“What you are about to see is based on true events,” warns a stern, ominous voice at the start of “The Strangers” — a voice that sounds eerily like the one heard during the opening credits of TV’s “Law and Order.”
More Top Picks Ridgid R86009k
The movie that follows is entirely a work of fiction — to be clear, none of this ever happened — but first-time writer-director Bryan Bertino, who is gunning for a raw, unforgiving horror picture in the style of 1970s shockers, knows that claiming his story is true is automatically going to make people curious.
The trick works: Ever since the trailer for “The Strangers” was released earlier this year, the Internet has been abuzz with people trying to dig up the details of the real-life incident that inspired the film. But what “The Strangers” really is based on is “Straw Dogs,” “Funny Games” and a dash of last year’s “Vacancy.”
– – –
The Strangers !!
Who’s in it: Liv Tyler, Scott Speedman, Glenn Howerton, Gemma Ward, Kip Weeks, Laura Margolis
What it’s about: A young couple, James (Speedman) and Kristen (Tyler) are besieged by a trio of mask-wielding intruders while spending a night at the remote home of James’ father.
Worth watching? “[Director Bryan] Bertino is more than a little skilled at rattling your nerves and making you jump out of your seat … But there’s a reason why the audience at a recent preview screening of ‘The Strangers’ shrieked and screamed throughout the film, then booed when the credits rolled. There’s only so much nihilism an audience can take without some kind of relief.” [ RENE RODRIGUEZ, THE MIAMI HERALD ]