He Said ... She Said

He Said: I was really looking forward to seeing “The Strangers,” and I was ready for a scary movie that made me jump in my seat. But I am still waiting for a scary movie. Like most horror movies, this one does nothing new — same old scary music stopping right before something scary happens, same scary people popping up from random places and same weak plot. See “Straw Dogs” or “Firewall” for similar plots.
However, unlike most horror movies of its time, “The Strangers” is not over the top with gore, and it has some decent acting from Liv Tyler. The film claims to be based on true events but does nothing at the end to wrap that up for the audience. “The Strangers” makes for a decent thriller, but if you want a really scary movie, avoid this one.
Grade: C-

She Said: The horror movie genre is one of my favorites, and I’m glad to report that “The Strangers” is indeed a scary movie. Unlike my husband, I jumped at every frightening moment, and I’ve had the heebie-jeebies for a week. In the story, a couple alone in a quiet neighborhood is terrorized by three young people wearing masks. The film plays by the usual rules, but it still scared me. The only problem is the ending, which misses the mark on wrapping up the story, even if we are supposed to think there will be another one. So if you are in the mood to be scared, I recommend it. If you are super-tough, go and brag about how much this film didn’t scare you. Either way, it’ll make for great conversations after the movie.
Grade: B