Comments on: The Strangers

By: Qualandra Johnson

Qualandra Johnson — Sun, 29 May 2011 20:24:37 +0000

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By: [review]: The Strangers « …yet made of stars

[review]: The Strangers « …yet made of stars — Sat, 10 Jan 2009 19:30:47 +0000

[...] 10, 2009 Cross-posted at: MovieZeal United States, 2008 Directed By: Bryan Bertino Written By: Bryan Bertino Starring: Liv Tyler, [...]

By: Matt Gamble

Matt Gamble — Fri, 13 Jun 2008 19:08:48 +0000

“the audience absorbing themselves into the positions of those characters and feeling what it is to be frightened, tortured, etc. themselves.”

So torture and fear are okay for the audience to feel, but humiliation isn’t? I’m not sure how you can justify that statement. If anything Funny Games is far more successful at removing the barrier that seperates film from reality, and forces the audience to actually feel true emotions about what they are witnessing, while The Strangers simply relies on tired and true methods that will guide the viewers to the reactions they want. I’d much rather watch a film that promotes a visceral response from me then relies on cheap jump to build tension.

And the thing that annoyed me the most with The Strangers was how grossly overproduced it was. It beat it into your skull every 5 minutes that this film is really scary, because the music/masks/nocturnal woodpeckers say so. Blah.

By: Jeff McM

Jeff McM — Thu, 05 Jun 2008 03:55:41 +0000

Well, either it works for you or it doesn’t. I didn’t feel an air of ‘importance’ but it certainly could have used more depth in theme or characterization.

By: Luke Harrington

Luke Harrington — Thu, 05 Jun 2008 01:17:57 +0000

Yeah, okay. I would be more inclined to agree with your position, though, if the whole thing didn’t make me laugh so much. The timing, the music, and the general lack of character depth made it more amusing to me than scary. I try not to laugh during a “serious” film when I’m with other people, but I couldn’t help myself with this one…and it took itself so seriously. If it had been content to be what it was (a dumb B horror movie), I would have disliked it less…but it just had this general air of “THIS IS REALLY IMPORTANT!!!”-ness.

By: Jeff McM

Jeff McM — Wed, 04 Jun 2008 23:23:19 +0000

Well, I thought this was a perfectly good, if limited hororr movie, and it’s certainly better than Funny Games if for no other reason than because it’s honest about what it wants to do and doesn’t attempt to condescend to or humiliate its audience.
The enjoyment of a film like this comes not from watching a young couple be tortured and then murdered but rather from the audience absorbing themselves into the positions of those characters and feeling what it is to be frightened, tortured, etc. themselves.
If that’s not your cup of tea, then so be it, but please don’t ascribe such unpleasant motivations to the bulk of those of us who are happy to be scared for 90 minutes.

By: Kristena

Kristena — Wed, 04 Jun 2008 22:54:57 +0000

I’m actually loving the other she-psycho’s shirt. Awesome Peter Pan collar. And, to be honest, I kinda like her mask too.

By: Luke Harrington

Luke Harrington — Wed, 04 Jun 2008 19:08:03 +0000

Hey Joe, thanks for stopping by. If you didn’t notice, I’m actually pretty generous to Bertino in my review (see my last paragraph). But the fact that it was his first flick doesn’t make the movie itself any better. The whole thing is just an excuse to enjoy the suffering and death of other people – and it has absolutely nothing to say, other than “Wow, it’s fun to enjoy the suffering and death of other people!” Obviously, there are worse films that have been made, but I’d still prefer to spend my time watching something better.

By: Joe P

Joe P — Wed, 04 Jun 2008 18:57:04 +0000

I thought the movie was well put together…this is Bryan Bertino’s first movie EVER. Who cares if the story wasn’t as good as you wanted it to be? It is still very entertaining and left me asking so many questions. I might see it again to look at stuff I missed the first time.

By: Evan Derrick

Evan Derrick — Wed, 04 Jun 2008 17:39:03 +0000

You’re right, Luke, that IS a cute jacket! I HAVE to get me one of those.

“Ok kids, spot the scary thing…”
Favorite line of the week.

By: Luke Harrington

Luke Harrington — Tue, 03 Jun 2008 19:32:49 +0000

Ah…touche. I suppose I should be expecting a libel suit sometime soon.

Rachel, you crack me up. You should come by more often.

By: Rachel

Rachel — Tue, 03 Jun 2008 18:33:26 +0000

Okay, wow…you’re totally wrong about this being a remake of “Funny Games.” I mean come on, the two are totally different. “Funny Games” had two killers with three vicitims, while “The Strangers” clearly has three killers with two vicitims. The two movies are like night and day. The numbers don’t lie!!!

By: Rick Olson

Rick Olson — Tue, 03 Jun 2008 02:02:06 +0000

“Ok, kids, spot the scary thing.” i love it.

What a mess is right.

By: Daniel

Daniel — Mon, 02 Jun 2008 21:07:58 +0000

What a mess. I still hear about people who liked it, though, and it got some decent reviews here and there. Absolutely not something that interests me, thank you very much.

By: Fox

Fox — Mon, 02 Jun 2008 17:41:25 +0000

Agree with your rating. The only reason I would give this film a 1/2 star is because of Liv Tyler. (I continue to be impressed by her.)

However, I part with you on your mild appreciation for Bertino’s skills. The very first scene – the shot of white knuckles on the steering wheel cutting to the red of the stop lights and brake lights – is well done, but overall I see little promise in this guy. Though, I surely don’t wish him any ill will.