FAQ for
The Strangers (2008) More at IMDb Pro »

The following FAQ entries may contain spoilers. Only the biggest ones (if any) will be covered with spoiler tags. Spoiler tags are used sparingly in order to make the page more readable.

For detailed information about the amounts and types of (a) sex and nudity, (b) violence and gore, (c) profanity, (d) alcohol, drugs, and smoking, and (e) frightening and intense scenes in this movie, consult the IMDb Parents Guide for this movie. The Parents Guide for The Strangers can be found at http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0482606/parentalguide.

No. The Strangers is based on a screenplay written by director Brian Bertino. It was inspired by an event from Bertino's childhood. A stranger came to his home late at night asking several times for someone unknown to him or his family. Later, he found out that other homes in the neighborhood had been ransacked and burglarized.

According to production notes, the film is based on a real event that occured during director Brian Bertino's childhood in which a stranger came to his home in the middle of the night asking several times for a person who did not exist. The following day, his family was informed by police that several houses had been ransacked and burglarized the previous night by an unknown assailant.

No. The Strangers was written two years before Ils was made.

The record is saying "Quicksilver girl". The song is "My First Lover" by Gillian Welch.

Because they were home. In other words, simply because they're psychopaths who attack people at random just for the fun of it.

No. They're kept anonymous. Only brief glimpses are shown, such as Dollface's face cloaked in shadow, and The Man in the Mask's eyes in the truck's side-view mirror. You also see the profile shot of Pinup Girl's face when she exits the truck towards the end of the film and one of the strangers' faces when she knocks on their door asking for a person, although they didn't know yet that she is a killer. In the original script, it was written that all of their faces would be fully revealed, but this was changed during production. If you would like to see the actors' actual faces, visit these links.

Dollface: http://www.imdb.com/media/rm3908147200/nm1801841

Pin-Up Girl: http://www.imdb.com/media/rm1476170240/nm1363967

Man in the Mask: http://content7.flixster.com/photo/11/21/94/11219449_tml.jpg

There's a long enough pause between the noises being made and James appearing in the bedroom for this to be plausible. Likely the strangers saw his car approaching and hid.

"Sprout and the Bean" - Joanna Newsom. Other songs: "Ariel Ramirez" - Richard Bucknker, "Hopeful" - Jennifer O'Connor, "At My Window Sad and Lonely" - Billy Bragg and Wilco, "My First Lover" - Gillian Welch, "Mama Tried" - Merle Haggard

When James first enters the home, he leaves the key in the door. Kristen soon follows after putting out a half smoked cigarette, but she does not remove the key either. James is preoccupied and distraught from the start of the film so this is not improbable.

Pin-Up Girl said this to Dollface because it was her first time as a killer.

THEATRICAL: The strangers catch Kristen and James and tie them up. Then, they take turns stabbing them. Afterwards, they leave one by one. James eventually dies, but Kristen is still alive (though badly wounded). In the morning, two boys see Kristen and James' house broken into, so they go in. They find Kristen on the floor and one of the boys goes out to touch her. She wakes up and screams.

UNRATED: After the strangers leave, Kristen wakes up and literally crawls towards Mike's ringing phone. By the time she gets to it, however, it stops ringing. She turns around and sees the Man in the Mask behind her. He takes the phone and then calmly leaves. Kristen collapses next to Mike's body. That's why the two boys find her there, instead of next to James' body (which is where she originally was).

The ending is slightly extended. Please read 'How does it end?' for more info.

Horror films rarely have a post-credits scene. "The Strangers" is no exception.

Yes, a sequel will be released in 2010. Further details are currently TBA. http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1285009/

In the US, the DVD and Blu-ray was released on Tuesday, October 21st. Both included the Rated and Unrated versions of the film. In the UK, the DVD and Blu-ray will come out on Friday, December 26th and will also both include the Rated and Unrated versions. Special Features for all the releases are: The Element of Terror featurette, Deleted Scenes and (exclusive to the Blu-ray disc only) a B-D Live feature where you can share your favourite scenes from the movie with your friends.

You can see the R1 (US) DVD cover art right here: http://www.dvdactive.com/news/releases/the-strangers.html and you can see the R2 (UK) DVD cover art here, as well: http://www.dvdactive.com/news/releases/the-strangers2.html

The day after its US theatrical release (May 30th), The Strangers had a score of 7.5.