THE STRANGERS (2008)

Note: from Oct 2021-June 2022, the podcast was known as 21 Jump Scare and was organized in a slightly different fashion, with different awards.

Background (spoiler-free) 0:00-9:57
Discussion (spoiler-heavy) 9:58-38:30
Awards (spoilers for days) 38:31

Director Bryan Bertino
Screenplay Bryan Bertino
Featuring Glenn Howerton, Laura Margolis, Scott Speedman, Liv Tyler, Gemma Ward, Kip Weeks

Opened: June 1, 2008
Budget: $9,000,000 (estimated)
Opening Weekend USA: $20,997,985
Gross USA: $52,597,610
Cumulative Worldwide Gross: $82,410,456

SPOILER-FREE SYNOPSIS

On the night of February 11, 2005, Kristen McKay and James Hoyt left a friend’s wedding reception and returned to the Hoyt family’s summer home.  The next morning, two boys wander into the house and find a grisly scene:  three bodies splayed on the floor.  They call 911.  We flash back:  James and Kristen in the car, driving home from the reception.  A tear runs down her cheek.  They walk into the house, which is strewn with rose petals, as if James was expecting this to be the scene of a happy occasion, the aftermath of a successful wedding proposal.  Alas, it is not to be.  Wanting to given Kristen her space, James plunks himself down at the table with a bottle of champagne and a tub of ice cream.  Kristen takes a bath, and when she emerges, the two engage in the beginnings of what appears to be breakup sex – only to be interrupted by what sounds like a rock hitting the front door, and then a mysterious caller who asks if someone named “Tamara” is home. After turning the caller away, Jamie goes out to get Kristen cigarettes, and things only pile up from there – the sounds of banging outside continue, words are written on windows, and at one point, it appears someone may have entered the house and is stalking Kristen.  James eventually returns, but the couple is eventually joined by a trio of marauding masked killers hellbent on making Jamie and Kristen’s last night together as miserable as possible.

EPISODE NOTES

Music from “The Strangers” by Tomandandy.

TRAILER

AWARDS

The Tom Six Award for Most Disturbing Scene
Bradford:  Final scene in which the strangers reveal their motive
Eric: Murder of James and Kristen
   
The Seth Brundle Award for Most Likable Character
Bradford: The kid who calls 9-1-1 in the beginning
Eric:  Kristen
    
The Ellen Ripley Award for Character that Most Deserved to Live
Bradford: Kristen
Eric:  Kristen
    
The John Doe Award for Character that Most Deserved to Die (and Does)
Bradford: 
Eric: Abstaining

The Gaspar Noe Award/Ken Russell Award for Most Gratuitous Screen Moment
Bradford:  The sight of Mike’s blown-off face and enucleated eye
Eric:  Kristen comes back to life at the end