Dir. Bryan Bertino
Writ. Bryan Bertino
Act. Liv Tyler, Scott Speedman

Although it was made three years ago, a simple home invasion movie like this is always effective.

"The Strangers" is about a couple, James, played by Scott Speedman (Underworld), and Kristen, played by Liv Tyler (Jersey Girl), which come back from a wedding one night to the dude's family summer home. There, a knock at the door at 4 a.m. interrupts there emotional problems since Kirsten shoots down James' marriage proposal. We don't know exactly why except, "I'm just not ready."

Anyways, once this teenage gal shows up at the door, she and an older dude and an older woman, all masked with different devices, proceed to scare the living crap out of the couple. Get break inside and scare them inside the house, outside the house and in the family barn.

The gruesome threesome waits til morning and that's when the torture begins. Basically, the movie is one big message not to ever, ever, ever answer the door when someone knocks at it.

Especially at 4 a.m. … in South Carolina. Stupid ass.

The movie was very simple as far as plot. Three psycho f*ckers terrorize a couple just cause they were home. The backstory between James and Kristen allowed us to identify with them quickly, which was important, but they didn't push it too hard and provided the setting for a valid tender moment between them before the actual slaying began.

Both Tyler and Speedman did very well. Especially when switching gears from their emotional strife to just plain survival.

Director Bryan Bertino also did well to not overdo his scares. There was legitimate creepiness and there were legitimate jumps. Everything was well established and visually told well, with only one very predictable moment with another groomsman from the wedding answering a distress call.

There were a couple of conventions we've seen in other terror movies, but for the most part, "The Strangers" did its best to be unique.

Overall, I say this is a solid night at the movies (or a rental) for a couple who feels like jumping into each other's laps. I would actually suggest trying to catch this one in the cinemas, even in the $1 theaters.

Benn - Where's the Humanity?