A lot of horror films today rely utterly on gore to deliver on what they'd like to call 'scares'. I much prefer a horror film that can make me feel something other than sick,and this piece certainly delivers.It terrified me from start to finish - which,although admittedly its easy to scare me,left me with a lot of new found respect for the horror genre.Let me explain why.
Director Bryan Bertino has mastered the art of being a patient director.Rather than going for cheap thrills,he pushes and pushes the audience,bringing the tension to breaking point.This means that when he finally releases you with the scare,you're almost thankful.This continuous waiting game contributes greatly to scaring the audience.
Another terrifying factor was the apparent omniscience of the Strangers.They'd come and go like ghosts,appearing in frame quietly with their truly creepy masks.Although their paranormal like ability to come and go within seconds did take slightly away from the believability of the piece,I was more thinking about where the hell they were gonna turn up next 
The film opens by telling the audience that an average of 1.4 million [or something like that] violent crimes happen each year in America.I feel the film is basically trying to say that it could happen to anyone. This is proven by the fact that when Liv Tyler's character asks the Strangers why they're doing this to them, they reply 'Because You Were Home'.Truly,truly chilling.
The film also plays on the audience's fear of the unknown,never once revealing the faces of the murderers.This leaves it to the audience's imagination as to who the masked strangers actually are.It leaves open the question who actually commits the 1.4 million violent crimes mentioned?They could be your everyday man - emphasised by the costumes [one wears a suit.]They could be your neighbor,your friend.Of course its much easier for the audience to believe that they are raving mad and not people you come into contact with every day,but due to the fact that you never see their faces or hear them speak really,it's still niggling at the back of your mind that this might not be the case.
I feel the acting was good from both the main leads - Scott Speedman and Liv Tyler - although Tyler's screams did get annoying.
Although this film uses just about every horror film cliche in the book - girl runs away and falls over, couple in isolated house in the woods,phones and lights out, couple split up, couple/individuals head TOWARDS every creepy or suspicious noise, couple/individuals barricade themselves in rooms of house,the list goes on - I did really like this film due to its lack of gore. There were some disturbing moments yes,but this really proves that what you don't show can be much more effective sometimes than what you do show.
My main problem with this film is that it is really too short.I kinda felt at the end that I'd missed something,that there was more I should've seen [don't get me wrong,I loved the actual ending,even if it was a bit predictable.]
Although there are gaps in the storytelling and the characters have little development,I still enjoyed this film purely because it scared the shit out of me.
An overall well done and chilling piece.
Go see it.
But not on your own 
Until Next Time
