Review of The Strangers (2008) by Eytan D — 23 Jul 2012

A simple script, a great cast, very little gore, and three of the most terrifyingly human villains of all time allow The Strangers to be one of the scariest movies I've ever seen. A home invasion thriller that celebrates the style of 70's horror films, The Strangers doesn't need to be inspired by true events to scare the hell out of you.

The situation feels real enough. When our two protagonists travel to a cabin in the woods and encounter three creepy masked assailants outside and inside the house, the story instantly hits you where you live, reminding you of all the times you were home alone and heard a random noise.

The audience is constantly on edge, and for over an hour, it seems that the deaths of Kristen and James are nothing like the psychological and emotional torture these maniacs put them through. Scariest of all is that Bertino's demented visitors are merciless and expressionless, showing no apparent motivation for why they're attacking these innocent people.

This is a film a la The Texas Chainsaw Massacre that challenges the horror film audience to sit there for 85 minutes and come face to face with what could be your worst nightmare. The Strangers is not something to watch alone, but it has to be watched at night to get the maximum effect.

Long after the movie is over, you'll be too scared to look outside your windows or make a trip to the kitchen for a glass of water. It's that effective.