The Strangers

[Remo D]

Here's another one I was going to skip. But not for my usual "burned out" reasons (just try opening another Asian-horror remake in my neck of the woods and see if I even lift a finger on your behalf). It just so happens that I was recently sent a copy of the French thriller THEM (ILS). It was one thing that they labelled it a 'remake' and set me up to expect giant ants, but that's neither here nor there anymore. This THEM was the story of a couple being terrorized by masked strangers in their home. And so on. And so on. Until it ended. Some critics apparently fell all over themselves praising this as "bold and terrifying." Not me. I thought it was completely ordinary, run-of-the-mill stalk-and-slash fodder which invoked the 'based on a true story' card as so many of them do.

So when I saw the trailer for THE STRANGERS, I didn't accuse it of being a remake or ripoff of THEM--I simply took for granted that it was, indeed, the obligatory American remake, as it looked EXACTLY the same.

Except, apparently, it's a coincidence. First time writer/director Bryan Bertino denies any connection--and to make matters worse, we're STILL going to get the official American remake of THEM. How many times do I need to see this story, official or not?

So with that in mind, I still didn't make any plans to see THE STRANGERS. But I listened when many people I trusted insisted it was very good, indeed.

Okay--it's got to be better than PROM NIGHT, right? I'm there.

I will say this--THE STRANGERS is far, far better than THEM. Yes, the story is nearly identical to a fault. But Bertino really does have the chops--and he really does make this siege far more intense, suspenseful and frightening. There's plenty of skill on display here, and if you're interested it what makes a movie scary (and what doesn't), then here's a great double bill for you.

Even so, that's only good for an hour or so. Even in THE STRANGERS, there comes a point where you realize that the movie isn't nearly over, the stalking and the false hopes are just going to go on like that, and you essentially know from the get-go how it's going to turn out (and no, a gratuitous 'jump' doesn't qualify as genuine 'payoff' for such a downbeat, sadistic setup).

So as much I was hoping to be surprised and shocked by THE STRANGERS, it ultimately reconfirmed my misgivings regarding just how much story it had to offer. In a horror year as deadly as 2008, its good points are simply that much better, and there's far worse garbage making far more money. I'd like to see what Bertino does next--and that's the very best thing I'm going to say about THE STRANGERS.

[Latte Thunder]

One of our writers, Larry, did this movie last week and pretty much said the same thing wout the references to Them.

http://www.cinema-suicide.com/2008/06/0 ... xe-swings/

Oddly, in spite of the "meh" reaction, it made me want to see the movie where before I had no interest. I was convinced that it was another torture porn piece. Even though I'm told that the ending flops and that the entire movie is really nothing to write home about, I can say one thing positive.

At least it was an original horror movie. The theme has been explored to death, but what I mean is that it isn't a remake and there's something to be said about that. I am convinced that they're going to start remaking remakes any day now and horror is just going to be this giant, stinking recycling bin from here on out.