ONE HARSH CRITIC: The Strangers

Horror has gone to the dogs. As a lover of the genre, I find it a shame that anymore, horror is all hype and promotion. Gore rules the box office, as special effects replace plot, acting and well... everything. The bloodier the better sales seem to say, but what about genuine scares? Where'd all the scary movies go?

As I get off my soap box, I'd like to point out that THE STRANGERS is at least heading in the right direction. While not entirely successful in its execution, this film definitely is a throwback to the late 70's and early 80's when a handful of films were very scary without the use of CGI and constant massacre.

THE STRANGERS is the story of two young lovers who've gone out to their country house to get away. While James Hoyt (Scott Speedman) wants to use this occasion to celebrate a newly sealed engagement, Kristen (Liv Tyler) spoils it by saying no.

Theirs an awkward air in the country home as the relationship is clearly strained.  Clunky dialogue serves a purpose as these two clearly have no idea what to say to each other. Scenes become exercises in subtext as throwaway lines mean nothing, and everything all at once.

And what brings a couple together faster than being trapped by three bloodthirsty psychopaths? That's right... nothing.

The film wastes no time becoming creepy. Things begin to happen, but the audience sees very little. Much like the theory that JAWS is scarier before the massive man-eater is seen, noises, shadows and music serve to create a fear of the unknown before anyone in a mask is ever revealed.

And the film stays true to that philosophy throughout. Less is more. The killers simply appear, and disappear as though they were simply imagined. Even in the last moments, when all masks have been removed, the film is shot in such a way that you never get a good look at the killers' faces. It's a very effective device.

But while the film was creepy, it just wasn't all that scary. I applaud someone in Hollywood for not going down the orgy of gore path and sticking to a simple plot with very little to work with but shadows and light. Don't go into this one with the expectation of anything other than getting that tingle down your spine with you think you're being watched. Maybe you are.

Speedman has always had a problem with line delivery. I'm sure he's a nice guy, but can someone tell him he mumbles? My wife says you don't need to understand him because he's pretty, but that's not enough for me. It's irritating to no end, but in this film, he has very few lines, so he's tolerable.  It's probably almost as irritating as me not proofreading my articles. I guess we all have to deal.

There's really nothing wrong with this movie. It's creepy, to be sure. It's headed in the right direction. I just don't think it reached its destination. That said at about 80 minutes, it's not a waste of much time to check it out. And once you've seen the other summer blockbusters, I suggest you do just that.

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Josh Gloer, Movie Correspondent

You can find Josh's column One Harsh Critic, published every other Sunday. Tuesday, Wednesday... (who can tell at this point?) at http://oneharshcritic.gather.com/.

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