A young bachelor, James (Scott Speedmen), plans to propose to Kristen, (Liv Tyler). He's planned a night on the town in his hometown, which "uh oh" is a sleepy and dark haven in the woods. They stay at his family's old place. There is rose pedals and good champagne. Finally, he proposes and she says "No."
It's four in the morning when Kirsten says. "I'm just not ready." So, I guess, for this hopeful bachelor this may not be the end. The two begin to make love... Someone knocks on the door. It's a younger female, who sounds drugged out. She asks for someone who isn't there. It's disturbing, but it's already been one hell of a night. And they really don't think much of it. James leaves to get cigarettes. Kristen walks around in an abysmal daze. We're left to wonder about their future. It's a choice premise for any movie, really, and we forget we're watching a horror film. That's when the mask appears outside the window
The ominous lighting captured by Peter Sova, (The Proposition), is essential to the execution of this film, as it not only narrates the troubling story of this couple, but also foreshadows the doom and terror that ensues. From here, more masked villains appear and trap her in the house. They taunt and torture her. We're left to wonder if James will return or if he's somehow behind this. Without giving too much away, that's basically the rest of the movie. The antagonists and their intentions might remain mysterious throughout which would be fine, but one problem is we never discover anything else about our heroes. Everything we learn about them is within the first twenty minutes
The Strangers starts as a slow burn and then boils quickly. It wraps up within ninety minutes and while it isn't as a complex or tantalizing as say Funny Games, it's still absolutely watchable and a perfect rental for the Halloween season.
It's four in the morning when Kirsten says. "I'm just not ready." So, I guess, for this hopeful bachelor this may not be the end. The two begin to make love... Someone knocks on the door. It's a younger female, who sounds drugged out. She asks for someone who isn't there. It's disturbing, but it's already been one hell of a night. And they really don't think much of it. James leaves to get cigarettes. Kristen walks around in an abysmal daze. We're left to wonder about their future. It's a choice premise for any movie, really, and we forget we're watching a horror film. That's when the mask appears outside the window
The ominous lighting captured by Peter Sova, (The Proposition), is essential to the execution of this film, as it not only narrates the troubling story of this couple, but also foreshadows the doom and terror that ensues. From here, more masked villains appear and trap her in the house. They taunt and torture her. We're left to wonder if James will return or if he's somehow behind this. Without giving too much away, that's basically the rest of the movie. The antagonists and their intentions might remain mysterious throughout which would be fine, but one problem is we never discover anything else about our heroes. Everything we learn about them is within the first twenty minutes
The Strangers starts as a slow burn and then boils quickly. It wraps up within ninety minutes and while it isn't as a complex or tantalizing as say Funny Games, it's still absolutely watchable and a perfect rental for the Halloween season.