THE STRANGERS (2008) ** film capsule by COOP

This film, while a huge disappointment for me, will find a solid audience with those who find “supposed true stories” and “home invasion” films a thrill. I’m gonna be harsh and sharped-tongued here… This was a blatant rip-off of a French film I saw on DVD a few weeks ago called “Them.” The French film also claimed to be a true story and delivered almost exactly the same tale as this film, but no credit by the creators of “The Strangers” was given to the creators of the original. Story: Couple goes to their isolated, rural dwelling. Young, masked psychopaths terrorize them. No one can help them as they make a feeble attempt to fight back. My note to the victims: The # is 911. Use it immediately without hesitation (then I wouldn’t have to watch these movies about your “supposedly” realistic death). I gave “Them” four stars. See the French film instead since it was equally as intense, it may have been based on something that actually happened in Romania and had a much better twist at the end. I give “The Strangers” two stars. Don’t get me wrong, it WAS scary, yet annoying. I hate the “BOO!” type of horror films where all the scares depend on someone jumping out from behind a corner. That’s only a tiny fraction of how horror can affect an audience. It’s intense, it’s slick, it’s well made, but totally hollow. Universal, next time… come up with something original and seriously, make the leads smarter and stronger. It’s hard to feel for the characters (more like cattle in this film) when they have no survival instincts whatsoever. Casting Liv Tyler and Scott Speedman as your leads telegraphed the weakness as they are some of the weakest actors on the market. You can do better.

“The Strangers:” 2 out of 5 stars

P.S. Universal, you may get sued over this one. Pay off the filmmakers of “Them” quickly. They did it faster, cheaper and better than you… and they did it first.

The best thing about this film might be the frightening trailer which you can view here…