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Last Updated: Jul 10, 2008 - 12:32:05 PM |
Oh Hollywood, why must you continue to disappoint me with subpar horror movies? Is it that hard to flesh out a horror movie without resorting to tired clichés?
Apparently so.
When the film opens, young couple Kristen McKay (Liv Tyler) and James Hoyt (Scott Speedman) are staying at a remote summer home after a friend’s wedding reception. As the night wears on, the couple is soon thrust into the middle of a vicious cat-and-mouse game as they are terrorized by three masked assailants. Destroying the couple’s phones and vehicles, the intruders continue to terrify Kristen and James, threatening to kill them for no other reason than that they were at home.
Though said to be inspired by true events, the prologue of The Strangers is slightly misleading, as events like this didn’t actually happen. It shares some similarities with the Charles Manson murders and the murders at Cabin 28 at Keddie Resort, but has little basis on any documented cases. However, it still works to scare the audience, because even if it hasn’t happened, it could happen. These aren’t some supernatural beings terrorizing teenagers; it’s actual people murdering for the sheer thrill of it. It sets up a terrifying premise mainly because it can happen to anyone at any time. This idea sets The Strangers several steps above many of the more recent horror films because it is such a believable idea.
Unlike many of the more recent horror films, the scares found in The Strangers focus more on the psychological than the gory. People aren’t slashed to bits for an hour and a half; instead, Kristen and James are hunted slowly, allowing the terror and anticipation build throughout the film. Director Bryan Bertino does an excellent job at moving from unease to outright terror, making the scares that much more frightening.
Tyler and Speedman also work in their roles, delivering convincing and better than average performances. As the three assailants, Gemma Ward, Kip Weeks and Laura Margolis are also well suited for their roles, radiating enough psychosis to make for some truly frightening killers.
With so many good things about The Strangers, it really is a shame that writers had to resort to clichés throughout the film. Characters do all of the usual stupid things that horror movie characters are famous for. Put down the weapon? Check. Split up? Check. Answering the door at 4 a.m. in the middle of the woods? Check. Who would actually do these things? I know that your mind works differently in that type of high-stress situation, but honestly. It makes me wonder how anyone that would do those types of things is even able to dress themselves in the morning. They seem to be a little beyond just regular common sense.
What could have been an excellent horror movie is once again bogged down by stupid clichés. There’s definitely plenty of potential here, but until writers come up with a better way to flesh out horror movies, they will never be any better than subpar.
The Strangers has a run time of 90 minutes and is rated R for violence, terror, and language. It was viewed at Commonwealth 20.
nderatto@villagepublishing.com | 751-0421
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