Shot in fourth quarter 2006, Brian Bertino’s The Strangers has gathered dust on Rogue Pictures’ shelf since missing its first release date (July 2007). I figured it moved to get out of the way of that infamous horror juggernaut Captivity, but when it failed to turn up around Halloween, I wrote it off as a troubled film.
Though I’ve yet to see the movie, those delays mean jack shit now that I’ve seen this very spiffy trailer, which suggests that Mr. Bertino has studied up on his John Carpenter. More horror films should exploit the potential of the widescreen like this; there’s nothing more frightening than a figure lurking in the background while a character nervously sweats it out in the foreground. Think of Laurie Strode whimpering as Michael Myers rises up in the room behind her. Those are the kinds of moments Bertino seems to be after with The Strangers.
My only worry is that his blandly beautiful leads, Liv Tyler and Scott Speedman, might render the human drama completely inert. But then I look at the below poster, and I get all excited again.
The Strangers opens May 30th, 2008. You now have an excuse to avoid Sex and the City.
10 comments
I completely forgot about this film, but I remember being relatively intrigued when the first teaser/trailer was released nearly a year ago. This summer ridiculous in terms of the sheer volume of films I'm excited to see.
Cool poster!
This reminds me a lot of the "Them" trailer, which is a great thing since that looks fantastic as well. Oh and that poster is sweet.
I'm glad the poster let me know that it was inspired by true events; now this movie's going to be even scarier.
This looks great. It does look and sound awfully similar to "Ils/Them" but fuck it….this still looks very scary.
And liv tyler blandly beautiful?? thats crazy talk
shes fucking outstanding
What's most remarkable about this trailer is that Speedman and Tyler are both invisible, meaning I didn't identify them until after it was over. That's quite a feat, to take name actors like that and have them not steal the attention and serve as distraction. I was engaged from start to finish. I'm really looking forward to seeing this– it looks totally creepy and atmospheric, relying on suspense rather than buckets of human body parts and blood-splatter. Refreshing, I think.
The only thing bland about her is the way she's just standing there in that scene in the photo. For like ten seconds; just standing there. I do that sometimes. I sometimes just stand around my house, idly. Doing nothing. Wondering if maybe I should put my hands in my pockets. Maybe I shouldn't. Rock on my heels. Nah. Just going to stand here and do absolutely nothing. I sometimes do that. But then, I'm not Liv Tyler, AM I?
I heard something about this. Is this like where you sit on your arm and your hand goes numb. After it is good and lifeless, you jerk off with your temporarily out-of-commission hand and it feels like a "stranger"? Do the people in this flick, like, lose their hands because they got to obsessed with the "stranger" causing their hands to get amputated, due to lack of oxygen reaching their extermities. Now they are hunting out new and better hands to masturbate with? I guess thats why they are stalking Liv Tyler, I mean, I'd rather have her hand jerking me off than my own. Right?
I heard something about this. Is this like where you sit on your arm and your hand goes numb. After it is good and lifeless, you jerk off with your temporarily out-of-commission hand and it feels like a "stranger"? Do the people in this flick, like, lose their hands because they got to obsessed with the "stranger" causing their hands to get amputated, due to lack of oxygen reaching their extermities. Now they are hunting out new and better hands to masturbate with? I guess thats why they are stalking Liv Tyler, I mean, I'd rather have her hand jerking me off than my own. Right?
that was awesome. nice and creepy. favorite part: "because you were home."
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