The Strangers

In The Strangers, a simple-enough plot revolves around a couple returning to their home in the country. But once back, their every move is watched, by strangers in the dark waiting to terrorise them on the longest nights of their lives. The climax may be the usual ridiculous over the top horror nonsense but the first 50 minutes provide some of the best scenes to grace the genre in years. Shaky cameras and obscure angles make you feel like it's you being terrorised, not just the cast; but it’s the simplistic, realistic and believable story and excellent performances from Tyler and Speedman that make this fresh and interesting. Screen violence has lost its edge but Bertino has left a lot of the violence off screen and lets your imagination take over. Plenty of scares and tense moments will make the idea of a romantic weekend away in the country a frightening prospect. [Kevin McHugh]