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Amazon.co.uk Review
A lean, briskly paced and exceptionally creepy thriller, The Strangers earns its scares the old-fashioned way: through atmosphere, sound design, and a simple yet undeniably upsetting central premise that allows for maximum tension throughout its running time. Attractive young lovers Liv Tyler and Scott Speedman are already having a bad day--she's turned down his marriage proposal--before a knock on the door in the middle of the night announces a full-fledged siege on their remote vacation home by a trio of masked assailants. The film's first third delivers the most consistent shivers as the visitors make their presence and intentions known to Tyler; the second half grows more frantic and bloody before a gruesome finale that may leave viewers either rattled to their core or bothered by its empty nihilism. Speedman is fine as the downtrodden male lead (who's seen tucking into a carton of ice cream after being rejected), but it's Tyler who impresses the most by shouldering the lion's share of the terror. First-time writer/director Bryan Bertino impresses by forsaking the current passion for over-the-top violence (save for the finale) in favour of more traditional means of generating fear, and if his project borrows heavily from other films, most notably the French chiller Them (which shares its "inspired by a true story" origin) and Michael Haneke's Funny Games, at least he's taking from the best. The sound design is among the many technical standouts, and the unsettling score by tomandandy (The Hills Have Eyes) pleasantly evokes Ennio Morricone's fuzztone-heavy work for Dario Argento in the early '70s. On a completely unrelated note, LP fanatics should appreciate how both the film's heroes and villains share an affinity for folk and country music on vinyl. --Paul Gaita
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
4 of 4 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
Typical horror, not overly gory but oh is it a shocker! I'm a particularly shockable guy and this film sent me crazy. Locked and bolted all the windows and doors before I went to bed. Had a similar effect on my flatmates.
It was fairly predicatable, as are most 'horror' films, however you've just got to sit there and immerse yourself in it for full effect. Not much of a storyline and slow to begin but very well made.
Got me both times I've seen it now, can't wait for the third; won't be watching this with a woman though, I'd be the one holding onto her!!
Fantastic stuff!
It was fairly predicatable, as are most 'horror' films, however you've just got to sit there and immerse yourself in it for full effect. Not much of a storyline and slow to begin but very well made.
Got me both times I've seen it now, can't wait for the third; won't be watching this with a woman though, I'd be the one holding onto her!!
Fantastic stuff!
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
One of my favourite films.
It starts off where a young couple Kristen (Liv Tyler) and James (Scott Speedman) arrive home in the early hours of the morning after attending a friends wedding. They then get a knock on the door and when they answer they discover a girl they who james sends away.
James then goes out to get a pack of cigarettes leaving his partner in the house on her own where she gets even more shaken up by wierd knocks on the door only to discover theres no one there. When james arrives home kristen is hysterical with fear and thats when the fun starts.
I don't want to spoil what happens in the film so i won't explain the story anymore. Its doesn't have a lot of gore or blood in it but its filled with tension and suspense and keeps you hooked. What i like about this film also is that this could happen to anyone in real life and not just in a film. Also the fact that its loosely based on a true story makes it seem more real and thats what makes it a really scary film.
Great film.
It starts off where a young couple Kristen (Liv Tyler) and James (Scott Speedman) arrive home in the early hours of the morning after attending a friends wedding. They then get a knock on the door and when they answer they discover a girl they who james sends away.
James then goes out to get a pack of cigarettes leaving his partner in the house on her own where she gets even more shaken up by wierd knocks on the door only to discover theres no one there. When james arrives home kristen is hysterical with fear and thats when the fun starts.
I don't want to spoil what happens in the film so i won't explain the story anymore. Its doesn't have a lot of gore or blood in it but its filled with tension and suspense and keeps you hooked. What i like about this film also is that this could happen to anyone in real life and not just in a film. Also the fact that its loosely based on a true story makes it seem more real and thats what makes it a really scary film.
Great film.
34 of 40 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
The strangers,a thriller/horror proves to be a gripping hour an half of twisted entertainment.
James and Kristen's relationship lies in tatters after a rejected marriage proposal, isolated in what was to be an idyllic getaway late into the night a stranger comes a knocking appearing to be lost, they attempt to help her on her way little realising she's not going anywhere and she's not alone.
The strangers is an interesting film in the fact its a very visual experience, there's little dialogue using mainly visuals and sound or in some cases silence to crank up the tension.
A lot of the films scary moments are classic 'BOO' moments which most of time you can see coming if these types of scares do little for you it probably wont be a film for you. But for those of us who do it proves to be an enthralling ride that flies by.
Also anyone who has seenVacancy [2007]may get a feeling of deja vu as the films are rather similar in certain aspects but if you enjoyed vacancy chances are you'll enjoy this.
All in all the strangers proves to be an effective thriller mixing psychological scares with sparse disturbing violence which gives the end product a lasting impression. If your a fan of psychological thrillers/horror it's worth checking out
P.S- you may want to avoid S. Ahmed's review while its good to see he enjoyed the film it does ruin the ending
James and Kristen's relationship lies in tatters after a rejected marriage proposal, isolated in what was to be an idyllic getaway late into the night a stranger comes a knocking appearing to be lost, they attempt to help her on her way little realising she's not going anywhere and she's not alone.
The strangers is an interesting film in the fact its a very visual experience, there's little dialogue using mainly visuals and sound or in some cases silence to crank up the tension.
A lot of the films scary moments are classic 'BOO' moments which most of time you can see coming if these types of scares do little for you it probably wont be a film for you. But for those of us who do it proves to be an enthralling ride that flies by.
Also anyone who has seenVacancy [2007]may get a feeling of deja vu as the films are rather similar in certain aspects but if you enjoyed vacancy chances are you'll enjoy this.
All in all the strangers proves to be an effective thriller mixing psychological scares with sparse disturbing violence which gives the end product a lasting impression. If your a fan of psychological thrillers/horror it's worth checking out
P.S- you may want to avoid S. Ahmed's review while its good to see he enjoyed the film it does ruin the ending
Most Recent Customer Reviews
WOW!!
THE STRANGERS well what can i say?
Me and my husband sat down to watch this movie one night we was having a drink (actually i was a little drunk) anyway when we watched it i... Read more
Me and my husband sat down to watch this movie one night we was having a drink (actually i was a little drunk) anyway when we watched it i... Read more
Published 1 month ago by lori29
Stunning
This film was truly gripping and very entertaining throughout the film, I havent been truly scared by a horror film for a while until I watched this film which i was very pleased... Read more
Published 2 months ago by Poundzy94
What the?
This is up there with the worst film ive ever seen. Theres no real plot or care for these characters and a very pointless story. Read more
Published 2 months ago by Steve
definitely worth a watch.
i watched this at the pictures and jumped out my seat throughout, it was very suspenseful and definitely made you feel spooked out! Read more
Published 3 months ago by Ms. L. F. Carberry
Strangers in the night
When you watch a film and you see the protagonist's life is in danger, one of the questions you probably ask yourself is `What would I do in that situation? Read more
Published 4 months ago by Albatross
Ignore the criticism
This movie is brilliant.
It is in fact based on a true story & it keeps you on the edge of your seat throughout
It is very, very scary throughout! Read more
It is in fact based on a true story & it keeps you on the edge of your seat throughout
It is very, very scary throughout! Read more
Published 5 months ago by Sam
tense and creepy stuff
ive seen this film quite a few times now,and even though it doesnt have quite the same"jump out of your seat"effect it might have on you first time around,it does make some impact... Read more
Published 5 months ago by MARKYBOY
Is it bad to want the "good guys" to die for being stupid?
First half of the film was decent, 2nd half idiotic. Borrow the movie, don't buy it. I think my arms outweigh the 2 waify female villains. Who couldn't take them out? Come on.
Published 7 months ago by R. Nielsen
Disappointed to say the least.
I recently rented this film and was extremely looking forward to it, the reviews on other websites made the film sound great. Read more
Published 10 months ago by JAM
Total Let Down
I bought this Bluray DVD after reading the reviews, but to be honest, I thought very little of it. Sure, there were quite a few 'jumps' but they were only attained by the loud... Read more
Published 11 months ago by Steve
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