The Strangers (2008)

Director:

Bryan Bertino

Writer (WGA):

Bryan Bertino (written by)

Release Date:

30 May 2008 (USA)

Genre:

Horror | Mystery | Thriller

Tagline:

Lock the door. Pretend you're safe.

Plot:

A young couple staying in an isolated vacation home are terrorized by three unknown assailants.

Plot Keywords:

Mask | Stranger | Invasion | Wedding Reception | Vandalizing A Car

Awards:

2 wins & 7 nominations

Cast

Alex Fisher	...	Mormon Boy #1
Peter Clayton-Luce	...	Mormon Boy #2
Scott Speedman	...	James Hoyt
Liv Tyler	...	Kristen McKay
Gemma Ward	...	Dollface
Kip Weeks	...	Man in the Mask
Laura Margolis	...	Pin-Up Girl
Glenn Howerton	...	Mike
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Jordan Del Spina	...	Jordan - 911 caller (voice) (uncredited)

Directed by
Bryan Bertino

Writing credits (WGA)
Bryan Bertino		(written by)

Produced by
Thomas J. Busch	....	co-producer
Doug Davison	....	producer
Joseph Drake	....	executive producer (as Joe Drake)
Marc D. Evans	....	executive producer
Nathan Kahane	....	producer
Kelli Konop	....	executive producer
Roy Lee	....	producer
Trevor Macy	....	executive producer
Sonny Mallhi	....	executive producer

Original Music by
tomandandy

Cinematography by
Peter Sova		(director of photography)

Film Editing by
Kevin Greutert

Casting by
Lindsey Hayes Kroeger
Tracy Kilpatrick
David Rapaport

Production Design by
John D. Kretschmer

Art Direction by
Linwood Taylor

Set Decoration by
Missy Berent Ricker		(as Missy Berent)

Costume Design by
Susan Kaufmann

Makeup Department
Coni Andress	....	head of hair department
Wendy Bell	....	makeup department head
Jennifer Santiago	....	key hair stylist (as Jennifer A. Santiago)
Vincent Schicchi	....	key makeup artist (as Vincent T. Schicchi)
Leigh Ann Yandle	....	assistant makeup artist (as Leigh Ann Yandle-Perry)

Production Management
Thomas J. Busch	....	unit production manager
Jason Leib	....	post-production supervisor
Tom Nicoll	....	production supervisor
Judy Richter	....	production consultant
Andrew Rona	....	executive in charge of production

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Linda Brachman	....	first assistant director
Nicole Feder	....	dga trainee
Tim Fitzgerald	....	second second assistant director (as David T. Fitzgerald)
Rudy A. Persico	....	second assistant director

Art Department
Jerry Adderton	....	set dresser
Gillian V. Albinski	....	property master
Daniel Auber	....	storyboard artist (as Daniele Auber)
John B. Clarey III	....	carpenter
Danielle Couture	....	buyer
Joshua L. Ellsworth	....	propmaker
Craig Gilmore	....	storyboard artist
Geoffrey S. Grimsman	....	set designer
Chris Holcombe	....	leadman
Doug Kelejian	....	set dresser
Otto Lindsey	....	on set dresser
Stephanie Macomber	....	scenic (as Stephanie Macomber Kern)
Dim McRemnant	....	graphic artist
Kelly Rubottom	....	assistant property master
Thomas Michael Ryan	....	foreman
Jeffrey Schlatter	....	construction coordinator
Deanna Tilley	....	art dayplayer
Helen Williams Ward	....	storyboard artist
Luci Wilson	....	prop assistant
Andre Hyland	....	mask assistant (uncredited)
Steve A. Stephenson	....	carpenter (uncredited)

Sound Department
Jeffree Bloomer	....	production sound mixer
Brad Brock	....	foley mixer
Gary A. Hecker	....	supervising foley artist
Scott Hecker	....	supervising sound editor (as Scott A. Hecker)
Albert Hedgepeth	....	second boom operator / sound utility
Rick Hromadka	....	sound effects editor
Marti D. Humphrey	....	sound re-recording mixer
Chris M. Jacobson	....	sound re-recording mixer
Cliff Latimer	....	sound editor
Derek Pippert	....	foley editor
Philip Rogers	....	adr recordist
Jeff Rosen	....	dialogue/adr supervisor
Roy Seeger	....	first assistant sound editor (as R.W. Seeger)
Brad Semenoff	....	assistant sound re-recording mixer

Special Effects by
David Beavis	....	special effects technician
David Hill	....	special effects foreman
Michael J. Hudson	....	special effects technician
William Purcell	....	special effects coordinator (as Will Purcell)
Susan Beavis	....	special effects buyer (uncredited)

Visual Effects by
Ozzie Carmona	....	digital compositor
Michael Degtjarewsky	....	digital compositor
Mark Freund	....	visual effects supervisor
Maureen Healy	....	digital compositor
Phillip Hoffman	....	visual effects coordinator
Bill Holloway	....	digital compositor
Patrick Keenan	....	digital compositor
Erin L. Nelson	....	digital restoration
Jim O'Hagan	....	digital compositor: Pacific Title
Bob Poirier	....	visual effects associate producer
Tristan Rayos	....	digital I/O
Jon Stern	....	visual effects producer
Wilson Tang	....	digital restoration

Stunts
Cal Johnson	....	stunt coordinator
Cal Johnson	....	stunt double: Glenn Howerton

Camera and Electrical Department
Hugh Braselton	....	camera operator: "b" camera
Hugh Braselton	....	second assistant camera
Rick Crank	....	lighting technician
Catherine Cravens	....	electrician
Lee Donaldson	....	grip
Brian Gunter	....	gaffer
Daniel R. Haizlip	....	best boy grip
Geoff Herbert	....	dolly grip
W.C. 'Chunky' Huse	....	key grip
Tony Jenzano	....	video assist
Gary Johnson	....	second assistant camera
Brian Johnston	....	rigging electrician
Roy Knauf	....	additional assistant camera
Frank McGough	....	dimmer board operator
David Morenz	....	first assistant camera
Terry O'Deen	....	rigging gaffer
Mark N. Overton	....	electrician
Harrison Palmer	....	electrician
Doug Robinson	....	electrician
James Selph	....	dolly grip: "b" camera
Steve A. Stephenson	....	rigging grip
Jeff Sterner	....	electrician
Brian Sullivan	....	camera operator
John R. Sutton	....	rigging key grip
Mike Torino	....	film loader
German Valle	....	rigging electrician
Glenn Watson	....	still photographer

Casting Department
Maxann Crotts	....	casting: stand-ins
Caitlin McKenna-Wilkinson	....	adr voice casting

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Catherine A. Abreo	....	set costumer
Emmie Holmes	....	wardrobe production assistant
Laura Kaminski	....	wardrobe production assistant
Karen Keyes	....	key set costumer
Janet Melody	....	tailor
Stephen K. Randolph	....	costume supervisor

Editorial Department
Tony Bacigalupi	....	assistant editor
Zack Howard	....	post-production assistant
Trent Johnson	....	supervising digital colorist
Kim Roseborough	....	assistant editor
Mark Sachen	....	colorist
Akkara Srauy	....	post-production assistant
April McMorris	....	digital intermediate producer (uncredited)
Everette Webber	....	digital intermediate editor (uncredited)

Music Department
Christine Bergren	....	music legal and clearances
Michael Brake	....	music editor
Todd Brodie	....	engineer
Jessica Catron	....	musician: cello
Jeremy Drake	....	musician: guitar and effects
Peter Fuchs	....	music scoring engineer
Peter Fuchs	....	recording engineer
Maarten Hofmeijer	....	music editor
Season Kent	....	music supervisor
Dwight Mikkelsen	....	orchestrator
Sheri Ozeki	....	music editor
Josh Sarles	....	assistant to composers
Josh Sarles	....	music engineer
Josh Sarles	....	score mixer
Lee Scott	....	music editor: temp music
Andrew Silver	....	music editor
G.E. Stinson	....	musician: guitar and electronics
Paul Talkington	....	orchestra contractor
tomandandy	....	score producer
Allan Wilson	....	conductor
Allan Wilson	....	copyist

Transportation Department
Donald Binder	....	driver
Christie Chaplin	....	driver
Skip Long	....	driver: honeywagon
Lee Siler	....	transportation coordinator
Scott Siler	....	transportation captain

Other crew
Pamela Alessandrelli	....	assistant production coordinator
Kimberly Bishop	....	assistant location manager
Susan J. Bonno-Buckner	....	first assistant accountant
Jen Brett	....	production assistant
Jennifer D. Corley	....	production assistant
Betsy Custer	....	production executive
Genevieve Darr	....	office production assistant
Toni Embry	....	unit publicist
Ashleigh Falls	....	set production assistant
Randy Gardner	....	production assistant
Alex Heineman	....	production executive
Pam Holdridge	....	production coordinator
Renee Kitterman	....	second assistant accountant
Ashley Kravitz	....	clearances
Robert Labrecque	....	production accountant
Karen Love	....	Ms. Tyler's chef
Brandon Lyles	....	accounting clerk
Terry Mettger	....	payroll accountant
Jack Munn	....	key medic
Craig Newkirk	....	animal trainer
Oak Porcelli	....	stand-in
Steve Rhea	....	location manager
Alicia Rudd	....	animal trainer
Damien Saccani	....	development executive
Rima Saleeby	....	stand-in for Laura Margolis
Tracey Schaefer	....	unit publicist (as Tracey Zemitis)
Ben Urquhart	....	post production executive
Kho Wong	....	assistant: Sonny Mallhi
Stephanie Yeager	....	assistant: Bryan Bertino
Paulette Osorio	....	publicity executive (uncredited)

Thanks
Elizabeth Rowin	....	special thanks

Production Companies

• Rogue Pictures (presents)
• Intrepid Pictures (presents)
• Vertigo Entertainment
• Mandate Pictures
• Mad Hatter Entertainment

Distributors

• Blue Sky Media (2006) (Slovakia) (all media)
• Acme Film (2008) (Lithuania) (theatrical)
• Alliance (2008) (Canada) (theatrical)
• Cascade Film (2008) (Russia) (theatrical)
• Distribution Company (2008) (Argentina) (theatrical)
• Frenetic Films (2008) (Switzerland) (theatrical)
• Kinowelt Filmverleih (2008) (Germany) (theatrical)
• Odeon (2008) (Greece) (theatrical)
• Presidio (2009) (Japan) (theatrical)
• RCV Film Distribution (2008) (Netherlands) (theatrical)
• Rogue Pictures (2008) (USA) (theatrical)
• Sandrew Metronome Distribution (2008) (Finland) (theatrical)
• Shaw Organisation (2008) (Singapore) (theatrical)
• Universal Pictures (2008) (USA) (theatrical)
• Alliance (2008) (Canada) (DVD)
• Bazuca Films (2008) (Chile) (all media)
• Blue Sky Media (2008) (Czech Republic) (all media)
• Film1 (2009) (Netherlands) (TV) (limited)
• Gativideo (2009) (Argentina) (DVD)
• Kinowelt Home Entertainment (2009) (Germany) (DVD)
• Paris Filmes (2007) (Brazil) (all media)
• RCV Home Entertainment (2008) (Netherlands) (DVD)
• Sandrew Metronome Distribution (2009) (Finland) (DVD) (blu-ray)
• Solar Entertainment (2008) (Philippines) (all media)
• Universal Studios Home Entertainment (2008) (USA) (DVD)
• Universal Studios Home Entertainment (2008) (USA) (DVD) (Blu-ray)
• fX Network (2010) (USA) (TV)

Special Effects

• Pacific Title and Art Studio (visual effects)
• Technicolor Digital Intermediates (digital intermediate and opticals)

Other Companies

• Chapman/Leonard Studio Equipment  dollies
• Cut Music  additional music editorial
• Dolby Laboratories  sound post-production
• Dub Stage, The  sound re-recording
• High Output  dollies
• Lakeshore Records  soundtrack
• Lightnin' Production Rentals  transportation equipment
• Murphy PR  publicity
• Pacific Title  main and end titles
• Panavision  cameras and lenses
• Pictorvision  aerial camera system
• Pivotal Post  Avid editing equipment provided by
• Radio Bratislava Symphony Orchestra  score performed by (as the Bratislava Symphony Orchestra)
• Soundtrack  ADR Facility
• Technicolor Digital Intermediates  digital intermediate
• Technicolor Digital Intermediates  opticals
• Universal Studios Sound Facilities  adr recorded at (as Universal Studios)

Also Known As:

MPAA:

Rated R for violence/terror and language

Runtime:

86 min | 88 min (unrated version)

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital | DTS

Certification:

UK:15 | USA:R (certificate #43588) | Canada:13+ (Quebec) | Canada:14A (Alberta/British Columbia/Manitoba/Nova Scotia/Ontario) | Canada:18A | Australia:MA | Singapore:NC-16 | South Korea:15 | Netherlands:16 | Ireland:16 | Finland:K-15 | Malaysia:U | New Zealand:R16 | Hong Kong:IIB | Argentina:16 | Philippines:R-13 (MTRCB) | Norway:15 | Italy:VM14 | Peru:14 | Germany:18 (f) | Japan:PG-12 | France:U (with warning) | Spain:18 | Portugal:M/16 | Germany:16 (DVD rating) | Sweden:15

Filming Locations:

Florence, South Carolina, USA

Company:

Rogue Pictures

Trivia:

The car crash sequence was filmed in three takes.

Goofs:

Errors made by characters (possibly deliberate errors by the filmmakers): In the final scene of the movie, after the boys hand over the leaflet, we see the car start up and the boys begin to walk away. On close inspection, the boy on the right clearly looks for a cue from someone behind the camera, and smiles.

Quotes:

[first lines]
Narrator:What you are about to see is inspired by true events. According to the FBI, there are an estimated 1.4 million violent crimes in America each year. On the night of February 11, 2005, Kristen McKay and James Hoyt left a friend's wedding reception and returned to the Hoyt family's summer home. The brutal events that took place there are still not entirely known.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Knock Knock 2 (2011)

Soundtrack:

Mama Tried

Satisfying in its ability to deliver horror.

The horror genre is probably the most perplexing genre in the cinematic medium, not because of its inherent qualities but because of the countless ways in which a movie stops being scary and starts rolling eyes. In a successful scary movie, one can expect a finite amount of characterisation mixed with tension and adequate construction of dense atmospheres and antagonists if there should be any. In The Strangers, such a sweet spot is achieved many times throughout, and it's during these moments that writer/director Bryan Bertino shows that he knows how to craft an eerie and downright scary experience to be part of. Yet too often does the film collapse under its own weight as laziness creeps in. Outside of Bertino's more refreshing techniques, he irritatingly resorts to tired clichés, dull narrative and predictable storytelling; it's a mixed bag of brilliantly executed originality and formulaic, cookie cutter banality.

Taking place for the most part in a single summer home, The Strangers is a claustrophobic nightmare that persists in its will to take that image of safety (home) and turn it into a confinement of horror. Through this general idea Bertino crafts an extremely effective way in which to engage the viewer; the warm comforting log cabin fireplace, the folk music, the backdrop of isolation and tranquil wilderness, all combining to create a sense of false security that always reeks of foreboding doom. Focusing the first twenty minutes on troubled couple Kristen McKay and James Hoyt, the script introduces us to the domestic heart of the story; a squabble and misunderstanding between two lovers. Not only does it add to the light hearted feel of the opening sequences but it develops the characters into heart-driven, fully empathetic beings, and when terror comes knocking at the door, we too are feeling the fear.

Unfortunately for all the good that the director does through the film's first act, the quality suddenly begins to dip shortly after the climax of tension has been reached. The second act of the story is much less coherent and more bumbling in its pace; there are genuine scares scattered throughout as a result of these freaky little visitors to the couple's cabin at four in the morning, yet the general structure and workings behind the scenes draw too much attention to themselves at key points. Everything from the screaming female tripping and breaking her ankle to the hereditary 'split up' of the pair for no logical reason but to satisfy the already developed structure frame are here, and it's irksome more than terrifying. Through this mix of studied technique and less than inspiring storytelling which too often puts structure ahead of natural storytelling, The Strangers feels satisfying in its ability to deliver horror, but simply doesn't do enough to cover up the glaring holes in its unconvincing façade.

As characters, Bertino neglects his three catalysts of fear to mere device-like movement only; they are facades and masks, and no real identity to them is ever given. This technique works well during the film's earlier moments when the director's aim is to scare out of their unknown presence, yet when the feature moves on and on and the three masks are exploited at every time to scare, their lack of motivation hurts the film's ability to sustain suspense. As protagonists, Kristen and James are of standard horror movie build; she is fragile and prone to screaming, and James, although a lot less macho than most male leads, is just as ill-fated to poor decision making. Individually, neither of them ever show any real sense of compelling attributes to cling onto, yet as a pair they at least share enough dynamics and chemistry to warrant the movie's key moments of characterisation.

Thankfully the movie doesn't end in a big bang and there is little in the way of cliché to be found leading up to it; it's unenlightening sure, but it's got enough conviction to carry off the film into positive light. This hollow note that finishes it all off is representative of the film as a whole, and of course Bertino's skills as a director of horror. Despite obvious flaws in storytelling, the majority of what is on display here is genuinely thrilling at its peaks and mildly compelling in its valleys. Through a startling score that punctuates the atmosphere poignantly and photography that captures the eeriness of these strangers' ominous presence, Bertino employs all the tricks in the book to deliver the scares, and while the whole product as a whole feels more like an exercise in technique, there's nevertheless plenty to behold regardless of any inconsistencies in narrative. Taken as a whole, The Strangers is a strong first attempt from newcomer writer/director Bryan Bertino who shows definite flair for crafting suspenseful scenes of terror and bringing out strong emotion from all his cast.

- A review by Jamie Robert Ward. For more reviews of all the latest movies please visit: http://www.invocus.net