When Strangers Appear (2001)

Director:

Scott Reynolds

Writer:

Scott Reynolds (written by)

Genre:

Action | Drama | Mystery | Thriller

Tagline:

Don't serve coffee to strangers.

Plot:

A man enters a roadside diner run by a young woman and claims he is being chased by murderers.

Plot Keywords:

Surfer | Diner | Jealous Wife | Flashlight | Police Car

Cast

Radha Mitchell	...	Beth
Josh Lucas	...	Peter
Barry Watson	...	Jack Barrett
Kevin Anderson	...	Bryce
Jonathan Blick	...	Stephen (as Johnny Blick)
Eryn Wilson	...	Roger
Michael Lowe	...	Bernie
Steven Ray	...	Dr. Eric Leonard
Dra McKay	...	Lynda
Seraphine Rochery	...	Tracey

Also Known As:

The Shearer's Breakfast (Australia) (USA) (working title)

MPAA:

Rated R for violence and language.

Runtime:

98 min | Germany:96 min (DVD version)

Country:

Australia | New Zealand | USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Certification:

Iceland:16 | Finland:K-15 | Argentina:16 | Germany:16 | USA:R | UK:15 | Singapore:PG

Filming Locations:

Foxton, Manawatu-Wanganui, New Zealand

Company:

Beyond Films

Goofs:

Errors in geography: Even though the film is set in Oregon, USA, the Firestone ad on the side of the gas station refers to "tyres" not "tires". Beth also refers to the "car park", a term which is not used in the USA.

Movie Connections:

References The Blair Witch Project (1999)

Soundtrack:

Calling on

Exceptional thriller.

In 1997, Scott Reynolds made an impressive writing and directing debut with "The Ugly", although his story was a bit too shallow and his direction a bit overly flashy. This time, with his compelling, perspective-shifting script and taut direction, he achieves moments of true brilliance - so many, in fact, that it's hard to pick just one (the little girl who witnesses a violent struggle but doesn't understand it? The sink that may not hold the weight of a man? The killer silently stalking his victim in the toilets, using an admittedly old trick?). This man could very well develop into the Hitchcock of the next generation - the movie even has its own McGuffin to propel the plot (the computer disk). The first half is essentially a mystery, with plenty of twists; when the truth becomes (somewhat) clear, the movie becomes a full-blown thriller, and it offers one absolutely astounding suspense sequence after another. Don't miss it. (***)