by Sarah Huth

Created on: June 30, 2008

The fear of home invasion is something that everyone can relate to. People invest hundreds of dollars into home security systems, locking their doors tightly at night and pulling the blinds shut. We see things on the news about brutal murders, but shrug it off, convincing ourselves that it could never happen at our home or to our family. However, the fear still lurks there, underneath everything else, under the daily meals and household chores, so that when we are lying in bed at night and the house creaks, or we think we hear something outside, it is the first thing that comes to mind. What would you do if someone broke into your house and threatened your family? If a few strangers decided to make you the target of their sick game? How would you react?

These are the thoughts that immediately come to mind when watching Bryan Bertino's debut film, "The Strangers". Both the trailer and the film's introduction claim that it is based on true events, which is entirely plausible. Connections can be see between the events in the film and the brutal Mason murders, as well as several other accounts of domestic violence and serial murders occurring between strangers. The film also seems to draw from the 1997 Austrian horror classic, "Funny Games", in which two young strangers torture and murder a wealthy family for their own amusement (the film was remade in 2007 with Naomi Watts). However, while "Funny Games" was innovative, "The Strangers" struck more of a chord with me on a personal level. It was more relatable, focusing on an upper middle class couple and using classic elements of suspense; grabbing hold of that fear that resides inside of all of us and addressing it on the big screen.

The film begins by setting up the story with some text and a voice over. In a deep voice the words are read to us, informing the audience that the film is based on true events. It continues on, stating, "According to the F.B.I. there are an estimated 1.4 million violent crimes in America each year. On the night of February 11th, 2005 Kristen McKay and James Hoyt went to 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" (IMDB). This little introduction truly sets the mood for the film; it feels like a case report from an actual murder is being read off to the viewer.

This is followed by a 911 call being played over shots of what must be the Hoyt summer home; a shotgun is lying on the table,

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