IMDb > The Strangers (2008)
The Strangers
Quicklinks
Top Links
trailers and videosfull cast and crewtriviaofficial sitesmemorable quotes
Overview
main detailscombined detailsfull cast and crewcompany creditstv schedule
Awards & Reviews
user commentsexternal reviewsnewsgroup reviewsawardsuser ratingsparents guiderecommendationsmessage board
Plot & Quotes
plot summarysynopsisplot keywordsAmazon.com summarymemorable quotes
Fun Stuff
triviagoofssoundtrack listingcrazy creditsalternate versionsmovie connectionsFAQ
Other Info
merchandising linksbox office/businessrelease datesfilming locationstechnical specslaserdisc detailsDVD detailsliterature listingsNewsDesk
Promotional
taglines trailers and videos posters photo gallery
External Links
showtimesofficial sitesmiscellaneousphotographssound clipsvideo clips

The Strangers (2008) More at IMDbPro »

Photos (see all 27 | slideshow) Videos (see all 27 NEW)
The Strangers (2008) -- A young couple staying in an isolated vacation home are terrorized by three unknown assailants.
The Strangers (2008) -- Clip: Man in Mask throws Kristen against the wall
The Strangers (2008) -- Behind the scenes: Truck crashes into car
The Strangers (2008) -- Interview: Scott Speedman "On why the script is scary"
The Strangers (2008) -- A young couple staying in an isolated vacation home are terrorized by three unknown assailants.

Overview

User Rating:
6.1/10   30,944 votes
MOVIEmeter: ?
Up 43% in popularity this week. See why on IMDbPro.
Director:
Bryan Bertino
Writer (WGA):
Bryan Bertino (written by)
Contact:
View company contact information for The Strangers on IMDbPro.
Release Date:
30 May 2008 (USA) more
Genre:
Drama | Horror | Thriller more
Tagline:
Lock the door. Pretend you're safe. more
Plot:
A young couple staying in an isolated vacation home are terrorized by three unknown assailants. full summary | full synopsis
Awards:
2 wins & 7 nominations more
NewsDesk:
(150 articles)
Birthday Suit: Dolph 'the biggest one' Lundgren
 (From FilmExperience. 3 November 2009, 7:06 PM, PST)

Talking The Watcher with Jenna Morasca
 (From Fangoria. 24 October 2009, 10:20 PM, PDT)

User Comments:
A Nutshell Review: The Strangers more (581 total)

Cast

  (Credited cast)

Additional Details

Also Known As:
The Faces (USA) (original script title)
more
MPAA:
Rated R for violence/terror and language.
Runtime:
86 min | 88 min (unrated version)
Country:
USA
Language:
English
Color:
Color
Aspect Ratio:
2.35 : 1 more
Sound Mix:
Dolby Digital | DTS
Company:
Rogue Pictures more

Fun Stuff

Trivia:
Originally scheduled for release in summer 2007. After 2 delays, it was released May 30, 2008. more
Goofs:
Continuity: The amount of ice cream in the carton changes throughout the movie. more
Quotes:
[first lines]
Narrator: What you are about to see is inspired by true events. According to the FBI, there are an estimated 1.4 million violent crimes in America each year. On the night of February 11, 2005, Kristen McKay and James Hoyt left a friend's wedding reception and returned to the Hoyt family's summer home. The brutal events that took place there are still not entirely known.
more
Movie Connections:
Featured in "20 to 1: Sizzling Superstars (#8.15)" (2009) more
Soundtrack:
At My Window Sad and Lonely more

FAQ

When does the DVD come out?
When James returns to the house, how does he not hear the strangers making all of that noise?
A Note Regarding Spoilers
more
44 out of 80 people found the following comment useful.
A Nutshell Review: The Strangers, 5 July 2008
7/10
Author: DICK STEEL from Singapore

So when Underworld co-star Kate Beckinsale got to make a horror/thriller with Vacancy while waiting for the green light on a possible Underworld pre/sequel, Scott Speedman too had to do something equivalent, and so got himself signed up with The Strangers, written and directed by Bryan Bertino, which takes a fictional look at what it purports to be based on true events with regards to the senseless acts of violence committed against James Hoyt (Speedman) and Kristen McKay (Liv Tyler).

Whether it be real or not, it takes its time to tell you that more than 1.4 million violent crimes happen on average in the USA, which of course works out to be... hell a lot. And it puts this at the back of your mind that it could happen to just about anyone, which after watching the movie, you'd more or less agree, given its less than sophisticated means of attack. Ss with all horror movies coming out of Tinseltown these days, it's the usual in-your-face slasher flicks / torture porn that get made, going one up against each other through being creative with weapons, blood and gore. Here it kept things simple, using common household tools against you.

It's a movie without a lot of dialog between the characters, given that the assailants do not speak with one another, or lapse into the usual monologue with their victims. They do what they need to do quickly when the time calls for it, otherwise their theatrics allow the filmmakers to max out the surround sound system in the theatre with plenty of running about, throwing of stuff against doors/windows, together with testing out their light and shadow play thoroughly. And technically, you've got to tip your hat towards its flawless execution (pardon the pun).

The backstory to the characters of Kristen and James show us that while they are a loving couple, James' premature proposal to Kristen, and her rejection, put them in an awkward situation where he had plenty of yes-I-do aftermath activities planned out, such as a night at his parent's summer home, and a road trip thereafter, all thrown into disarray. They still reach that home away from home, but are not really communicating with each other. And with observed weakness comes opportunity for the perpetrators to complete their surveillance, and launch their systematic attack.

Which for the first hour, it almost became the Liv Tyler show, as she single-handedly holds your attention with her frantic looks and powerful lungs, while trying to wish it all away as a bad dream. Bryan Bertino succeeds in driving through the tension and fear of having unknown strangers in an unfamiliar home, and at 4am in the morning with their constant knocking and mischievous, deadly pranks, can really take its toil on you. There are loopholes of course in this story, such as failure to hold ground, and to never, ever split up, but I guess these folks never learn from the many horror movies that preceded it.

So when it went into its final 20 odd minutes, you can sense a feeling of dread, both for the characters, and the rather repetitive run-hide-seek continuum. Like Michael Haneke's Funny Games, there never is a rationale shared with the audience even though they continuously dish out violence, and while Haneke's villains were rather chatty, the ones here never bother to talk any more than they should, and coupled with their childish masks, make them a bit more terrifying when they come out of the dark.

Not a masterpiece, and surely less intellectual than Funny Games, but definitely has its moments, and managed to send some chills down unsuspecting spines, like that row of punks sitting on the same row as me and actually squirmed at their seats.

Was the above comment useful to you?
more (581 total)

Message Boards

Discuss this movie with other users on IMDb message board for The Strangers (2008)
Recent Posts (updated daily)User
a terrible remake of a good foreign film shiner310
I dig this movie, but (spoliers) grudgefury
Any weird people knock on your door? CONTINUATION! ohhi7864
A year later after seeing this.. (SPOILERS) clayface83
Dollface Whispering...What did She Say? snakeshark
Man in the mask Nitroglycerminh
more

Recommendations

If you enjoyed this title, our database also recommends:
- - - - -
Halloween Profondo rosso Tenebre Black Christmas Friday the 13th
IMDb User Rating:
IMDb User Rating:
IMDb User Rating:
IMDb User Rating:
IMDb User Rating:
Show more recommendations

Related Links

Full cast and crew Company credits External reviews
News articles IMDb Drama section IMDb USA section
Add this title to MyMovies

You may report errors and omissions on this page to the IMDb database managers. They will be examined and if approved will be included in a future update. Clicking the 'Update' button will take you through a step-by-step process.