Review: Fear, not gore, gives ‘Strangers’ edge

Directed by: Bryan Bertino

Starring: Liv Tyler, Scott Speedman, Gemma Ward, Kip Weeks, Laura Margolis, Glenn Howerton

Rated: R

There are three title characters in director Bryan Bertino’s debut thriller “The Strangers,” and they speak maybe a half dozen lines in total.

But Bertino, who also wrote the screenplay, makes sure what they do say is affecting – short simple statements such as “You’re going to die, you know,” “Because you were home,” and “Next time, it’ll be easier.”

Bertino had worked as a gaffer and grip on low-budget films and was surprised when he pitched his screenplay to Rogue Pictures. They wanted him to direct it.

While the latest trend in horror is “the more gore, the scarier” (“Hostel,” “Saw”), Bertino uses the fear of the unknown as the basis for his horror. “The Strangers” pays tribute to home-invasion movies from Sam Peckinpah’s “Straw Dogs” to the more recent “Ils.” Much has been said that, while not acknowledged, Bertino has simply remade the French “Ils,” released in 2006. The films are quite similar and both claim to be inspired by true events. Film buffs speculate these events might be the Manson murders in 1969 or the incident that saw three teens murdering an Austrian couple at their vacation home in the Czech Republic.

“The Strangers” opens with a flash-forward to events at the end of the story but doesn’t give everything away.

Kristen (Liv Tyler) and James (Scott Speedman) have just attended a friend’s wedding and are going to spend the night in James’ family’s country vacation home. All is not well, as we see James propose to Kristen only to be turned down. But, they are going to spend the night before heading back to the city.

While trying to figure out where their relationship is headed, there’s a knock at the door. It’s 4 a.m., not a likely time for a friendly visit.

A young girl, who looks to be wasted – either emotionally or by drugs – simply asks, “Is Tamara home?”

Even after assuring her she has the wrong house, Kristen and James continue to catch glimpses of the girl in the yard. After she seems to disappear, James decides to go to the local quick-mart for some cigs. Horror movie fans will wonder why Kristen doesn’t go with him, but that’s beside the point.

While James is gone, more knocks come on the door, phone lines are cut, electricity goes off. In the first of several jump-out-of-your-seat moments, a figure appears in a window, almost out of camera frame. No invasion starts yet, merely the hints of one. When James returns, Kristen tries to explain what has been going on, and then the havoc begins to break loose.

A shotgun blast provides an interesting plot twist, and cars get rammed, windows get broken, doors get axed. It’s fairly late in the 90-minute film when finally we see all of the title characters together in one scene.

Director of photography Peter Sova – who has worked on Barry Levinson films (“Diner,” “Tin Men,” “Good Morning, Vietnam”) as well as the crime dramas “Donnie Brasco” and “Lucky Number Slevin” – is new director Bertino’s strongest ally. His cinematography adds a lot to the overall tension.

You’ll have to see how it all plays out, but as a word of warning: If you’re going to see “The Strangers” at night, leave a lot of lights on at home. When you return, if anything looks different than you left it, don’t go in. Unlike the characters in this kind of film, you have seen horror movies and know when to trust your instincts.

“The Strangers” had that effect on me. It’s a good, creepy movie, and I look forward to Bertino’s next project.

Family Summer Series

Starting June 4, Wehrenberg’s Campbell 16 Ciné begins its Family Summer Series 2008 and will be offering free movies, two days a week, throughout the summer.

“We wanted to make something fun to do for kids and their families for the entire summer,” Campbell 16 manager Denny Goins said. “We’re going to offer a family film, rated G or PG, and we’re not going to charge any admission. We’re doing this to give something to the community and have a great family film series.”

In recent years the theater has offered discounted family films throughout the summer, but this year they’re free.

Goins also said, “I guess I would be remiss to say we’re not trying to make money at it, because we will make money on concessions. And the idea of having it free means we will have more people coming in.”

Goins pointed out that patrons are able to purchase discount cards at the theater box office that will be valid throughout the series and offer substantial savings at the concession stand.

Shows are at 10 a.m. and noon on Wednesdays and Thursdays June 4–Aug. 14, excepting July 4 and 5.

The schedule is:

June 4–5: “Daddy Day Camp”

June 11–12: “Barnyard”

June 18–19: “Alvin and the Chipmunks”

June 25–26: “Mr. Magorium’s Wonder Emporium”

July 9–10: “Charlotte’s Web”

July 16–17: “The Pirates Who Don't Do Anything: A VeggieTales Movie”

July 23–24: “Bee Movie”

July 30–31: “The Spiderwick Chronicles”

Aug. 6–7: “Shrek the Third”

Aug. 13–14: “Dr. Seuss’ Horton Hears a Who!”

For information, call (417) 890-8457 or go to www.wehrenberg.com.

Jim Wunderle owns Wunderle Sound Services and is a Springfield freelance writer and musician. He can be reached at info@wunderlesound.com.[[In-content Ad]]