The Strangers (2008 film)
Updated: 12/10/2025, 3:17:23 PM Wikipedia source
The Strangers is a 2008 American psychological horror film written and directed by Bryan Bertino and starring Liv Tyler and Scott Speedman. The film follows a couple whose stay at a vacation home is disrupted by three masked intruders who infiltrate the home in the middle of the night. The screenplay was inspired by two real-life events: the multiple-homicide Manson family Tate murders and a series of break-ins that occurred in Bertino's neighborhood as a child. Some journalists noted similarities between the film and the Keddie cabin murders that occurred in Keddie, California, in 1981, though Bertino did not cite this as a reference. Development of The Strangers began in 2004, when Bertino submitted his screenplay for the film for a Nicholl Fellowship grant. The screenplay caught the attention of producer Roy Lee of Vertical Entertainment. Bertino sold the screenplay to Universal Pictures in November 2004. Directors Justin Lin and Mark Romanek were originally attached to direct the project, but after both backed out, Bertino was hired as director. Made on a budget of $9 million, the film was shot on location in rural South Carolina in the fall of 2006. Originally slated for a theatrical release in November 2007, it was postponed before eventually being released on May 30, 2008 by Rogue Pictures, a subsidiary of Universal. The film went on to become a sleeper hit, grossing $82 million at the box office worldwide. It received mixed reviews from critics, with some critiquing it for its sadism and sparse character development, while others praised its atmosphere, suspense, and psychological elements. The film was nominated for Best Horror Film at the 35th Saturn Awards, and Tyler won the award for Best Actress at the 3rd Scream Awards. In the years since its release, The Strangers has become a cult film and received critical reassessment with praise for its tension and stylistic minimalism. Additionally, film scholars have interpreted it as a meditation on random crime in rural American communities, and common fears of unpredicted stranger-on-stranger violence. A sequel, The Strangers: Prey at Night, was released in March 2018 as the second installment in a film franchise. In 2024, the first installment in a standalone trilogy set within the same continuity, titled The Strangers: Chapter 1 was released.
Infobox
Directed by
Bryan Bertino
Written by
Bryan Bertino
Produced by
mw- Doug DavisonRoy LeeNathan Kahane
Starring
Liv Tyler Scott Speedman
Cinematography
Peter Sova
Edited by
Kevin Greutert
Music by
Tomandandy
Productioncompanies
Rogue Pictures Intrepid Pictures Vertigo Entertainment Mandate Pictures
Distributed by
Rogue Pictures
Release date
May 30, 2008 (2008-05-30)
Running time
86 minutes
Country
United States
Language
English
Budget
$9 million
Box office
$82.4 million
Tables
· Reception › Accolades
Empire Awards
Empire Awards
Award/association
Empire Awards
Year
2008
Category
Best Horror
Recipient(s) and nominee(s)
The Strangers
Result
Nominated
Fangoria Chainsaw Awards
Fangoria Chainsaw Awards
Award/association
Fangoria Chainsaw Awards
Year
2009
Category
Best Score
Recipient(s) and nominee(s)
Tomandandy
Result
Nominated
Best Wide-Release Film
Best Wide-Release Film
Award/association
Best Wide-Release Film
Year
The Strangers
Category
Nominated
Fright Meter Awards
Fright Meter Awards
Award/association
Fright Meter Awards
Year
2008
Category
Best Screenplay
Recipient(s) and nominee(s)
Bryan Bertino
Result
Nominated
Best Director
Best Director
Award/association
Best Director
Year
Nominated
Best Actor
Best Actor
Award/association
Best Actor
Year
Scott Speedman
Category
Nominated
Best Actress
Best Actress
Award/association
Best Actress
Year
Liv Tyler
Category
Nominated
Golden Schmoes
Golden Schmoes
Award/association
Golden Schmoes
Year
2008
Category
Best Horror Film
Recipient(s) and nominee(s)
The Strangers
Result
Nominated
Golden Trailer Awards
Golden Trailer Awards
Award/association
Golden Trailer Awards
Year
2008
Category
Best Horror Trailer
Recipient(s) and nominee(s)
Nominated
Best Sound Editing
Best Sound Editing
Award/association
Best Sound Editing
Year
Nominated
Saturn Awards
Saturn Awards
Award/association
Saturn Awards
Year
2009
Category
Best Horror Film
Recipient(s) and nominee(s)
Nominated
Scream Awards
Scream Awards
Award/association
Scream Awards
Year
2008
Category
Best Horror Actress
Recipient(s) and nominee(s)
Liv Tyler
Result
Won
Best Horror Movie
Best Horror Movie
Award/association
Best Horror Movie
Year
The Strangers
Category
Nominated
Teen Choice Awards
Teen Choice Awards
Award/association
Teen Choice Awards
Year
2008
Category
Choice Movie: Horror/Thriller
Recipient(s) and nominee(s)
Nominated
Choice Movie Actor: Horror/Thriller
Choice Movie Actor: Horror/Thriller
Award/association
Choice Movie Actor: Horror/Thriller
Year
Scott Speedman
Category
Nominated
Choice Movie Actress: Horror/Thriller
Choice Movie Actress: Horror/Thriller
Award/association
Choice Movie Actress: Horror/Thriller
Year
Liv Tyler
Category
Nominated
| Award/association | Year | Category | Recipient(s) and nominee(s) | Result | Ref. |
| Empire Awards | 2008 | Best Horror | The Strangers | Nominated | |
| Fangoria Chainsaw Awards | 2009 | Best Score | Tomandandy | Nominated | |
| Best Wide-Release Film | The Strangers | Nominated | |||
| Fright Meter Awards | 2008 | Best Screenplay | Bryan Bertino | Nominated | |
| Best Director | Nominated | ||||
| Best Actor | Scott Speedman | Nominated | |||
| Best Actress | Liv Tyler | Nominated | |||
| Golden Schmoes | 2008 | Best Horror Film | The Strangers | Nominated | |
| Golden Trailer Awards | 2008 | Best Horror Trailer | Nominated | ||
| Best Sound Editing | Nominated | ||||
| Saturn Awards | 2009 | Best Horror Film | Nominated | ||
| Scream Awards | 2008 | Best Horror Actress | Liv Tyler | Won | |
| Best Horror Movie | The Strangers | Nominated | |||
| Teen Choice Awards | 2008 | Choice Movie: Horror/Thriller | Nominated | ||
| Choice Movie Actor: Horror/Thriller | Scott Speedman | Nominated | |||
| Choice Movie Actress: Horror/Thriller | Liv Tyler | Nominated |
References
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- Adapted from the closing credits of The Strangers.
- Following some conflicting reports indicating otherwise, producer Courtney Solomon restated that the trilogy is neither
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