Pseudo DVD Review: THE STRANGERS: UNRATED

I already reviewed The Strangers upon its initial theatrical release. You can read that bit of Pulitzer Prize worthy journalism here:

http://pacinofan.wordpress.com/2008/06/02/pseudo-review-the-strangers/

Suffice to say, I dug the movie. I know it falters a bit towards the end, but overall the film works for me. I think your enjoyment of it depends on how much you care about the victims.

The DVD, on the other hand, doesn’t work for me at all. The packaging states that it includes the theatrical and unrated versions. The only real difference between the two is a bit of extra “struggling” towards the end of the unrated version that, to be honest, weakens the very last scene. Anyone hoping for a hardcore sex scene with Liv Tyler (or Scott Speedman, whatever floats your boat) will be surely disappointed. The only special features on the disc are some deleted scenes and a making of doc that runs just over nine minutes and features no earth shattering revelations on the film. The two deleted scenes are pretty meaningless as they simply reinforce that Scott Speedman really wanted to marry Liv Tyler, but she doesn’t want to marry him. I was hoping the bonus content would give more insight on the Strangers themselves, or on the so called “true story” the movie is supposedly based. Instead we learn Live Tyler hurt her hand pounding on a window, and Scott Speedman’s character took a drink before proposing to Liv Tyler.  

The Strangers is a pretty disappointing DVD package. Had I known the bonus content was so weak, I would’ve have waited for it to hit the previously viewed bin at blockbuster. Even a director’s commentary would have made me happy, but we don’t even get that. Maybe there saving that for a double dip, but if they are I won’t be getting it. I’m not gonna spend money on a better version of a DVD that should have been right the first time.

Basically what I’m saying is, the movie is very recommended but the DVD, not so much.