The message director Bryan Bertino seems to be implying in The Strangers is not to misuse technology; doing so can get you killed. Two misused cell phones, one misused house phone, and a misused car and ham radio later, he clearly illustrates why in this latest iteration of the home-invading stalker movie. With similarities to 2006's European Them, Bertino's masked assailants lay siege to the desolate home and psyches of an already distraught couple, entering the premises at will and often standing quietly in the background watching their freaked-out victims Kristen (Liv Tyler) and James (Scott Speedman).
After his marriage proposal doesn't go the way he anticipated it would, James and Kristen head to his family's vacation house at four a.m. in the morning. With red rose petals strewn across the bathtub and bed, and a bottle of champaign less chilled than the soured marriage proposal, both try to reconcile the awkwardness by getting frisky instead. Of course, as you and I know, any hint of sex in a horror film spells trouble with a capital T. Right on que, a nerve-rattling pounding on the front door ends their reconciliation. Outside, a Squeaky Fromme-voiced girl, her face hidden in the darkness created by an unscrewed porch light, is looking for someone. Maybe it's me, but how can James not get a clue even when he screws the porch light back in after the girl goes away? Clueless victims in horror films make matters much worse, as you and I also know.
An empty pack of cigarettes sends him driving to the corner store for a refill, but the corner store is miles away, leaving Kristen all alone. Let's recap, shall we? A really creepy girl shows up at the front door asking--in a very creepy voice-- if some guy they don't know is home. Oddly enough, the porch light is unscrewed so her features are hidden in darkness. Oh, and let's not forget the incessant and really, really loud pounding that preceded her appearance: a pounding such a diminutive girl could not have possibly done on her own. Do you see where I'm going with this? apparently James doesn't. Maybe Kristen is right in not marrying such a dope.
Article comments
1 - duane
Excellently written review, and I appreciate the commentary concerning cell phones. Since virtually everyone has a cell phone these days, it's getting harder and harder to get isolated, lost, trapped, or kidnapped in any believable way. Curse you, cell phones!
And why can't savvy, quick-witted folks find themselves in a dangerous and hopeless situation? Why do movie characters always take actions that causes everyone in the audience to roll their eyes? My stock comment during scenes like that is, "Obviously, they haven't seen [relevant movie goes here], like everyone else in the world."
A related example (oh, I do go on sometimes) is the movie Aliens, which featured a bunch of over-confident, undisciplined, wise-ass Space Marines led by a barely competent commander. They proceed to get their butts kicked in their first encounter with the aliens. And rightly so. This bunch would have taken a beating if they had faced a group of beer-swilling paintball enthusiasts. It would have been so much more effective to see a crack team of no-nonsense, well-coordinated, seasoned Space Marines get their butts kicked. The survivors' odds would have looked that much more ominous. Similarly, the horror movie thing. Much greater impact if the best efforts of a clever protagonist are squashed by the baddies in the early going.