Abishai100
VIP Member
- Sep 22, 2013
- 4,959
- 250
- 85
The Strangers is a 2008 American horror film written and directed by Bryan Bertino. Kristen (Liv Tyler) and James (Scott Speedman) are expecting a relaxing weekend at a family vacation home, but their stay turns out to be anything but peaceful, for three masked torturers leave Kristen and James struggling for survival (source of information: Wikipedia).
This is a really eerie modern-noir horror-film and it's both stark and oddly realistic (in its portrayal of the 'everyday safety' our mind seeks when we, say, go to a cabin-hideaway to unwind and kindle a romance).
Movies have changed so much over the ages, with major 'epochs' in 'style' (I'd say):
1. Classic Era --- e.g., "The Birth of a Nation" [1915]
2. Silver Era --- e.g., "The Wizard of Oz" [1939]
3. Cosmo Era --- e.g., "Working Girl" [1988]
4. Neon Era --- e.g., "The Dark Knight" [2008]
"The Strangers" [2008] is a nice creative-exposition of the Neon Era, complete with characters and atmospherics appealing to a new young thrill-seeking movie audience. It's also a presentation of what comprises the timelessness of human fears (e.g., isolation, home-invasion, deception, etc.).
That's why I like referring to this unusual Bryan Bertino film when I'm thinking about the 'evolution of cinema' and of course why Americans seem so darn fascinated by horror-suspense. Is it because America is a sprawled-out nation of sanctuary-dwellers?
"The Strangers" [2008] compels us to ask intriguing questions about American imagination...
That's why I compare this film to Stephen King's Cujo and afford it a decent 3/5 stars (if I, say, afford a revered horror-film gem such as Alfred Hitchcock's Rear Window a full 5/5 stars!).
{re-interpretation dialogue}
====
KRISTEN: I think there's someone outside the cottage...
JAMES: Yeah, I see one of them; she's wearing a mask(!).
KRISTEN: It's a female?
JAMES: Yeah. That's odd. Why's she wearing a mask?
KRISTEN: I'm scared. Is there a man with her?
JAMES: I don't see anyone...no wait, yeah there's a dude with her.
KRISTEN: What's he look like (look out the window!)?
JAMES: He's wearing a mask too...
KRISTEN: Alright, now I'm really freaked out.
JAMES: Me too; lemme call my friend.
KRISTEN: Damn, my cell phone's dead.
JAMES: I think mine's working(!).
KRISTEN: If we get out of here, I'll pray more.
JAMES: Yeah...
====
This is a really eerie modern-noir horror-film and it's both stark and oddly realistic (in its portrayal of the 'everyday safety' our mind seeks when we, say, go to a cabin-hideaway to unwind and kindle a romance).
Movies have changed so much over the ages, with major 'epochs' in 'style' (I'd say):
1. Classic Era --- e.g., "The Birth of a Nation" [1915]
2. Silver Era --- e.g., "The Wizard of Oz" [1939]
3. Cosmo Era --- e.g., "Working Girl" [1988]
4. Neon Era --- e.g., "The Dark Knight" [2008]
"The Strangers" [2008] is a nice creative-exposition of the Neon Era, complete with characters and atmospherics appealing to a new young thrill-seeking movie audience. It's also a presentation of what comprises the timelessness of human fears (e.g., isolation, home-invasion, deception, etc.).
That's why I like referring to this unusual Bryan Bertino film when I'm thinking about the 'evolution of cinema' and of course why Americans seem so darn fascinated by horror-suspense. Is it because America is a sprawled-out nation of sanctuary-dwellers?
"The Strangers" [2008] compels us to ask intriguing questions about American imagination...
That's why I compare this film to Stephen King's Cujo and afford it a decent 3/5 stars (if I, say, afford a revered horror-film gem such as Alfred Hitchcock's Rear Window a full 5/5 stars!).
{re-interpretation dialogue}
====
KRISTEN: I think there's someone outside the cottage...
JAMES: Yeah, I see one of them; she's wearing a mask(!).
KRISTEN: It's a female?
JAMES: Yeah. That's odd. Why's she wearing a mask?
KRISTEN: I'm scared. Is there a man with her?
JAMES: I don't see anyone...no wait, yeah there's a dude with her.
KRISTEN: What's he look like (look out the window!)?
JAMES: He's wearing a mask too...
KRISTEN: Alright, now I'm really freaked out.
JAMES: Me too; lemme call my friend.
KRISTEN: Damn, my cell phone's dead.
JAMES: I think mine's working(!).
KRISTEN: If we get out of here, I'll pray more.
JAMES: Yeah...
====