Strangers in the night

A slick but specious horror film in which an attractive young couple is terrorised in a lonely house by three maniacal killers

The Strangers (MA15+) 2 stars National release Written and directed by Bryan Bertino, a man still in his 20s, The Strangers is a slick but specious horror film in which an attractive young couple is terrorised in a lonely house one night by three maniacal killers.

It's not a new theme and what becomes immediately clear from watching Bertino's work is that although he's already an accomplished filmmaker, morality doesn't bother him a great deal. Nor, indeed, does common sense.

James (Scott Speedman) and Kristen (Liv Tyler) have been attending a wedding reception and James has decided this is the night to propose. He whisks his girlfriend off to his family's holiday home, which he has stocked with champagne and rose petals. Its isolated location seems appropriate, but things don't go according to plan. Kristen isn't ready for this level of commitment, and then come sinister strangers who bang loudly on the door at 4am.

This is just the start of a long night of terror for the couple and for the audience. The shock moments are carefully calculated: the soundtrack amplifies every bump and bang with frightening intensity. A possible source of outside help is predictably thwarted in the most brutal way.

There's no denying that much of this is skilfully handled in its thoroughly nasty way, but after it's all over the most cursory reflection on what's happened shows that none of it makes any sense. Bertino isn't interested in that, though: like a clever kid out to impress, he has created an attention-grabbing vehicle for his bleak vision.

For some audiences the carefully calculated shocks will be enough; anyone seeking more substance or, perhaps, a modicum of morality will come away frustrated and empty-handed.