{"id":17717,"date":"2018-02-20T21:41:11","date_gmt":"2018-02-21T05:41:11","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/moviemansguide.com\/main\/?p=17717"},"modified":"2024-09-15T22:47:48","modified_gmt":"2024-09-16T05:47:48","slug":"review-strangers-bd","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/moviemansguide.com\/main\/2018\/02\/review-strangers-bd\/","title":{"rendered":"The Strangers: Collector’s Edition Blu-ray Review"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"<\/a>The Strangers<\/em><\/strong> is a movie that still holds up today as it did 10 years ago. Its simplicity, and restraint of using jump scares, really helps it stand out from others in the thriller\/horror genre even when character development is, at best, minimal.<\/p>\n

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The Strangers
\n<\/span>\u2014 Collector’s Edition \u2014<\/span>
\n(2008)<\/span>
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Genre(s): <\/strong>Suspense\/Thriller, Horror
\nShout Factory | R\/Unrated \u2013 81 min. \/ 88 min. \u2013 $34.93 | March 6, 2018<\/p>\n

Date Published:<\/strong> 02\/20\/2018 | Author:<\/strong> The Movieman<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n
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MOVIE INFO:
\n<\/u><\/strong>Directed by: <\/strong>Bryan Bertino
\nWriter(s): <\/strong>Bryan Bertino (written by)
\nCast: <\/strong>Liv Tyler, Scott Speedman<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
DISC INFO:
\n<\/u><\/strong>Features: <\/strong>Featurettes, Deleted Scenes, Still Gallery, Trailers
\nDigital Copy: <\/strong>No
\nFormats Included: <\/strong>Blu-ray
\nNumber of Discs: <\/strong>2<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Audio: <\/strong>English (DTS-HD MA 5.1)
\nVideo: <\/strong>1080p\/Widescreen 2.35
\nSubtitles: <\/strong>English SDH
\nDisc Size: <\/strong>40.0 GB
\nCodecs: <\/strong>MPEG-4 AVC
\nRegion(s): <\/strong>A<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

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THE MOVIE \u2014 3.75\/5<\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\n
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This portion was copied from my 2008 DVD review and still reflects my thoughts today.<\/p>\n

Writer\/director Bryan Bertino\u2019s psychological thriller, The Strangers<\/em><\/strong>, is a throwback to the Hitchcock classics with modern day suspense.<\/p>\n

The Strangers<\/em><\/strong> is a simple film starring Scott Speed and Liv Tyler as James Hoyt and Kristen McKay, a couple whose relationship, as the movie starts, is on the brinks of breakup. They\u2019ve come from a wedding reception and are staying the night at Hoyt\u2019s family summer home. Things get worse when at 4 a.m. they get a knock at the door from a young woman who has apparently gotten the wrong house (she didn\u2019t) and apparently leaves as quickly as she came (again, she didn\u2019t).<\/p>\n

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Even after this semi-unsettling encounter, Kristen badly needs cigarettes and being the dutiful soon-to-be ex-boyfriend, James goes out to get them. While he\u2019s away, strange things begin to happen as there are more knocks at the door, windows, other weird sounds around the house and… somebody apparently has gotten inside! After being terrorized for a bit, James finally comes home to find Kristen in absolute hysterics and soon the terror begins once again as three masked STRANGERS have sabotaged any kind of escape from burning the car, destroying cell phones and cutting the phone line. They\u2019ve also broken down the oddly fragile front door so any refuge inside has been thwarted.<\/p>\n

The Strangers<\/em><\/strong> was actually a surprisingly great suspense thriller that keeps you hooked from start to finish. The movie has a running time of 85 minutes (not inc. credits) and it is masterfully paced and written, even with a simple story. Add to that a fine performance from Liv Tyler does an excellent job going beyond just a scream queen.<\/p>\n

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As someone who loves psychological thrillers, I basically loved every minute of this movie.<\/p>\n

On a side note, why is it so many homes in these movies, and in real life for that matter, do not have peep holes? Would make things so much easier for folks being randomly terrorized by three masked crazies…<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

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SPECIAL FEATURES \u2013 3.5\/5<\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\n
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This release comes with a matted slip cover<\/strong> and the interior cover is reversible revealing the film\u2019s original poster artwork. This comes with both the R-rated and Unrated versions, each on separate discs. The features from the original Universal Blu-ray\/DVD were ported over.<\/p>\n

Disc 1 (Theatrical Version):
\n<\/strong>The Element of Terror (9:12; HD)<\/u><\/strong> is a making-of featurette that includes interviews with members of the cast and crew including writer\/director Bryan Bertino, actress Liv Tyler amongst others.<\/p>\n

Strangers at the Door (9:37; HD)<\/u><\/strong> \u2013 This featurette delves into the terror elements of the script.<\/p>\n

Deleted Scenes (4:56; SD)<\/u><\/strong> \u2013 There are a few scenes that were cut down or removed, probably for pacing reasons. Presented in non-anamorphic widescreen.<\/p>\n

Last up are TV Spots (1:34; SD)<\/u><\/strong> and the Theatrical Trailer (1:11; HD)<\/u><\/strong>.<\/p>\n

Disc 2 (Unrated Version):
\n<\/strong>Interviews:<\/u><\/strong><\/p>\n