The Strangers (1998)

Pretty good for low-budget SOV

I usually expect a crappy movie from no-budget, shot on video productions. But "The Strangers" was a pleasant surprise. I know other reviewers hate it, but I'm not sure why, because this movie has several redeeming features that I haven't found in similar movies.

Unlike most low-budget videos, the cast is actually good looking! And they can act, well enough at least. The women are cute and very hot, and the men are well-built and have cool hair. I especially enjoyed Jennifer Marks as Pearl, the "good" girl.

There are several hot softcore scenes. However, the "masturbation of death" scene was unnecessarily over the top and should've been left out.

The soundtrack is eerie and matches the creepy mood of the video. The lighting is actually better than what you'd typically see in this genre, so don't complain. The camera work is steady. My only complaint is with the sound, not the picture. There were times I had to hit the Vol+ button just to make out what was said. I actually liked the werewolf makeup, once they got around to showing it to us -- it's funny looking, but in some odd way that adds to the sense of horror.

Overall, an A for effort, imho. Give this one a try. November 12, 2004

Bad movie all around

Really amateurish werewolf movie where the highlight is a sex scene between two girls in a bathroom stall. You know it's going to be bad when that is the only redeeming quality of this otherwise messy production. Technically, the film is Z-grade, with lighting so bad there are often problems understanding what is going on. Acting and FX, of course, are nonexistent. I would suggest you watch this movie just to get a laugh with your friends - but only if you find it in the $1 bucket! January 20, 2004

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