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HOME SWEET HOME According to the filmmakers behind the extremely suspenseful French film Them (2006), their research into the horror genre revealed that what scares people the most is the idea of a home invasion. After seeing that film and now the unacknowledged remake of sorts, The Strangers (2008), I tend to agree. I'm not sure if I like The Strangers as much as Them, but I would not argue much with anyone who prefers this accomplished debut from writer/director Bryan Bertino. Bottom line: if you liked Strangers, see Them and decide for yourself. Of course, a number of important "invasion" works predate the films mentioned above, perhaps most notably the somewhat misogynistic Sam Peckinpah film The Straw Dogs (1971), and naturally John Carpenter's seminal Halloween (1978). David Fincher's Panic Room (2002) also comes to mind. Lesser known examples of the "invasion" theme include the effective Italian giallo Torso (1973), and the Austrian film Funny Games (1997) directed and written by Michael Haneke, who remade the film basically shot-by-shot in 2007, this time in English. In terms of suspense, The Strangers definitely measures up to any of these films, and most certainly in terms of the horror element this one delivers quite a jolt. Those of us who follow the horror and suspense genres tend to be a forgiving bunch. Rare is the horror production that bothers with unnecessary elements like character development, professional acting, a sense of believability, etc. Not that The Strangers is perfect (WHY do characters in peril always insist on separating?), but at least the couple in question exhibits reasonably believable behavior under the frightening circumstances. When James (Scott Speedman) and Kristen (Liv Tyler) arrive home during the early morning hours following a wedding reception, some uninvited guests make their presence known. Though seemingly a case of a mistaken young girl knocking on the wrong house's door, it soon becomes apparent that the visit was very deliberate, not accidental. The remainder of the film follows James and Kristen as they attempt to save themselves from an attack they do not understand. To his credit, director Bertino seldom allows the viewer a moment to relax, just as it should be in films of this type. Speaking of newbie Bertino, let's hope this is just the beginning; horror fans need filmmakers who understand the attraction of the genre, and this guy clearly gets it. There are a number of interesting touches; without giving too much away I especially like the first moment when the male stranger appears, the use of the Merle Haggard song "Mama Tried," and the moment when a Mormon boy asks one of the strangers if she is a sinner. If you have a fascination with being scared, you cannot go wrong with The Strangers. Everyone else should run the other way. --Eric Somer, 6/28/2008 email this review to a friend
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