The Strangers (2008)

 THE STRANGERS (2008) – 10/04/2021

https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0482606/?ref_=nv_sr_srsg_0

 

               Liv Tyler is not known for horror movies.  She probably should be. 

               As I’ve said before, I find myself drawn to minimalism more as I’ve gotten older.  Other than the brief wedding reception scene, we only see 8 characters on-screen throughout the course of The Strangers.  Aside from the aforementioned wedding reception, there is only 1 location used—a farmhouse with a barn, some woods, and a long driveway.  The only soundtrack seems to be the single record playing over and over.  All of this creates an eerie feeling of isolation as we watch the couple get trapped in their home one night.  A few years before The Purge (2013), three masked individuals torment and kill Kristen (Liv Tyler) and James (Scott Speedman).  Furthering the mystique, the masked intruders never show their faces, and they barely speak.  Even Jason Voorhees has shown his face.

               The mark of a great movie is it still surprises you even when you know what’s going to happen.  Not only is this movie somewhat formulaic, I’ve seen it several times.  I *KNOW* what is about to happen, and it still gets me.  I can’t recommend this one enough.  I really wish the sequel had held onto the same slow burn style.

 

Scores:

Suspense:  10/10 – “why are you doing this to us?” “because you were home”.

Gore:  8/10 – not a lot of blood, but it gets bloody when it needs to.

Scares:  10/10 – 3 against 2 is a little unfair.

Humor:  2/10 – this one is dark from start to finish—even the couple is in a bad spot before anything happens.

Bonus Points: 10 – I really just want to give this movie a perfect score.

 

Total:  40/40 – Is Tamara home?

 

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