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The Strangers

(2008, Rated R, Horror, Starring Liv Tyler, Scott Speedman, Glenn Howerton)
  • Is it age appropriate?

    About our ratings

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    Not age appropriate for kids under 17, age appropriate for kids over 17; suggested age 17.
  • Is it any good?

    3.0
  • Common Sense says

    Spooky horror film has both tension and gore.

Why We Rated This not for kids

What to watch out for

  • Messages:

    Villains terrorize their victims randomly, just because they're there.
  • Violence:

    Beatings, 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.
  • Sex:

    Characters kiss, with the suggestion that they're about to have sex (underthings are removed, pants unbuckled) ... before other events intrude on the mood.
  • Language:

    Language includes a few non-sexual uses of "f--k," plus "bitch" and "sucks."
  • Consumerism:

    No prominent brands/products.
  • Drinking, drugs, & smoking:

    Characters drink champagne and beer; Tyler's character smokes cigarettes.
 

What Parents Need to Know

About The Strangers

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.

Did this review help you decide?

Families Can Talk About

  • 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?

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Our Members Say

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See all 30 member reviews

Most Recent Reviews

  1. Teen Reviewer Age 15
    Lives in Massachusetts
    I rate this title off for age 15 and give it 4.0
    My concerns are:
    • Excessive violence
    • Inappropriate sexual content
    • Inappropriate language
    • Drinking, smoking, or drug use

    This movie isn't really as innapropite as people say, I don't really think it deserved "No Kids". In the beggining the people are about to have sex, you can definatly tell, but they are interupted by a knock on the door. There are some things that also imply that they were supposed to have sex. the violence isnt really shown on screen. Someone is shot in the head, all u see is blood on the wall and his face a few times (not that bad). *Spoilers* People are stabbed not really shown, but when it is there is no blood. dead bodies on the ground, a girls (with blood on her) drags herself across the ground) *Spoilers over* a girl cuts her hand. This movie contains about 15 f-words and a couple of other minor words. This is a great movie because its not really violent its just scary. And i think it couldve recieved a PG-13 if the language was cut out.

  2. Parent Reviewer
    I rate this title on for age 17 and give it 3.0
    My concerns are:
    • Excessive violence
    • Negative message

  3. I rate this title iffy for age 13 and give it 3.0

    Good, not great~

    It wasn't boring and it had some scary moments, but it definitely was NOT the scariest movie I've ever seen. I was 14 when I saw this, so it's one of my more recent horror movies, and I don't remember being constantly scared, or even being frightened more then once. It's been about a year, so I could just not be remembering the scary parts. It wouldn't kill me to watch it again; I probably will. :3

  4. Teen Reviewer Age 13
    Lives in Connecticut
    I rate this title and give it 0.0

  5. Teen Reviewer Age 13
    Lives in Connecticut
    I rate this title on for age 12 and give it 0.0

    Awesome movie with little extreme violence

    This movie has only 1 scene of gore and the only reason i say 12+ is because its wicked jumpy. one of the best horror films ever made.

  6. Teen Reviewer Age 14
    Lives in New York
    I rate this title off for age 13 and give it 3.0
    My concerns are:
    • Excessive violence

    Horror flick> Gore

    This movie was creepy, and horrifying because it keeps you on the edge of your seat. The violance is gorey,pursuasive,and not always done by the masked killers.

  7. I rate this title on for age 12 and give it 1.0
    My concerns are:
    • Excessive violence

    It has some graphic violence, but anyone over 12 would be fine. THough they would probably be bored with it.

  8. Teen Reviewer Age 17
    Lives in Kentucky
    I rate this title on for age 15 and give it 3.0
    My concerns are:
    • Inappropriate language

    Was supposed to be frightening, I found the random "scenes" hilarious...

    Well, don't let the cover scare you. Not that scary unless you are afriad of clowns,porcelien dolls, etc. If you watch CSI type stuff, the gore won't get to you. Personally, I thought when they were trying to scare you, found it hilarious because some scenerios were pointless. I'd watch it again, to make fun of it, but if you like getting thrilled the dumb knockings on the door and stuff should give you a rush.

  9. Teen Reviewer Age 16
    Lives in California
    I rate this title iffy for age 13 and give it 4.0

  10. Adult Reviewer
    Lives in New York
    I rate this title on for age 12 and give it 4.0
    My concerns are:
    • Inappropriate language

    good scary triller. this movie was a very scary releaf after all those bloody movies. terrifing and not all bloody. FINALY

  11. Teen Reviewer Age 16
    Lives in Florida
    I rate this title iffy for age 15 and give it 4.0
    My concerns are:
    • Inappropriate sexual content

    Not ok for anyone under 15

    This movie has some violence, but not that much. It is mostly just suspensful. If you like scary movies, see it!

  12. Parent Reviewer
    Lives in New York
    I rate this title on for age 10 and give it 5.0

    So good!

    very good movie for 10+. classic horror flick. mild violence and language

  13. Adult Reviewer
    Lives in North Carolina
    I rate this title off for age 16 and give it 1.0

    Pointless

    This movie didn't have much of a plot, it was just a bunch of senseless gore. It was pretty scary, but mostly it just left me feeling sick to my stomach. Total waste of money.

  14. Teen Reviewer Age 14
    Lives in Maine
    I rate this title on for age 14 and give it 5.0

    REALLY FREAKING SCCARY

    THIS MOVIE IS REALLY SCARY. I ALMOST CRAPPED IN MY PANTS WATCHING IT. But, I think any 14 year-old could watch it and not be scarred for life.

  15. I rate this title iffy for age 10 and give it 3.0

    One word: AHHHHHHHH!!!

    Very, Very, VERY creepy!!!!! This kept me up all night. It was too, too gorey for anyone under 10. A lot of suspense, but not too much.

  16. Teen Reviewer Age 14
    Lives in Rhode Island
    I rate this title iffy for age 2 and give it 3.0

    Scary movie!

    I thought that the movie was really scary, with many jumps. 3 people were killed in the movie, but there was peril and suspense throughout. The last few minutes were graphic with violence, and the last 15 seconds had something that didn't make me rate this movie r5 stars.

  17. Adult Reviewer
    I rate this title off for age 8 and give it 0.0

    I Regretted

    The suspense started building up at the very beginning,but when it was nearing the end of the movie, you really hope that it would not end, not because that the movie was good but because it seems that the show was going to end without a story. And true enough, there was no storyline, I really didn't understand what was the purpose of the killing amd torturing. I definitely regretting watching it and wouldn't even want anyone to know I watched it.....

  18. Adult Reviewer
    I rate this title off for age 13 and give it 1.0

    Keeps you Watching then you wish you hadn't

    The movie strangers started out good. The knocks on the door were frightning but the whole movie was just two people running in and out of the house. The masks made the movie more scary and just the fact that the masked people kept poping up that would actully creep you out. i noticed alot of things that were wrong in the movie like the fact that the knocks on the door start at 4 in the morning and its pitch black the whole movie.Also you can talk on the phone while it is charging. The irreated me to.I wish i hadn't watched it!

  19. Teen Reviewer Age 15
    Lives in California
    I rate this title iffy for age 2 and give it 3.0

    Good Watch

    This movie is not just another teen horror flick. It's deeper than that, but still very good. The gore is minimal but had myself and my friend at the edge of our seats the whole time. Watch this if you like a great thriller.

  20. Teen Reviewer Age 15
    Lives in Tennessee
    I rate this title iffy for age 2 and give it 5.0

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