James A. Janisse from the Kill Count reviews the 2008 horror movie "The Strangers" directed by Brian Bertino. The film is a home invasion movie with a simple plot, following a young couple, Kristen and James, who are tormented by a group of strangers in masks for no apparent reason. Despite the movie's slow pace and lack of kills, Janisse praises its ability to build psychological terror and create a creepy atmosphere.
As Janisse counts the kills, he notes that only two people died in the movie, both male, with a kill average of every 44 minutes. He awards the golden chainsaw for coolest kill to Mike, a friend of James', and the dull machete for lamest kill to James. Janisse concludes that while "The Strangers" may not be a typical Kill Count movie, it's still worth watching for its effective horror and commentary on post-9/11 fear.
The movie ends with the strangers killing Kristen and James, and then driving away, with one of them commenting that it will be easier next time. The final scene shows the police investigating the crime scene, and Kristen's body is shown, implying that she was also killed. The movie ends with a sense of hopelessness and terror.
Here are the key facts extracted from the text:
1. The movie "The Strangers" was released in 2008 and was written and directed by Bryan Bertino.
2. The movie is a home invasion film about a young couple being tormented by a group of strangers in masks.
3. The movie has a simple plot with only eight characters.
4. The movie's runtime is 88 minutes.
5. The movie is inspired by true events, but not exactly the events described in the opening card.
6. The director, Bryan Bertino, was inspired by the Manson murders and other events.
7. The main characters, Kristen and James, are a young couple who are in a summer home after a wedding.
8. Kristen and James are played by Liv Tyler and Scott Speedman.
9. The couple's relationship is strained after James proposes to Kristen and she says no.
10. The couple is terrorized by three masked strangers, who are played by Gemma Ward, Laura Margolis, and Kip Weeks.
11. The strangers are mysterious and don't seem to have a motive for their actions.
12. The couple tries to defend themselves, but the strangers are relentless.
13. The movie's tension builds as the couple tries to survive the night.
14. The strangers eventually kill James and leave Kristen for dead.
15. The movie ends with Kristen being found by two Mormon missionaries who had met the strangers earlier in the film.
16. The movie has a low kill count, with only two people dying in the entire film.
17. The kill count is 1 every 44 minutes.
18. The movie's quiet plot and low kill count make it an unusual choice for a Kill Count video.