A Deist Nightmare

[ink_ling]

'Cause there's nothin' strange
About an axe with bloodstains in the barn.

There's always some killin'
You got to do around the farm.

-- Tom Waits, "Murder in the Red Barn"

As the Waits song does, Bryan Bertino's The Strangers layers discrete and shadowed detail to build a portrait of the rural and remote as a place where cruelty can be expected

Comments

[kdotdammit]

This is an incredible review. I have to write on this movie this morning, but won't come close to what you did here. I'll link to your piece in my "mini-review." This is REALLY GREAT film writing. Thanks so much for taking the time to write it. It's the best thing I've read on this movie. You should publish it.

[ink_ling]

*grin* Thank you, Kdot! I think it's a little rushed and not fully realized in its fleshing of pedigree. (Both Halloween and Funny Games are underserved here.) But I did enjoy writing it. Where do you publish your film review work?

I can't wait to read your take!

[kdotdammit]

I'm inclined to not write anything and just link to your review. You say everything so well. You saved my ass from having to write on the movie. I wasn't going to write much on it to begin with, but really you have written the Quintessential Review of The Strangers, so I'll just send all my film readers to you. :-)

[ink_ling]

Oh, you are so sweet! I wish it were easier to talk about it face to face, though, cos I know your mind for nuance.

Oh! Maybe we'll get that chance! (I'm supposed to try and visit Beth and Khara in Tucson sometime next year. Maybe we can have lunch or something!)

[slumberjack]

i've been waffling between REALLY wanting to see this and not really wanting to support "torture porn." but it sounds like you got a lot out of it, and i think it's those sorts of very real creepy-crawlies from my own country childhood that were sparked in seeing the (excellent) trailers and that i sort of feel drawn towards delving into.

thanks for the detailed analysis! :-) maybe i will go see it now... i just need to find someone to hold my hand during it.

[ink_ling]

*offers you a hand*

If you see it, look at the images and details as the torture porn aspect of it unwinds. Maybe connect the torture porn aspect of it, thematically, to claustraphobic domesticity. I think it has a point -- even if borrowed from Funny Games.

I should say I thought the movie, as entertainment, was solid but not amazing. And still made me think a lot about its choices.

[slumberjack]

i've read a lot of reviews and they've been pretty wide-ranging. it seems like the people who didn't like it felt like there was really no point other than watching two attractive people get tortured to death... but it is some of the creepy little details the reviews mention and from the trailers that have me interested. so yeah, i'll try to stay a bit uninvested from the overall story and pay attention to the smaller stuff.

i'm so bad about scary movies... lots of them really appeal to me and i anticipate seeing them so much, usually to the point where, when i finally do, they're nowhere near as horrific as i'd imagined. recent case in point: the descent.

but i'm glad to hear someone i respect and feel some commonality with give their take on the movie... it definitely has me swinging back to the "want to see it" side of the pendulum now.

[ink_ling]

For the most part, I have been disappointed with most horror movies I've seen in the past several years. This one didn't disappoint me but didn't take my breath away. In context, that still seems to be an achievement.

I didn't see The Descent.

[kdotdammit]

Hey, I linked to your film review and didn't realize it's protected and I have people who want to read it. Can you unprotect it?

[ink_ling]

Of course! Thanks for the link and letting me know! *hug*

[tpratt]

Thanks for unprotecting this. It's brilliant. I should really be cursing you because it makes my take on it about a million times more sophomoric than it already was to start with (hurr...durr... I liked it cause it scared me.).

FWIW, although you don't know me or my taste in film yet, I love the Descent very much. I envy your chance to see it for the first time.

Thanks for writing this and letting me take a look at it!

[ink_ling]

I'm glad you enjoyed it, fella! And I am sure you're take isn't as stunted as you make it out to be. Tsk! Tsk!

I am glad you recommend The Descent; I think that's enough critical mass for me to rent it and see it.

Thanks for reading!

[jayboitn]

I dont know if I want to see this . . . I live by myself somewhat out in the country and my imagination would probably get to me. The police just found a dead body this past week here in Wartrace.

So yeah, this movie might really creep me out. LOL!

[ink_ling]

*shudder* I completely understand! Have they released any reports about what they think happened to the person whose body they found?

[jayboitn]

No, they dont know who it is yet or what actually happened.

[ink_ling]

Eep! Makes me shudder all the more! What with the added heat, I'd just advise staying indoors altogether, bubba!