Film Review
This film was written and Directed by Bryan Bertino. When Bryan was a kid, one night a stranger came to his door and asked to speak to someone they had never heard of. His family later found out that empty houses in the area had been burgled that night. So it begins...
We see Kristen and James (Liv Tyler and Scott Speedman respectively) arrive at their summer house one evening, mid-argument when they hear a knock at the door. They open it to find a woman standing on the doorstep, her face obscured by the darkness. “Is Tamara home?” she asks. They tell her she has the wrong house so she leaves. Boyfriend James then goes out to buy cigarettes and leaves Kristen alone. Pretty soon the woman comes back a’knocking, still asking for Tamara, but Kristen is a bit creeped out, understandably, and doesn’t open the door. Now, if this were you, changing your clothes would probably be the last thing on your mind but, cue obligatory nude scene! Pretty good one too if you like Liv Tyler, definitely worth the money you spend on renting the DVD!
This is the point where you first get a glimpse of a Stranger in the mask, lurking behind Kristen. This is authentically creepy. And I mean, ear-achingly surprising. There’s nothing better in scary films where the killer just stands there staring, like they’re daring their victim to run and make it more fun for them, but this is normally when killer and victim are face to face. Here, before they even properly introduce themselves, they’re in her house, hiding in the shadows. This definitely has a feel of Funny Games to it, making you suddenly feel like your own home is the most unsafe place in the world.
Some people didn’t like the ending but I don’t need to know why a killer kills. In fact, “they’re just crazy” is the best excuse of all. There doesn’t need to be any reason or rhyme. If you like a lot of running around, stabbing, screaming, Liv Tyler naked, killers in masks and country music, go get ‘em.
“Are you a sinner?”
“Sometimes.”
This film was written and Directed by Bryan Bertino. When Bryan was a kid, one night a stranger came to his door and asked to speak to someone they had never heard of. His family later found out that empty houses in the area had been burgled that night. So it begins...
We see Kristen and James (Liv Tyler and Scott Speedman respectively) arrive at their summer house one evening, mid-argument when they hear a knock at the door. They open it to find a woman standing on the doorstep, her face obscured by the darkness. “Is Tamara home?” she asks. They tell her she has the wrong house so she leaves. Boyfriend James then goes out to buy cigarettes and leaves Kristen alone. Pretty soon the woman comes back a’knocking, still asking for Tamara, but Kristen is a bit creeped out, understandably, and doesn’t open the door. Now, if this were you, changing your clothes would probably be the last thing on your mind but, cue obligatory nude scene! Pretty good one too if you like Liv Tyler, definitely worth the money you spend on renting the DVD!
This is the point where you first get a glimpse of a Stranger in the mask, lurking behind Kristen. This is authentically creepy. And I mean, ear-achingly surprising. There’s nothing better in scary films where the killer just stands there staring, like they’re daring their victim to run and make it more fun for them, but this is normally when killer and victim are face to face. Here, before they even properly introduce themselves, they’re in her house, hiding in the shadows. This definitely has a feel of Funny Games to it, making you suddenly feel like your own home is the most unsafe place in the world.
Some people didn’t like the ending but I don’t need to know why a killer kills. In fact, “they’re just crazy” is the best excuse of all. There doesn’t need to be any reason or rhyme. If you like a lot of running around, stabbing, screaming, Liv Tyler naked, killers in masks and country music, go get ‘em.“Are you a sinner?”
“Sometimes.”
I thought this was mostly decent, but could have been better with a bit of editing. It seems to drag toward the last 1/3 or so.
ReplyDeleteI did really like the tension and it was shot really well. I love when scares come in brightly lit rooms. It's very unnerving.
This film was very well put together, but suffered from some typical horror-film contrivances like the friend not calling out once he entered the house and Liv doing the "Oh, I fell OVER!" dance whilst running in the woods. Still very creepy in the early sections, though, and ultimately satisfyingly bleak.
ReplyDeleteAgree with you both. Definitely cliches abound here, but a good, creepy little film.
ReplyDeleteThanks for your comments guys!
Sarah - great blog!
ReplyDeleteOriginally, I saw this in the theater with my wife when it was out and loved it. It was cable the other night and we enjoyed it just as much in a second viewing at home. Yeah it leaves a hole in your gut at the end but it just is a creepily shot film and is very effective.
Its creepy for sure but doesn't have the same punch as Funny Games (original version) does.
ReplyDeleteI got sarcastic in my review and at this point yuppie torture-core has been done to death.
while i didn't love it i didn't hate it either. i did like how it ended in the pickup truck. made me wonder if that was a one shot deal for the trio or were they moving on to the next town to do what they do again.
ReplyDelete