The Strangers True Story: Real-Life Crimes That Inspired The Horror Movie
The terrifying 2008 home invasion horror film The Strangers was inspired by real-life violent crimes, including shocking and brutal murders. While the horror genre is often, and not unfairly, associated with tales of monsters, ghosts, and other supernatural creatures, some of the most effective horror films of all time rely on none of those things. As playful as these nightmarish visions are, most exist in the realm of fantasy, allowing audiences to view them in relative comfort.
2008 horror movieThe Strangers cleverly subverts this premise, becoming scary precisely because it could happen to anyone watching the film. Indeed, while critical consensus remains split on The Strangers' plot, the efficacy of the film's horror elements is unquestioned as a sadistic portrait of a home invasion. While The Strangers' insular premise introduces very few characters outside of Kristen (Liv Tyler), James (Scott Speedman), and the three strangers, its microcosmic nature allows an almost unparalleled ratcheting of tension as a young couple fights tooth and nail for their lives.
Related: Saw: The True Story That Inspired The Horror Movie
Despite the almost ethereal nature of its masked antagonists, The Strangers is based on a few true stories. Several harrowing real-life crimes form the backbone of The Strangers' core narrative, including several notorious murders. Here are the real-life crimes and true stories that inspired The Strangers.
According to novice writer and director Bryan Bertino, The Strangers is primarily based on three alternate true stories. The first is the infamous series of murders committed by the Manson Family in 1969, later nicknamed «Helter Skelter,» which were organized by Charles Manson in an ill-conceived bid
Read more on screenrant.com
