Another horror film and another misfire. The Strangers falls apart for all the same reasons as so many other horror films. Despite the simple story, writer/director Bryan Bertino had a look and feel that would appear to be a recipe for success, and yes, the look and feel is quite good. The masks are rightly creepy and the amber glow of the fireplace sets a very scary mood for this flick. Unfortunately the execution is downright boring and there are just enough logic problems to make them noticeable.
The Strangers centers on two victims played by Liv Tyler and Scott Speedman. Scott just asked Liv to marry him. She said no. Sadness ensues, but not for long in this Funny Games rip-off without the social commentary.
Knock. Knock.
What are probably the scariest moments in the whole film are the deep knocks on the large wooden front door. Without a peephole, the thunderous knocks on the door actually add a bit of fear as we wonder what terror is to come from the other side. We then realize it’s a bunch of screwball nut jobs that want to terrorize our protagonists for 90 minutes as opposed to getting to the point. I am using the word “terrorize” very loosely here as Tyler and Speedman actually run into trouble more than away from it. The villains in this case really have no other choice than to terrorize.
All scares are alleviated once you realize traditional cliches will be used from the outset. Why is it that people never call out for the people they are searching for? Why is it people just come up behind someone they know in movies and scare the shit out of them as they are yelling at creepy people in the front lawn? Oh, that’s right, because this is a horror film and the writers couldn’t figure out any other way to fit some scares into the feature.
How about instead of having the friend walking quietly down the hallway before getting shot in the face by Scott Speedman you have the bad guy take an axe to his head and he crumples to the floor in front of his friends? (Highlight black text for spoiler) I mean, this is a horror movie afterall and we are trying to scare people. Oh, and one quick note to the writers, you can use a cell phone when it is charging! That little plot twist really irked me.
On top of that, The Strangers uses way too many musical cues. I wish horror movies would stop using all the ominous tunes that slowly grow to a crescendo when the scare is going to happen. Uh, sort of a tip off guys. Having people walk around in dead silence just before a knife goes into their gut would be far more frightening.
It’s been a while since a true horror film managed to really make a splash on the scene or bring anything new to the genre. I would dare say the first Saw movie in 2004 was the most recent, The Ring in 2002 maybe and before that I would say Scream in 1996. Horror really needs a kick in the ass. Platinum Dunes is making a go at it by remaking old horror films, but that doesn’t move a genre forward, based on the idea alone it moves it backwards basically admitting defeat.
It would be nice to be scared again, but I have a hard time believing it will happen.
