The Strangers (Film Review)

http://www.clmnews.com/
Inspired by true events from a childhood episode in Writer/Director Bryan Bertino's life The Strangers Finally

arrives in theatres this weekend amidst stiff compettition at the box office and mixed reviews from the critics.

Director Bryan Bertino draws inspiration from the memory of a stranger knocking on his door when he was just a boy.

Bryan later discovers that several homes in the area had were burglerized. Inspiration for the Pin Up girl and

Doll face characters are said to be from the Charles Manson murders. Although the faces of the strangers are never

clearly revealed, through the flour bag mask a resemblence between the male stranger and Charles Manson can be seen.

The strangers offers a basic plot that tugs at every person's primal fear of being in a strange home and then over run

by unknown assailants. The lead characters, Kristen McKay played by Liv Tyler and James Hoyt played by Scott Speedman

Return to James' family's summer home. It was supposed to be a romantic celebration after James proposes to Kristen,

but the couple soon discovers that they are not alone. At just after 4 A.M. An erie knock on the front door startles the couple away from

a passionate momment. At the door an ackward young woman presents herself and in a haunting voice asks for "Tamara".

The young woman is turned away but later returns as another stranger sneaks into the home and cuts the couple off from the outside world by stealing and destroying their telephones. The story becomes a bit predictable thereafter and doesn't do much

to distinguish itself from other slasher films. The film has the typical "look Behind You" momments where the victim

fails to realize that the killer is right behind them. None more chilling than the hall way scene when james accidentally

shoots his friend Mike in the face with a Shot Gun. The film is well shot and Liv Tyler has an almost distressed

beauty that makes the predatory angle scenes rivating to watch. The movie was shot in Florence South Carolina and the surrounding

black woods are used amazingly to add to the feeling of terror in this movie. The score is erie and haunts the soul.

Especially the lead track: "The Sprout and the Bean" by Joanna Newsom. The track really sets the tone of the entire

movie and is the track that introduces the couple to the strangers. Over all the movie is a 7 for sheer scariness.

However this movie is expertly shot especially for a first time director and the simple plot does have it's advantages.

There are only 8 cast members in this movie and the audience is given a chance to fully connect with the lead characters.

Although this movie is not on the level of other movies like Hostile and the Texas Chainsaw Massacre when it comes

to gruesome imagery, A director's cut is promised on DVD and that reportedly contains many scenes that were considered

too graphic for movie theatres. This movie scores an overall score of 8 from CLMNEWS.com and it is worth seeing.


This movie might do well as an alternative to the long lines for Indiana Jones and Sex and The City also out this weekend.

For more on this movie or to view other film reviews visit www.clmnews.com and search Keyword: "Movie". For CLMNEWS.com I'm Will Darius Make: http://www.clmnews.com/ your daily home for News, Politics, Sports, and Entertainment news.

Category:

Film & Animation

Tags:

• strangers
• liv
• Tyler
• CLMNEWS
• Scott
• Speedman
• Sprout
• Bean
• Hostile
• Trailer
• Manson
• Murder
• Texas
• Chainsaw
• Friday
• 13th
• Hulk
• Saw

[BloodStoneRaiders]

says based on events in 2005... WTF?!!? pretty sure he wasnt a kid 3 years ago

[Clotheslinemedia]

Hi BSR. The real inspiration came from a child hood event. It wasn't based on events from three years ago. That was thrown in for cinematic effect. It sounds creepier if t happened just a few years ago.

[krazicid]

the music in the background is anoying as hell

[ILLxFUCKINxFIGHTxYOU]

when i saw the trailer for this film, i assumed it would be terrible. my friend convinced me to rent it and i was really surprised. it turned out to be a really good flick.

I'd also like to credit closelinemedia for this review. its absolutly spot on.

[snooglesnarf]

inasfar as im concerned, i was thoroughly disturbed. and because of it, i was freightened.

[kaozbender]

damn, that voice is annoying

[simpson4563]

@thechaserv97 the sprout and the bean

[thechaserv97]

wats the song in the back

[7GeorgeB1]

This movie was terrible, cannot belive that the highest rated comment was saying something good about it, i thought i was gunna enjoy it but no, the terrible thing about this movie was that it just wetn from one thing to another in a flash

[comedicgenius2]

@Clotheslinemedia It's based on the Roman Polanski events with Charles Manson. That night, the director/writer got a knock on his door and the man, supposedly Manson, asked, "Is anyone home?" and then walked away.

[elnapo09]

disturbing movie



[blackbeltste]

Live taylor?

Aka Liv tyler?