“The horrifying events that took place in the Hoyt family’s vacation home at 1801 Clark Road on February 11, 2005, are still not entirely known.” That is a disclaimer for the movie “The Strangers” that lead you into the horrifying events that are inspired by true happenings.

James Hoyt (Scott Speedman) and Kristen McKay were just returning to an isolated vacation home after a wedding reception. James had decorated the house for what he believed to be a joyous event as he had asked Kristen to marry him at the wedding.
Because she was not ready and turned him down, the house, decorated with roses and other romantic devices, seemed hollow and uncomfortable for both.

Then there came a knock on the door.

I always dislike movies inspired by true events. For one, it just amps up the creepiness of the film and secondly, because it is never really inspired by one true event. I heard that this film is loosely based on the Keddie Cabin Murders, the Tate/Manson Murders and a personal experience of the screenwriter. Sometimes I think that the production company searches for similar events and throws that moniker, inspired by true events, on the front for a shock to get people interested. This movie is not based on an actual event. What happens in this film never happened. Let’s just get that out in the open.

Another thing I found disappointing about this film was that it was promoted wrongly. I thought this was going to be about a couple being terrorized in a remote cabin. Well, the “couple” wasn’t really a couple. They were on the outs because of Kristen spurning James’ proposal. Also, the cabin didn’t seem all that remote.

I think the thing that really clinched this film being bad, for me, was the fact that it had such great possibilities. It could have broken the mold of scary films. It started off great. The scene where Kristen was standing in the living room and a masked person appears out of the shadows was frightening. Then it all went down hill from there and everything started to look familiar as the film began to fit itself into the cookie cutter guide to making horror films. It was just really disappointing.

Definitely not a film you need to rush out and see in the theater. You may want to spend a night watching in on DVD mainly because of the quality of the film. It is beautifully shot. You may, in the end, be like me and find it disappointing.

Not for the faint of heart or children.