I apologise, we feel bad, but there's no trailer available. ~Ed.
Up until about halfway, The Strangers is a pretty effective home invasion nightmare. "Based on a true story", Liv Tyler and Scott Speedman are a couple with a relationship on the rocks, who become victims of random violence. Despite clichés - the landline connection doesn't work and the cellphone's out of battery - there are some suspenseful moments. And Liv Tyler's always good - we like her, we want her to see out her days.
All this before the film descends pretty rapidly into ridiculousness. Our heroes do all the idiotic things people only do when, really, their ulterior motive is to set up a scary scenario because they're in a movie. Debut director Bryan Bertino hides information from you to annoying, rather than suspenseful, effect. It culminates in an ending so pointless and underwhelming, it's like the film has taken you by the scruff of the neck and said "Hey! See how worthless the last 90 minutes of your life were? Now get back out into the real world. Get a life. I never want to see you again."
By Paul Scantlebury, Flicks.co.nz
The movie deserves more stars for its bottom-line craft, but all the craft in the world can't redeem its story.
Ultimately, The Strangers does succeed in the sense that it offers a riveting, vastly credible enactment of everyone's worst nightmare.
A spare, creepily atmospheric psychological thriller with a death grip on the psychological aspect.
Is Hollywood so disconnected from its past and bankrupt of ideas that it doesn't even know this movie is a screaming cliché?
1/2 What you see is definitely what you get: A chair-grippingly scary horror film that might very well make you lock your doors, leave the lights on, and probably seek out a stranger for a comfort hug when you leave the cinema.
We've been told the NZ release date for this flick is Thursday, 4th Sep 2008.
Release date: September 4th 2008.
We haven't received times for this movie in this location yet. However these are updated as cinemas announce them, so check back soon. Hopefully the lovely cinemas in your location will choose to play it shortly. ~Ed.
