by Thomas Ferguson

So, you say you like to be scared? Looks like Halloween is coming a little early this year.  The Strangers is the latest horror film to make its way onto the big screen and take my word for it, prepare to scream.

Kristen McKay (Liv Tyler) and James Hoyt (Scott Speedman) are a young couple who are supposed to be having the time of their lives. Instead, they are getting the scare of their lives as three mysterious and masked intruders terrorize them in an isolated summer home.

The setup is not that spectacular, but believe me when I say, this movie delivers the scares. It begins with a little exposition into this couple’s relationship. There is a little tension between them. In a scene, we are shown what could be causing the discord. 

Before an explanation can be given, all hell breaks loose as the couple start to hear terrifying noises from outside.  Those noises make their way inside along with the three masked strangers.

The trailers for this movie were creepy, but I feared that would be the extent of it. Horror movies aren’t having the best time right now…Prom Night ‘08. Luckily, this movie delivers on every level. There are terrifying thrills and blood-curdling chills. This movie kept me on edge the whole time.

What drives the scares for this movie is the heart-pounding sound effects and the creepy silences. The masked maniacs have really no motivation for what they are doing, just an animalistic desire to torture and murder. This fact only adds to the tension.

Also, the fact that this story was inspired by true events adds to it’s overall scare factor.  The Strangers was a disturbing, yet effective horror movie.