The Strangers

  • 2008


MOVIE IS effective sophisticated terrifying original corrective
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38 %
48 % Rotten
$ 0 Million
See Where to Watch The Strangers
Positive Reviews 56
Negative reviews 52
Average Rating 2.6/5
effective sophisticated terrifying original corrective

  • All
  • Positive
  • Negative
4.5
It doesnt get much better than the first couple of reels, which set an ominous mood without having to get too explicit. Av Club
2.0
It sounds stupid enough, and ultimately is, but the director, Bryan Bertino, stages The Strangers early scenes with spooky panache. EW
1.9
The movie deserves more stars for its bottom line craft, but all the craft in the world cant redeem its story. Rogerebert
4.5
Tylers Kristen McKay is none the wiser, and that the scene doesnt lead to an instant slash of bloody violence is mostly incidental. Indie Wire
4.5
Yet a film like this may be just the bracing corrective the modern horror film needs. Austin Chronicle
4.5
Much of this comes from Rogers Seinfeldian Manhattanite Richard, whose impeccable comic timing almost single handedly saves this weekend whine fest fr .. Austin Chronicle
1.7
This suspense film by first time writer director Bryan Bertino initially squeezes some surprisingly effective scares out of familiar elements. Sadly, .. Time Out
3.8
As with last years lean, mean B movie Vacancy, Bryan Bertinos The Strangers is a white knuckle thriller in which a couple going through relationship d ..
1.5
I like watching snakes eat mice just as much as the next fella, maybe even more, but The Strangers turns the gobble em up into an ordeal. Its a fraud ..
4.0
Bryan Bertinos debut feature The Strangers is an effectively grim, exceedingly well made horror thriller. Screen Daily
3.0
Yet a film like this may be just the bracing corrective the modern horror film needs.
4.0
The movie is derivative as hell, but Bertino shows a good deal of craft if not as a writer, then as a director. E Film Critic
2.0
There are enough flaws on display in The Strangers to keep it from ever generating the necessary suspense to prevent viewers from noticing those flaws .. E Film Critic
3.8
A film to unnerve us enough to either buy some extra deadbolts or kill the next bastard who walks across our lawn. E Film Critic
1.5
Choosing to clothe his whole movie in the outr frocks of a bad Technicolor romance, Ozon serves up camp fun, but thats it. Telegraph
1.3
Heres something new for the new millennium: The we promise theyre dead genre. San Francisco Chronicle
3.0
An effective, scary emotional work out, but perhaps you can have too much paranoid despair.
3.0
Every silence, pause and sudden noise startles and the results, frankly, are more frightening than the graphic torture scenes in movies like Hostel an .. Ny Daily News
3.5
An extremely effective claustrophobic horror picture that starts slow but ultimately provides us with plenty of suspense all the way through to its ve .. JoBlo
3.8
To get us in the mood, the Hoyt summer home is a sprawling 1970s ranch style dwelling decorated with dark wooden furniture, appropriately tacky knick .. The Globe And Mail
1.3
No one is getting at anything in The Strangers, except the cheapest, ugliest kind of sadistic titillation. Philly
3.0
This ones a neat little chiller that creates fear out of the familiar: dark corners in the room, peepholes that show masked figures, walls that are in ..
2.0
A grisly, morally disreputable cat and mouse exercise that has no point beyond viscerally implicating viewers in the same sadistic game played by the .. One Guys Opinion
2.0
Left me feeling exploited as this vile pretentious thriller never committed itself to being more than a rip off scare flick. Sover
3.8
Its intense but not necessarily fun and may disappoint less sophisticated horror fans. However, for die hard supporters of unsettling peeks into the d .. ReelViews
3.8
Theres nothing more to it than meets the eye, but Bertino understands the mechanics of suspense and knows how to use them. Tv Guide
3.1
Its an outstanding example of the horror/suspense genre, made with a refreshing approach. But it contains elements so creaky and pathetic you want to .. Combust Ible Celluloid
2.0
The theatrical trailer for The Strangers promised a true freak out, an unsettling film with extreme nightmare potential.
3.1
The Strangers has been saddled with an increasingly uneven sensibility that ultimately dulls the movies overall impact. Reel Film Reviews
2.0
The film has no message to impart but it doesnt pretend to, either. Eric Ds Nider
2.8
This movie is far from great, but it did scare the heck out of me quite a few times. I have to give it props for that. News Review
3.0
For most of its length, this is a grippingly unpleasant picture of barbaric, gratuitous evil, stealthier and scarier than Funny Games, to which it bea .. Independent
2.5
This gives the film a tone thats both moodily emotional and portentously scary, augmented by such clever touches as an unscrewed porch light, a clicki .. Shadows On The Wall
4.0
Nerve jangling horror flick that wrings maximum scares out of its simple premise, thanks to strong direction and superb performances from Speedman and .. View London
1.3
Writer and first time director Bryan Bertino wastes his taut, tense premise two lovers, three villains, one house by depending on wearingly familiar t .. News Day
2.0
But to what end Unlike others of his ilk, Bertino doesnt immediately dive into the mayhem. Cs Monitor
0.6
Kind of like what The Shining might be if you took out the ESP. And the ghosts. And the chilling atmosphere. So call it The Sucking. New York Post
1.5
At a certain point, The Strangers devolves into the kind of generic chase picture that slasher flicks frequently become. Film Journal International ..
4.0
If youre a fan of the genre, The Strangers provides all the shocks and scares you could possibly want. Az Central
0.6
Bertino has the pretensions of an artist and the indelicacy of a hack. Boston
1.0
If youve seen the annoying trailer for writer director Bryan Bertinos singularly pointless debut feature, youve seen all the film has to offerminus 88 .. Mountain X
1.5
Its better if youre scared all the time, because, well, I dont know.
1.3
With no plot to speak of, no character development whatsoever, no theme and precious little intrigue, what we have here is simply a pileup of effects. .. Toronto Star
2.0
Theres no denying that The Strangers fulfils its limited objective of showing nasty things happening to defenceless people. For some audiences that ma .. Daily Mail
4.5
Scott Speedman and Liv Tyler are competent even if Bertinos primary objective isnt characterization. Cinema Crazed
1.5
The effect of waiting for something to go bang will give you much the same pleasure without encouraging anyone to make a film like this again. Eye For Film
4.5
The cumulative effect of unexpected knocks at the door, creaking floors, shadows, noises and strange happenings is a heart pounding experience
4.5
The movie is best before the mayhem actually starts: First time writer director Bryan Bertino gets right some priceless details as the couple try to d .. Observer
3.8
Gloriously mature and R rated in a sea of modern day watered down PG 13 genre fare, The Strangers is a sensational suspenser, sure to please horror bu .. The Movie Boy
2.5
Im guessing that first time writer/director Bryan Bertino was inspired to throw in the cell phone that either doesnt work or is left in the car, in or .. Bullz-Eye
4.5
Lasting an apparent eternity, the take demonstrates that Bertino isnt afraid to break with the debased orthodoxies of modern horror cinema. The Irish Times
3.0
Lean, mean and razor edged, this nasty little home invasion thriller drags you by your white knuckles on a horror chill ride while flicking its middle .. Total Film
2.0
Is Hollywood so disconnected from its past and bankrupt of ideas that it doesnt even know this movie is a screaming clich Seattle Pi
3.5
Bertino has created a seriously harrowing cautionary tale thats sure to be remembered the next time youre left in a house by yourself.
3.1
The new chiller The Strangers, sustains this familiar, gut churning feeling of paranoia in something very close to real time: a taut 85 minutes. Groucho Reviews
1.9
The best horror movies connect with our subconscious fears both drawing their power from them and, ultimately, exorcising them and thats what the grea .. Nj
2.0
For a little over half an hour, the movie skillfully turns its hollow screws. Oregon Live
3.0
But the mechanics of keeping an audience on edge and the mild shock moments dont compensate for the serious lack of involving characters. Now Toronto
1.5
A retread of just about every home invasion movie of the past 50 years mixed with elements of torture porn and chick flick romance. Boxoffice Magazine
2.0
The Strangers suffers from lack of originality. Ive seen most of this film in other movies, and as a horror fan, I found little that was new or innova .. Film School Rejects
3.0
Sadly, that impressive head of steam evaporates in a seriously anti climactic finale. Mirror
2.0
But hes essentially sleepwalking through what, at one time, were his passions. Varia Gate
4.5
Once we discover the presence for ourselves, rather than being force fed our reactions, theres a guaranteed shudder. Digital Spy
3.0
Some good chills in this intense offering from first time writer director Bryan Bertino. Cleve Land
1.5
The formula of calm followed by shock is repeated until one tires of the technical polish of Bryan Bertinos directorial debut (with nods towards Funny .. Ft
1.5
Theres less suspense around what these lunatics with sharp implements are doing in this home, than what Tyler and Speedman are doing in this movie. As .. News Blaze
2.0
Inevitably, the cat and mouse game goes on too long and the tension dies a slow death. A bit like Livs career. The Sun
0.0
no edge, no originality, no subtlety, and all the intelligence of a doggie squeak toy Killer Movie Reviews
2.0
Bertino doesnt possess the skill to fashion a suffocating bubble of tension that would magically erase this buffet of pure illogic, which makes Strang .. Brian Or Ndorf
4.4
Theres no better feet on the seat execution for the home invasion genre than this. The Strangers twists the knife with scenes lasting a beat longer th .. The Filmy Ap
4.0
It wrings ever drop of terror it can out of making us identify with doomed people, and suffering as they suffer. That might be nihilistic, but its als .. Antagony & Ecstasy
3.1
For most in the audience, youll be scared many more times than that, and you dont need to suffer through a great deal of gratuitous blood and gore. Waffle Movies
2.5
For a film too goofy to be scary and too clumsy to be fun, even the least discerning splatter fan will find it hard to depend on the violence of The S .. Js Online
1.3
It isnt fair to slasher flicks to compare sneaking around and breathing hard for two hours to the pure body count of your average Friday the 13th inst .. Movie Crypt
1.5
The good thing about the three masked intruders is that they stay masked. This saves their careers. Unfortunately, the same cant be said for Scott Spe .. Hollywood Chicago
4.5
The home invasion thriller is an American standard that doesnt lack for classic variations, from Sam Peckinpahs moralistic masterpiece Straw Dogs (197 .. The Ringer
3.0
Delayed by over a year, but dont let that fool you: this may be lightweight, but it knows what goes bump in the night. Sky
1.0
The usual stupidness ensues. Stay here darling with the axe wielding psychos while I go and get help, says Speedman. Ugh. Entertainment Times Online ..
0.6
We know nothing about Kristen except she doesnt want to get married. Chron
3.0
But it matters not: youve come to be scared and The Strangers doesnt disappoint. The Shiz Nit
3.8
Kudos to Tyler and Speedman for their vulnerable, believable, low key performances and to Bertino for an accomplished exercise in diabolical terror ev .. Post Gazette
1.0
A good scary movie retells a creaky story in a manner that terrifies you afresh. Metro
2.5
A very convincing opening sequence with lots of silence doesnt reveal why James offer was rejected, and it doesnt have to. Scene Stealers
2.0
But I guess its just hard for a movie about characters with bags on their heads to have any real teeth. Streaming Quickflix
1.5
Theres nothing remotely new here, but the movie has the taut, queasy feel of an early 70s drive in shocker: old fashioned suspense without any guarant .. Chicago Reader
1.3
A thinly plotted misfire that gets on the nerves rather than under the skin. Clclt
4.5
Writer director Bertino just wants to scare our pants off, and succeeds admirably. East Bay Express
2.0
But whatever dubious value lies in such an exercise, it was pumped dry long ago, leaving another unduly nasty film with no agenda beyond making its au .. Flip Side Archive
2.5
A lean, effective little exercise in scares. It offers nothing new but is perfect for breaking the ice on a first date. Film4
1.5
After such initial promise, it doesnt take long for The Strangers to become awfully familiar. People
3.0
When guns start appearing its clear there isnt going to be pretty end to this movie based on true events, although the final torture scene doesnt offe .. Future Movies
3.8
This film does not have the shock value of many other horror films, which was a pleasant surprise for my taste. It is scary in the sense that this cou .. Entertainment Spectrum
2.5
A mediocre scare show that just happened to have one of the best trailers of recent times. At two minutes, The Strangers is terrifying; at eighty five .. Aisle Seat
3.1
Bryan Bertinos psycho thriller gets the job done for nearly two thirds of its length. But when it shows its hand, it folds. Boston Phoenix
3.0
Its an efficiently made, appropriately terrifying film, downright minimalist in approach and all the more horrifying for it. Its so basic its believab .. Detroit News
2.5
The real problem is that theres absolutely nothing original here and its obvious they tried to take what works and recycle it. Bloody Disgusting
2.0
Seriously underwritten, depending too much on Liv Tylers abiity to pout, to shriek, to cry and to cry again. Compuserve
1.5
In other words, exactly the picture Pans Labyrinth might have been had it absolutely sucked. Cine Passion
3.8
Anchored by convincing performances from Scott Speedman and Liv Tyler, both of whom elevate their roles above the standard horror movie caricature, th .. Metromix.com
3.0
A crisply made exercise in empty tension, like the stretched edges of an over inflated balloon animal. Metromix.com
1.5
Any good thriller should make you worry about walking through the door and into your dark apartment, but The Strangers may prevent you from ever going .. Ny Press
1.3
...looks like a student film made at a friends house where the only direction given to the cast was to scream. Crazed Fan Boy
0.0
Offers no more enlightenment or catharsis than a drugged insect could expect in the moment before it is skewered by a lepidopterists pin. Commercial Appeal
3.0
Given the two dominant trends in recent American horror meat grinder gore and remakes of Asian films involving creepy pale children this nasty but rat .. Web Archive
1.0
And thats basically it; nothing else much happens until the bloody climax. Ear Of Newt
1.5
The look and feel cinematography, score, original music and sound design, sets and locations are rich, textured, layered and sumptuous. But The Strang .. Horror
2.5
The Strangers is full of cheap scares and unoriginality but does contain an ending that is worthy of a stomach ache beyond belief.
3.0
A good looking, sophisticated, if somewhat pointless addition to the slasher horror genre. This Is London
2.0
The Strangers is one of those inane fright fests that relies upon the victimizers being omniscient and omnipresent while the victims are complete moro .. MSNBC
2.5
Bertino relies too heavily on occasionally nonsensical terror tricks that every horror buff has seen a million times since John Carpenters Halloween s .. Seattle Times
4.4
... The work of a born filmmaker who shows a remarkable command of tone and pace. It is a new classic in its genre ... Maki At The Movies Blogspo ..
4.5
A young woman, whose face isnt glimpsed, because the light bulb in the porch light has been unscrewed, asks for someone who doesnt live there. Knight At The Movies
3.5
While The Strangers certainly doesnt forge any new ground, theres always something to be said for a horror flick that forges old ground colorfully. FEARnet
3.0
Bertino, who comes off as more of a veteran behind the camera than a rookie, gives the film its own identity by slowly building up the action instead .. Wd Times
2.5
For inferior horror films to work, they must be populated with characters who act irrationally at best and downright idiotically at worst. Colorado Springs Gazette
2.5
Ultimately, its an invitation best refused. The Strangers offers a few memorable scares, but it is less chilling in its simplicity than numbing in its .. Rossiter Drake
4.5
THE STRANGERS basically is FUNNY GAMES all over again. Well crafted suspense in which the director refuses to give you the catharsis you seek in order .. LYTRules.com
4.5
The Strangers may not be perfect but its easy to believe that Bertinos next few will be. Its that great a debut.
2.0
The Strangers gets your hopes up with some smart filmmaking but then pretty much dashes them by the final predictable fade out. KPBS.org



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