Review of The Strangers (2008) by Axel N — 20 Dec 2010

Liv Tyler and Scott Speedman star in this suspensful and effective horror thriller, that is better than your usual slasher. There are the occasional jolts and jumps, however the suspense is more effective then it normally is from a slasher horror, but this is something you have seen before.

Kristen McKay (Tyler) James Hoyt (Speedman) return from a friend's wedding, with their relationship at rock bottom (A failed marriage proposal) however it gets worse when there is a knock at the door.

Byran Bertino makes a more an adequate debut, and effectively manages to create a creepy and suspenseful atmosphere rather than a strong reliance on gore and violence, which is common amongst many films in the slasher horror genre.

The music and score do effectively keep the suspense up, however at times to do appear to be reliant on sound effects in creating the scares. The suspense continues throughout the film, and it is a far better thriller then films like (Prom Night) due to the slower pacing the periods of silence that do build the tension. The performances of Liv Tyler and Scott Speedman do boost the movie credentials who both credibly register the panic and the fear of the characters, also the fact you never see the faces of the killers creates and slight feeling of unease, this is simple and quite effective.

However, it is a slasher, resulting in it being predictable and occasionally stupid (for goodness sake, when one of you have a gun, stay together.) When a slasher genre film is repeated so often, it begins to get repetitive, however the tension and the suspense that gradually builds benefits the film. The banging on the doors is generally creepy at first, but it does end up getting repetitive as the film progress.

It's a good film, for a slasher, but it does tread any new ground that has already been discovered, so it does not provide and generally shocking moments.

3/5.