The Strangers

[kybearfuzz]

After work yesterday, while most everyone was rushing to get their "Sex and the City" tickets, I went to go see a matinee of The Strangers.

The movie is about a young couple who return from a wedding to a secluded farm house and find themselves terrorized by several mysterious and masked strangers in the middle of the night. The movie stars Scott Speedman, who I like a great deal, and Liv Tyler, who is about as emotive as a piece of driftwood, as the young couple.

There are a few spooky moments in the movie, scenes where the killers are obviously in the house, sometimes appearing in the scene behind the observed actor. This is the kind of chilling scene that I usually love. However, the movie doesn't seem to pull it off very well. I think part of it could be the lack of music in some scenes and I blame the actors for other. Liv Tyler just doesn't have many expressions beyond the pout she perpetually carries. Except for a few scenes, I didn't jump at all and the ending is disappointing, even though it is a bit shocking.

I've put the original French version (called "Them") on my Netflix queue, which is rated very high. I'll see how it compares.

Did I enjoy the movie? It was "okay"...
Would I see it again? Probably not.
Buy the DVD? No.

Comments

[djmadadam.livejournal.com]

LOL @ the Liv Tyler comment.

I plan to see this anyway. But, why am I not surprised that we have here another lousy American reinterpretation of a foreign horror film? I mean, consider the bastardization of the Japanese films ("The Ring"... although I kinda liked the 1st American version... and "The Grudge"). I hope they don't start doing renditions of the Spanish horror and supernatural suspense ("El Espinazo del Diablo", "El Orfanato", et al).

Any forethought on the upcoming, new M. Night Shyamalan flick, "The Happening"?

[kybearfuzz.livejournal.com]

Actually, I've read on upcominghorrormovies.com (http://www.upcominghorrormovies.com), they are remaking "El Orfanato," which I'm sure the remake is going to suck compared to the Spanish original.

As for "The Happening," I am a bit reserved. After seeing Shyamalan's last few efforts, like "The Village" and "Lady in the Water," I have to admit that I've been pretty disappointed with his stuff. I'll likely see it regardless.

[pocochon.livejournal.com]

Thanks for the heads up.
I saw the trailers and thought it was a good movie. Now I will wait a year to see it on Showtime. :o)

Hope all is well with you!
Hugs handsome,

[rixtur.livejournal.com]

You should look into some french horror film. Ive seen a few from Netflix, Ill get back to you on the titles. French horror films tend to be more gruesome and disturbing.

[kybearfuzz.livejournal.com]

I did see "High Tension" which was a French horror flick. I enjoyed it, especially those twists at the end :)