Review: The Stranger

The phrase "Eli Roth Presents" usual gets me at least somewhat excited for what's in store. Clown from last year particularly delivered on an original and creepy premise. I wish the same could be said for the grim, pointless and utterly boring The Stranger. Director Guillermo Amoedo previously teamed up with Roth for Aftermath, another grim horror film but with far better results.

The Stranger is a vampire film that never wants to admit it is a vampire film. Cristobal Tapia Montt plays Martin, an unknown man who begins searching for his wife in a small Canadian town. He soon learns of her death, is beaten nearly to death and is buried by officer De Luca, Luis Gnecco. When a local graffiti tagger finds Martin still breathing, it sets off a blood-soaked series of events.

One of the major issues with the film is the casting. A mostly Chilean cast plays the townsfolk on a sleepy Canadian town. Very few of the actors can hide their accents and the stilted delivery of many of the lines hurts the overall effect of the film. Amoedo is capable of creating atmosphere and the film is drenched in a somber mood.

The other major problem with The Stranger is the pacing. The film feels longer than it is. It moves at such a glacier pace that you wonder if it forgot where it was headed. In trying to create such a dark and moody feel to the film, all momentum is lost and the film lacks any sense of suspense. Overall The Stranger is a vampire film only for those who feel the need to see every take on vampire lore.

1.5/5