Review of The Strangers (2008) by Chads. — 29 May 2008

In the event of a home invasion perpetuated by masked marauders, don't leave your girlfriend unarmed should you have the bright idea to separate, like James(Scott Speedman) does in "The Strangers", even if the woman turned down your marriage proposal.

Be a gentleman, and leave her the gun. Even though James is in possession of the weapon, he still blows it, like an inexperienced basketball player lacking the wherewithal to sense danger from his backside.

Thanks to him, there will be blood, and not of the metaphorical sort, the rose petals, which is, originally, the splatterings of James' broken heart, soon becomes a precursor to the ensuing bloodletting, when the unarmed, corporeal menace dupe the dupes.

But "The Strangers" has some, SOME, mind you, artistry. The uncorking of a champagne bottle makes the saddest pop. James and Kristen(Liv Tyler) aren't teenagers. That helps. They don't need to show I.

D. when buying cough syrup. But the inevitable attack on the contentious couple will...should... it better... infuriate you. Unlike, say, David Fincher's "Zodiac", this unofficial remake of David Moreau and Xavier Palud's "Ils", lacks the gravitas to get away with such near-graphic brutality.

But then, "The Strangers" surprised me, again, with a somewhat disquieting and witty coda. You can make an argument for "The Strangers", just not a fully qualified one. Unless you're into sadism and repentance, that is.