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Common Sense Note
Parents need to know that plenty of blood is spilled in this grisly, tense, very scary horror movie. Characters are stabbed, beaten, and shot, often very graphically. That said, unlike many others in the horror genre, the film doesn't sexualize its terror, and the characters in peril aren't just sacrificial lambs -- the filmmakers make you care about them. Some teens who aren't necessarily gung-ho horror fans may be drawn in by stars Liv Tyler and Scott Speedman -- but even though the film is well-made and, by the standards of the genre, "tasteful," there's still plenty of shocking violence and high-strung tension (not to mention some swearing, drinking, and smoking), making it better suited for older viewers with strong nerves.
Families can talk about what makes a "good" horror film and what makes a "bad" one? Why do we seek out the artificially induced sense of apprehension and stress that horror films offer us? Why is it so much fun to be scared at the movies? Also, many horror films depict random grisly crimes -- do you think these movies reflect the reality of violent crime, or do they create (and possibly perpetuate) myths and misperceptions?
Common Sense Review
Reviewed By: James Rocchi
After a wedding reception, James (Scott Speedman) and Kristen (Liv Tyler) make their way to his family's home in the country. They're clearly upset, and viewers see in flashback how, earlier that night, they had a mild falling out that they're now trying to work through. But then a stranger repeatedly comes to the door in the wee hours of the morning asking for someone who isn't there. And as their isolated home comes under siege from three masked strangers with evil intentions, James and Kristen realize that they've got bigger problems.
Watching THE STRANGERS, it's clear that writer-director Bryan Bertino has studied the classic horror directors: There are hints of everyone from Alfred Hitchcock to Wes Craven in his camera work, composition, and editing. He also takes the time to establish his lead characters as people we're interested in, not just disposable victims; Speedman and Tyler both make their roles (no pun intended) come alive. And when the scary stuff starts, it's very scary stuff -- plenty of jumps and jolts and moments when you'll be shouting at the screen.
Much like the recent Funny Games, much of The Strangers revolves around the threat of random terror coming to (and through) your front door; James and Kristen haven't done anything to deserve their torment at the hands of the three intruders aside from being home -- which is fairly terrifying to contemplate. The Strangers is violent, visceral stuff, to be sure, but it's also well-made and more thoughtful than it could have been; weighed against the gory, boring Hostel and Saw films, The Strangers feels like a chilling breath of fresh air. Sure, the film includes an all-too-standard set-up for a sequel, but at the same time, while it's happening, The Strangers works as a well-made example of a film that delivers the squirmy, spooky, artificially-induced anxiety we hope to feel when we go to a horror film.
Mature fans of this type of scary movie might also enjoy Funny Games and Panic Room.
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Sexual ContentCharacters kiss, with the suggestion that they're about to have sex (underthings are removed, pants unbuckled) ... before other events intrude on the mood. |
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ViolenceBeatings, stabbings, and shootings, with plenty of suspense building up to each violent act. Each act is shown in full, along with the grim aftermath. Extensive physical peril, copious amounts of blood, brief-yet-graphic shots of grievously wounded and dead bodies. People are beaten senseless then dragged; characters are shown with wounds and injuries; characters are repeatedly stabbed onscreen while tied and helpless. |
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LanguageLanguage includes a few non-sexual uses of "f--k," plus "bitch" and "sucks." |
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Social BehaviorVillains terrorize their victims randomly, just because they're there. |
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CommercialismNo prominent brands/products. |
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Drug/Alcohol/TobaccoCharacters drink champagne and beer; Tyler's character smokes cigarettes. |
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