country for Old Men with Josh Brolin who was in
Hollow Man with Kevin Bacon.
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MAMA'S APPROVAL
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"F" bombs and sadistic violence makes this beyond suitable for youngsters or the squeamish. There isn't a lot of blood, but there is a scene involving stabbings, and the
sounds are very realistic and disturbing.
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TRAILER COMPARISON
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Well, the trailer does a good job of showcasing the tension to expect.
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THE GIST
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Save it for a rental and watch it only if you're prepared to be disturbed and depressed by the end.
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