The Strangers (2008) (Collector's Edition)

[The Great Owl]

Originally Posted by Jay Mammoth

Says the guy with classics like Jaws 2, Twister, and Masters Of The Universe in his collection lmao.

The Strangers is awesome.

I love The Strangers, and I always have. I also love the marvelous sequel, which is equally good, but in different ways.

But don't be putting down Twister and Jaws 2, man.

Jaws 2 has a shark taking down a helicopter. A shark taking down a helicopter! How can anybody possibly diss that film?
...and Twister has a twister. Fine films...the whole lot of 'em.

[OneWayFilms]

Originally Posted by Spooked

I decided to rent this movie before purchasing, and thank God. I don't understand - how were the reviews not all terrible? For those of you that enjoy the film, I'm glad you got a Collector's Edition, but it's a good lesson for me when tempted to blind buy a movie. It wasn't even 'enjoyably bad.'

*is completely bewildered*

Personal taste is such a wide range to journey. There are movie classics that are beloved by millions of people, but you'll always find a few critics who can never understand it's appeal to them. And then you have some Hollywood bombs that build a huge cult following who swear it's the greatest film ever made.

it's OK if you don't like or care for a movie. I already looked into your collection and found a few I don't care for either. And again....that's still OK.

That's what makes America so great. We don't all have to agree with each other, as long as we respect one another.

[critterdvd]

Originally Posted by The Great Owl

But don't be putting down Twister and Jaws 2, man.

Jaws 2 has a shark taking down a helicopter. A shark taking down a helicopter! How can anybody possibly diss that film?
...and Twister has a twister. Fine films...the whole lot of 'em.

I actually prefer Jaws 2 to Jaws...

[Spooked]

Originally Posted by The Great Owl

I love The Strangers, and I always have. I also love the marvelous sequel, which is equally good, but in different ways.

But don't be putting down Twister and Jaws 2, man.

Jaws 2 has a shark taking down a helicopter. A shark taking down a helicopter! How can anybody possibly diss that film?
...and Twister has a twister. Fine films...the whole lot of 'em.

No defense for Masters of the Universe? (No - I know that movie's bad, but I grew up with a He-Man toothbrush. I kind of have to like it. Besides it has Frank Langella. The rest of the cast though... *coughs* Courteney Cox? )

I had put The Strangers on my watch list ages ago and was just shocked, I guess. I was hoping to like it more than I did. At the end of the day, I'm apparently more of a 'rubber monster suit' guy.

[Jay Mammoth]

Originally Posted by Spooked

No defense for Masters of the Universe? (No - I know that movie's bad, but I grew up with a He-Man toothbrush. I kind of have to like it. Besides it has Frank Langella. The rest of the cast though... *coughs* Courteney Cox? )

I had put The Strangers on my watch list ages ago and was just shocked, I guess. I was hoping to like it more than I did. At the end of the day, I'm apparently more of a 'rubber monster suit' guy.

I grew up on He-Man as well, had all the figures and castles, the slime pit. It was my favorite cartoon and toyline, I was pissed when I seen The Masters Of The Universe in theatres though, it was horrible lol

[Member-222782]

I never saw this in theaters. Kind of wanted to but I'm burned out on crappy modern horror films that are either derivative (ideas stolen from other, better movies) or use gimmicks to tell a story; In this case, shaky cam. So I took advantage of a price drop and blind bought this a couple of months ago and just now finished watching it. My instincts were spot on: this is derivative junk. I'm guessing this was shot digitally. Let me tell ya - shaky cam and digital photography DO NOT MIX. That's problem numero uno. Number 2: this premise was fresh and was better handled (much better handled) by the French flick this film is derivative of, which is "ils" ("Them"). Anyone on the fence with The Strangers, I recommend seeking out ils instead. My other issues with this film have to do with boring characters and stupid things those characters do, apathy for their plight, lack of real suspense, etc. I'll just write this off as a reasonably cheap mistake in judgment.

[Worship.my.wreck]

Originally Posted by Cinema84

I never saw this in theaters. Kind of wanted to but I'm burned out on crappy modern horror films that are either derivative (ideas stolen from other, better movies) or use gimmicks to tell a story; In this case, shaky cam. So I took advantage of a price drop and blind bought this a couple of months ago and just now finished watching it. My instincts were spot on: this is derivative junk. I'm guessing this was shot digitally. Let me tell ya - shaky cam and digital photography DO NOT MIX. That's problem numero uno. Number 2: this premise was fresh and was better handled (much better handled) by the French flick this film is derivative of, which is "ils" ("Them"). Anyone on the fence with The Strangers, I recommend seeking out ils instead. My other issues with this film have to do with boring characters and stupid things those characters do, apathy for their plight, lack of real suspense, etc. I'll just write this off as a reasonably cheap mistake in judgment.

Uhhh.....

I'm not sure what movie you were watching, but the Strangers is not a found footage film, and there is no "shaky cam" effects....

[Member-222782]

Originally Posted by Worship.my.wreck

Uhhh.....

I'm not sure what movie you were watching, but the Strangers is not a found footage film, and there is no "shaky cam" effects....

The filmmakers were going for a documentary style so the camera is always moving. It doesn't suit this film at all.

[Worship.my.wreck]

Originally Posted by Cinema84

The filmmakers were going for a documentary style so the camera is always moving. It doesn't suit this film at all.

What in the world are you talking about?

[Member-222782]

Originally Posted by Worship.my.wreck

What in the world are you talking about?

Never mind lol

[OneWayFilms]

Originally Posted by Cinema84

I never saw this in theaters. Kind of wanted to but I'm burned out on crappy modern horror films that are either derivative (ideas stolen from other, better movies) or use gimmicks to tell a story; In this case, shaky cam. So I took advantage of a price drop and blind bought this a couple of months ago and just now finished watching it. My instincts were spot on: this is derivative junk. I'm guessing this was shot digitally. Let me tell ya - shaky cam and digital photography DO NOT MIX. That's problem numero uno. Number 2: this premise was fresh and was better handled (much better handled) by the French flick this film is derivative of, which is "ils" ("Them"). Anyone on the fence with The Strangers, I recommend seeking out ils instead. My other issues with this film have to do with boring characters and stupid things those characters do, apathy for their plight, lack of real suspense, etc. I'll just write this off as a reasonably cheap mistake in judgment.

I respect your views and opinion. You wrote out why you didn't like it and no one can tell you that your personal opinion is wrong.....only that they disagree with it.

I never saw THEM, I just looked it up on YouTube and watched the trailer, your right, it seems to be another version of the same set up and story. Many movies do that. Just like when Ju-on was released, so they made an American version and called it The Grudge. I'm suprised we didn't get an American version of The Babadook, perhaps it stands good enough on it's own.

I personally LOVED 'The Strangers' and to this day consider it ONE of my personal all-time favorite scariest movies. I love how they took a slow-paced approach and allowed the suspense build slowly, instead of many modern horror movies that just go for jump scare after jump scare.

The suspense in The Strangers built tension that was so intense, I was holding my breath and clutching my seat throughout much of the film. It left me drained and exhausted from the tension.

While I can respect your opinion and review on this film, I also respectfully DISAGREE with it. All I can say is 'To each his own'. One man's trash is another man's treasure. Sorry it failed you, but it HAS succeeded in building a very large fan base and it was considered a box office success.

[Jay Mammoth]

The Strangers is awesome, definitely one of the best blind buys I ever made.

[MifuneFan]

My God this movie was absolutely terrible. Just plain idiotic, and not scary at all. I felt zero tension whatsoever. I hated both Liv Tyler's casting, and her dumber than bricks character. The movie was only like 80 mins long, but it felt like 3 hours of agony.

The French film Ils (They) did it way better. This just comes off as a poor ripoff. I heard good things about this, so I've wanted to check it out for a while now, but nothing worked at all for me.

[kraven]

At this point they've done just about every angle on the home invasion idea you could possibly think of. That said I have to say I love the strangers, I like them as well, but like strangers better.

If you didn't like the strangers don't let that stop you from checking out the sequel. Totally different vibe abandoning the slow burn for more of a straight up slasher feel.

[MifuneFan]

Originally Posted by kraven

At this point they've done just about every angle on the home invasion idea you could possibly think of. That said I have to say I love the strangers, I like them as well, but like strangers better.

If you didn't like the strangers don't let that stop you from checking out the sequel. Totally different vibe abandoning the slow burn for more of a straight up slasher feel.

Yeah, I'm very eager to check out the sequel, which I hear is pretty good,

[ArrestedDevelopment]

First 30 min is pretty solid with some great tension but then it just drags on and turns into a mess. Liv Tyler screaming for 90 min doesn't help either.

5/10

[critterdvd]

Originally Posted by MifuneFan

Yeah, I'm very eager to check out the sequel, which I hear is pretty good,

The sequel is a lot of fun. IMO it's actually more of an effective film than the original... once it gets going, it is relentless to the end.

[MifuneFan]

Originally Posted by critterdvd

The sequel is a lot of fun. IMO it's actually more of an effective film than the original... once it gets going, it is relentless to the end.

I did get around to seeing it last year. I enjoyed it a lot more, though right now I can't remember too much other than that swimming pool scene, which was done really well.

[bigdaddyhorse]

While the sequel was fun, it really didn't fit that well with the original. The killers were just too brazen and careless in it. It was almost like they had a death wish and wanted to get killed themselves, where they were slick and calculated the first film.

Someone on a thread had an interesting theory on that though, that it wasn't the killers at all, but some copycats who saw the real ones on the news or something. Although if that's the case, who lived, or witnessed, to tell about the masks?

Fun flick, but completely different in near every aspect.

[redrunner97]

Maybe they weren't the same killers from the first film? Just the same costumes.