When Strangers Appear (2001) User Reviews

only my 3rd IMDB review and it's Australian movie again...

[soulcharmer · 7/10 · 16 September 2003]

...and to put it shortly, it's not as intriguing as Pitch Black but far more enjoyable than Lantana on the other hand.

yes it's true, this is only B-grade low-budget suspense thriller where nothing is as it appears to be (speaking of immediate succession of events) but nonetheless I really liked Radha Mitchell in her role, I really liked the humble setup and I really liked the ending where the story bends into a full circle (well, almost).

maybe it's not an art film of the year with heart-breaking scenes where father and son meet after years of nerve-wrecking separation or something but it's quite enjoyable if you give it a chance. I did and wasn't disappointed.

7/10

Overlooked New Zealand thriller set in rural Oregon

[sol1218 · 7/10 · 17 January 2010]

***SPOILERS*** It's when drifter Jack Barrett, Barry Watson, showed up at Beth's , Radha Mitchell, out of the way off the beaten track, or main highway, diner that things started getting real interesting as well as deadly. Acting as if he has something to hide, in what turned out to be a mysterious CD, Jack kept looking outside expecting someone to show up looking for him. That didn't take long when this trio of surfers Peter Steven & Roger, Josh Lucas Jon Blick & Eryn Wilson, drove up an hour later.

Terrified and fearing for his life Jack, hiding behind the counter, begged Beth not to reveal him to the three strangers, which what seemed at the time to be against her worst suspicions about him, which she didn't. As things soon turned out the three surfer boys were anything but the happy go lucky lads, looking for the perfect wave, that they seemed to be. Whatever they did and whatever they had against Jack was left up to the viewers and Beth's imagination. But it was enough for them to murder anyone who stood in the way between them and Jack and the CD he had on him that they were so desperately after.

What at first seemed to be the films most weakest point in the end turned out to be its strongest: The mysterious CD that Jack had on him that he guarded with his very life. We never get to know what exactly is on the CD but that's the very reason were so interested in it. Beth for her part slowly starts to believe in what Jack was telling her about the three strangers in that he was suffering from an almost fatal stab wound that they supposedly inflicted on him. Beth is also pestered and threatened by local cop Bryce, Kevin Anderson, whom she accused of raping her and who's wife Lynda, Dra Mckay, who accuses her of having and affair with him. This makes for an interesting side-story in the movie but doesn't add anything to the terror and suspense in it.

***SPOILERS*** It takes a while for Beth to finally be convinced in what Jack was telling her about the three strangers and that's only after Dr. Eric Leonard, Steven Ray, who was treating Jack's knife wound ended up being murdered by them. The three killers lead by the smooth talking and friendly Peter then came out into the open and showed exactly what they were all about with Beth, in Jack accidentally electrocuting himself, on her own in single handedly taking them on! That's until the unexpected hero in the movie gas station attendant Bernie, Michael Lowe, almost by accident showed up on the scene!

Nerve wrecking and tense filled climax with the heroic gas station attendant Bernie, who was savagely worked over by the three thugs, coming to Beth's rescue only to end up losing his life by doing it. It was Bernie's brave action that gave Beth the precious time to set into motion the events that finally lead to the movie's flaming and explosive climatic scene. It was then that Peter & Co. got everything that was coming to them! Everything except the mysterious CD that they were after, and murdered so many people for, all throughout the film!

Predictably unpredictable

[=G= · 5/10 · 11 August 2002]

"When Strangers Appear" is a B-movie suspense/thriller flick which is little more than one long string of obvious stalk/scream/run/relax contrivances. This kinetic flick is all about three guys who may be psycho and one other guy who may be psycho running around like rats in a maze looking for a babe (Mitchell) who has something they want. In spite of all the obvious flaws from poor character development to an incorrect spelling of an anti-psychotic drug on a pill bottle, "WSA" does manage nominal no-brainer excitement, builds to a crescendo, and smirks at you at the end. Okay for couch potatoes in the mood for some nail biting escapism. (C)

A film to keep you wondering...

[xselfish_tearsx · 30 June 2004]

In contrast to the other comment written about this film, I actually like this film a lot. In my opinion, it is well acted and the lack of background music in the film helps create a tense atmosphere which will keep you on the edge of your seat. This atmosphere is added to by the way that the film has been made in a small area, due to it's low budget, making it feel quite claustrophobic. The plot of the film never seems quite clear and has many twists and turns within it, making you change you opinion constantly as to who is on whose side. All in all, this is a very good psychological thriller which will keep you thinking all the way through the film and on the edge of your seat at the same time. I'd give this an 8.5 out of 10 as I enjoyed it however it hasn't got the best plot in the world and won't be suited to everyone's tastes.

Good -- Until the End

[NIXFLIX-DOT-COM · 7/10 · 2 September 2003]

WHEN STRANGERS APPEAR is a very good film, with a taut storyline, excellent acting, and terrific atmosphere. Unfortunately all of that goes out the window for what amounts to an overblown, over-the-top fight at a gas station with -- get this -- gasoline spilling all over the place like a geyser. This, mind you, while characters who are cut and bleeding are FIGHTING INSIDE THE GEYSER, getting "gas" all over the.

Had it not been for the final 10 minutes, where it just seems as if the filmmaker just simply lost interest in the movie and just decided to end it because he was too lazy to continue on, WHEN STRANGERS APPEAR could have been so much better.

6 out of 10

(go to www.nixflix.com for a more detailed review of this movie as well as reviews of other films from around the world)

When you haven't heard much about a movie, there's generally a good reason

[bashfulbadger · 6/10 · 10 September 2015]

I thought the trailer for this looked interesting. But sometimes there's a reason why you haven't heard much about a movie.

In the case of When Strangers Appear, it was possibly because you could drive a fair-size SUV through the holes in the plot. In fact the likable leads, sassy tough-girl waitress Radha Mitchell and blow-in weakling waif Barry Watson do well to steer clear of the yawning chasms multiplying around them as the film progresses.

Watson's broke and a bit broken but it still takes him a while to awaken Mitchell's protective instincts. When a gang of bad boys turn up at the diner and prove demanding customers, does she believe the cute guy with the greasy hair who claims they're out to get him? Or is he a little unhinged, paranoid and prone to making up stories?

At first promisingly intriguing, Mitchell's dilemma holds the attention as you try to work out with her whom she can trust, if anyone. Affairs are complicated by the fact that the put-upon heroine in the one-horse town has fallen foul of the local police representative in the past so is wary of turning to him for help.

With circumstances conspiring to isolate her, your sympathies are all with the actress, who's probably wishing she'd exercised more of her character's natural suspicion when offered the part in the first place.

It's a watchable enough psychological thriller that passes the time admirably until you start to think about it a bit and ask yourself those niggling 'why' questions. You know, 'But hey, why didn't they …?' Or 'Wait a minute though, why didn't he …?' Then everything falls apart … It's a shame though because, with a little extra effort, it could have been a contender.

Who's the good guy ? Who cares?

[merklekranz · 6/10 · 8 May 2007]

It's extremely manipulative, some scenes make little sense, character development is weak, absurd coincidences abound, and the ending leaves the audience hanging cruelly. Nevertheless, "When Strangers Appear" keeps moving along and does maintain interest. It's just a little too cute for it's own good, and in the final analysis acceptable entertainment but nothing more. One last point, none of the characters are likable, including the heroine. If you want to watch a much better twisty movie which at least makes sense, and is far more entertaining, I highly recommend "Clay Pidgeons", with Jaquin Phoenix and Vince Vaughn. - MERK

Without a doubt the worst movie I ever thought I was liking

[janne_w · 4/10 · 29 January 2005]

I'm a fan of psychological thrillers. A big fan. I'm also a person that dislikes clichés and scenarios that are overused (most often in this type of movie.) I believe this movie had a lot of promise in the beginning, then when you got to know Radha Mitchell a little better, something about her really bugged me. I think she's capable of better. She overacted her attitude. Her kind, sweet face leaves you feeling betrayed. Why couldn't they give that girl a little more personality and (considering her personal story, which is very fuzzy at best) a little move savvy sense? Josh Lucas was *brilliant* in this movie. I think he honestly was the best of the bunch. His character's weirdness was so believable.

Likewise, I enjoyed watching Barry Watson. I hope that his future roles give him a little more "meat" to act from. I honestly believe he played this role the best he possibly could have. There just wasn't a whole lot there to draw from.

Overall, I was left with a feeling of slightly having wasted my time at the end, because the end of this movie was a huge blank. It left me with a feeling that the movie was not the same one I started watching so long ago... too long to get to that empty ending. I honestly wish they would have at least told what was on the CD. Big bummer.

An excellent mystery thriller!

[The_Void · 8/10 · 18 July 2007]

When Strangers Appear wasn't marketed very well to say the least - the trailer makes it out to be another Scream clone - and that's a real shame as this little thriller is an excellent film that really deserves to be more seen! New Zealand born director Scott Reynolds previously made the decent psychological thriller 'The Ugly', but with this film he really upped the bar. The beauty of When Strangers Appear is the fact that for most of the film, the audience never really knows what is going on, and that is exactly how a mystery thriller should be! The film starts off as we follow Beth to work. It seems like an ordinary (boring) day, until a strange drifter walks in. After giving him breakfast, he disappears when three surfers turn up. He claims that the surfers are following him and are also the reason for his stab wound. However, the trio of surfers have a very different story, as it transpires that the stranger appears to be a dangerous psychopath. After a shocking turn of events, Beth finds herself in the middle of an extremely dangerous situation.

This film works thanks to the way that Scott Reynolds builds the atmosphere and tension. The central character, Beth, is very easy to feel for; while the supporting cast are all mysterious enough to generate interest themselves. The film is topped off by a whole host of brilliantly tense situations that help to keep the audience on the edge of their seats. The bathroom scene is the biggest standout in this respect, and is positively nail biting! The isolated setting compliments the story excellently, and helps to build intrigue in its own right. The plot builds nicely throughout, and there's never a shortage of things happening. The fact that the film only features a handful of characters is certainly to its benefit too as it means that the film never loses its focus and this ensures that it's always easy to buy into the plot. It's true that When Strangers Appear isn't very substantial overall, but as a thriller it serves it's purpose well all the way up until the explosive ending and I see no reason why this film wont be enjoyed by anyone who takes the time to watch it. Very much recommended!

interesting thriller vibe

[SnoopyStyle · 6/10 · 5 January 2016]

Beth (Radha Mitchell) runs a roadside diner next to a desolate highway. Jack Barrett (Barry Watson) shows up out of nowhere in a dirty car with a surf board on top. Peter (Josh Lucas) and two other guys show up looking for the beach. Jack hides from them claiming they're going to kill him and her.

I like the empty roadside diner. I wouldn't mind if the movie stayed there as a minimalist psychological thriller. The movie loses a little something by moving on. It gets muddled and confused by adding too much stuff. I lose some patience by the time of the McGuffin CD. The other thing is that this is noticeably not Oregon. It would even be cooler to set this in New Zealand. The third thing is that this movie needs to take place at night. That would increase the intensity by half. I like the general indie mystery thriller vibe. However it tries to do so many twisty thrills that I don't think they all work.

Almost Worth the Trip

[jessepenitent · 5/10 · 4 July 2005]

Every year, three friends and I take a weekend road trip. It's a "girls only" trip and we spend several months planning where we will go, when we will leave and what we will do once we get there. Some of us are a little more detail oriented than others, but we do leave some things open to chance to make the trip more fun. One reason for the trip is to enjoy time spent in the company of friends and to get away from it all. We meander along the first day, maybe even stopping at interesting places on the way. It's great fun.

BUT--once we get to where we are going, there had better have been a good reason for us to go. If the hotel has no running water, the main tourist attraction is closed and the food inedible, the rest of the trip sours a little bit.

"When Strangers Appear" was like an almost good road trip: interesting companions whom you learn more about as the story progresses, interesting side trips in the plot and a couple of great twists and turns...and then you arrive at your destination and...no running water (well, maybe too much running water--those of you who have seen it may know what I mean), no tourist attraction and lousy food.

I was actually surprised by the actors. Barry Watson and Josh Lucas aren't Hanks or Newman or Penn, but they managed to create creepily likable characters who kept dragging me back and forth to their side. Radha Mitchell was annoyingly spunky but at least she kept it consistent (or tried to--her character was required to do some things that were stupid) and Kevin Anderson adds another likable bastard to his credits.

The actors do what they can with the script. They are all great companions for the journey, but the writer either had no destination in mind or the chose several different destinations and couldn't decide on any of them. While the characters are trying to reach the mystery destination, they are suddenly required to act like idiots. There are at least two or three incidents where the behavior of the heroine and her "support" is SO stupid, I wanted to kill them. There is the obligatory car that won't start. Is this an unwritten law in filmdom? After a certain, terrifying scene, the "good guys" SIT DOWN AND CHAT when they should be on the run--and it's very clear that this lull in the action was inserted only so the "bad guys" would have time to catch up with them. Several major pieces of information are introduced--and then discarded. A certain action--the kicking of the jukebox at Beth's diner-- is repeated over and over. It is built up in such a way that I really was waiting to see how it would be used in the denouement...but it is never used. A major player (about whom some scary things are revealed and about whom questions are raised) is taken out at the beginning of act three. Then we learn nothing more about him.

Up to the end of act two, even with all the idiot actions, the movie was Hitchcockian, intriguing and had me salivating for the answers. Who is Jack? Who is Peter? Why surfing? What's on the freakin' disk?

And then....Hitchock leaves the project and Steven Seagal comes in to create lots of mayhem, holocausts and insanity. We get no payoff (unless explosions and shootings are your idea of payoff). No explanations, no tie ups, NOTHING. Lots of loose ends getting wet so that Radha Mitchell's character can be the butt of a soggy director's joke.

Now, some will say that I am immature if I can't stand loose ends. But a picture that sets itself up to be Hitchcock should follow in his footsteps and tie up the major loose ends, even if it leaves the minor ones untied. I expected thoughtful, intriguing answers that might even create more questions about everything that went before (a la "Mullholland Drive" or "Memento" for example). Instead, I got explosions, cheap shots, death and destruction...which leads me to believe, the people responsible didn't know what to do with their classy material, so they just went for the lowest common denominator. If they wanted to film a cheap action thriller, then it should have been a cheap action thriller on page one. I was tantalized for ninety minutes with the promise of really good answers. And the promise was broken leaving me stranded in the desert without a road map.

Not a very good ending to what had been an exciting road trip.

Suspenseful

[deadkerouac · 8/10 · 20 August 2002]

A lonely young woman named Beth (Aussie actress Rahda Mitchell from LOVE & OTHER CATASTROPHES, HIGH ART, and PITCH BLACK) lives in a small town in California with (literally) only five to six residents. She works days at a roadside diner and nights at a motel, both of which were left to her by her late father. A young drifter named Jack Barrett (Barry Watson of TV's 7TH HEAVEN) appears at the diner one day, a knife wound to the abdomen. He tells her that he is being chased, and, soon enough, three men (Josh Lucas, Jonathan Blick, Eryn Wilson), claiming to be surfers, show up (in a Volvo, of all cars). Jack, hiding in the kitchen, tells Beth that these are the men who are chasing him. Jack later collapses in the parking lot, and Beth decides to help him. She gives him a room at the motel, and later also gives the three surfers a room, two doors down. She soon befriends the main surfer, Peter (Lucas). Later that night, Beth takes Jack to a doctor friend of hers, Eric (Steven Ray), who can sew up Jack's wound. Meanwhile, outside, the three surfers wait outside the house in their car, silent. The next day, Eric won't answer his phone. What has happened to him? Beth finds medication in Jack's car. Who can Beth trust? The drifter Jack? The surfers? How about the local (and lone) cop Bryce (Kevin Anderson), whom Beth claims once raped her?

As far as low-budget films go, this one, written and directed by Scott Reynolds, is right on the money in most respects. There are several suspenseful scenes, from Jack hiding in the kitchen while the three surfers make small talk with Beth to Beth hiding in a gas station bathroom stall while the person who is hunting her stands outside the door, switchblade in hand. SPOILER: the best scene involves Jack and Beth hiding in the bathroom while the three surfers try to coax the two out, during which Deep Purple's "Hush" blares loudly on the jukebox.

The use of flashbacks is nice and adds suspense and, in a scene between Beth and Bryce, adds insight into the characters and their motivations. Every actor does their job with conviction, especially Mitchell, whose American accent is so dead-on I would've thought she was American if I hadn't already seen her in earlier films; Watson, who is slowly growing out of his 7TH HEAVEN persona; Anderson, as good here as he was in MILES FROM HOME; and Lucas, who keeps you guessing as to his identity until it is finally revealed. And, you wouldn't really know it unless you're familiar with the territory, but the entire film was filmed in Foxton, New Zealand! I'm from California, and I must say that the beautiful grasslands and coastline of Foxton subbed wonderfully for California, even up to the driftwood.

SPOILER: the ending at the gas station is photographed and shot beautifully with enough suspense to keep you guessing until the very end, but I could've done without the add-on after the credits. 8/10

Strange, and interesting ..

[ravenlll · 6/10 · 26 February 2002]

While I thought this movie had it's suspenseful moments, I can't help but feel that I was missing something. Did I miss something?

Small town outcast loner girl runs the local diner and motel. Her life changes forever one day when a stranger appears, injured from some type of stab wound, and draws her into a game of intrigue, terror and even murder. He'd edgy, jumpy and seems to have something to hide. Moments later, 3 more strangers appear who seem to have an agenda. "They are after me, they are the ones who stabbed me!" "He robbed us and we just want to talk to him." You're being followed, stalked, and lied to. Who do you believe? Where do you turn? The local police? Not likely since the town's only officer recently raped you and no one believes you.

** Contains Minor Spoilers **

What transpires leaves you on the edge of your seat at times, startles you at times, makes your skin crawl at times, but leaves so many open ends. Like, what was on the disk? Why was "the disk" the reason that so many people were killed? I was very shocked that this was not answered. Why was the doctor killed? Did he know something? How did she walk away unscathed after being drenched in gasoline when things around here were blowing up?

*****

Overall a good movie to watch at night in the dark, but don't expect a whole lot and you won't be left disappointed.

....like watching TETRIS in slow motion...

[peepingtomcat · 1/10 · 7 September 2001]

WHEN STRANGERS APPEAR is a by-the-numbers wannabe thriller with aspirations to BLOOD SIMPLE but without a single frame of originality. The audience I watched this with hooted loudly at the on-screen shenanigans and past the midway mark were loudly screaming `spot the cliche!' at the screen. The script is turgid and thrilless, the acting ranges from ham to turkey and the director treats the audience like idiots by trying to get away with some of the stupidest lapses in logic ever witnessed. I honestly can't think of a single positive thing to say about this film which seems to be a home-movie. I can recommend watching it with a group of friends, some beers and a large sack of rotten tomatoes to hurl at the screen.

What a great surprise!

[wranksf · 29 August 2002]

The only reason I rented this was because I saw that Radha Mitchell was in it, and I loved her in "High Art." This movie is great! It is suspenseful and very well made, I don't understand why it never became a cult hit. It seems like an Australian film and strangely enough, it has a kind of "Mad Max" feel to it, where it's totally low budget but looks great. The script is great, the acting is great, just rent it, you will love it. But don't try to find out what it's about in advance - it's better to just go in with no idea.

for BLOODy SIMPLEtons only (minor spoiler included)

[sheilamiles · 1/10 · 7 September 2001]

WHEN STRANGERS APPEAR is the most derivate, amateur and dull feature film I've seen all year.

Shot in New Zealand but set in Oregon, this evocatively titled (ahem!) `thriller' has all the twists and turns of the Brooklyn Bridge.

In a small Smalltown inhabited by half a dozen people, a young woman opens up the `off-the-interstate' diner called `Weekers'. Suddenly, a young stranger appears outside and waits-tantalisingly out of focus, till she brews the coffee. Then the stranger enters and they mouth inanities at each other till the stranger excuses himself. In the bathroom he reveals that he has a strange stomach injury. Then three more strangers appear and order breakfast, but the first stranger signals her from the kitchen that the other three strangers are really dangerous. They're stranger/killers after a strange computer disc that the first stranger has in his possession. Who can she believe? Which of the strangers can she trust?.

Reynolds tries to create a `style' by inserting pointless close ups of brewing coffee sizzling on a hot plate. This is supposed to contribute `atmosphere', but it all feels forced and second-hand. The mis-en-scene is all meaningless camera moves and mismatched cuts.

It's almost worth sticking around for the climax, which is a new benchmark in blithering incompetence. After a car crashes into a petrol pump at a gas station (imaginatively named `GAS'), petrol sprays everywhere soaking villains, heroes, cars, well.... everything. After a ridiculously hokey plot-device (which I won't spoil because it's too synapse-draining) ignites a spark, the villains become engulfed in flames while the heroine, mere inches away, magically avoids immolation (remember they're all soaked to the skin in gasoline). Ummmmm....how? Oh, I guess it must have read really cool on paper, but onscreen it unfolds like it's been shot by a kid with a handicam. It's the Curse of Watching too many Michael Bay Movies, (and worse-actually finding them inspirational). Fast cuts and close ups are frantically plastered over mortal wounds in logic. This is a dot-to-dot reconstruction of what a stay-at-home video nerd thinks a film should deliver. If only post-Tarantino parasites like Reynolds would drag themselves away from memorising Maltin's Movie Guide and actually live a little, get laid, travel or get into a fight, then maybe, they'd have enough life experience to make something worth watching, rather than churning out this recycled garbage.

Very Catchy

[princess7angel7 · 9/10 · 6 April 2006]

Wow...I tell you what I really liked this movie when i saw it. I was sitting home watching lifetime and this happened to come on. I was so enthralled by this movie i couldn't turn away from it. I love Josh Lucas in this movie. I had always been a huge fan of him, like it Sweet Home Alabama. But in this movie you got to see him act in a different way, he actually got to take on a darker roll. I didn't think that it would work but it totally did! This movie was full of twists and turns. Reading the other comments everyone says that they didn't like the ending but i thought that the ending was pretty good. How they made it switch on and on from person to person. It was a little bit hard to follow but in the end it made it all that much more worth it. I would definitely recommend this movie!

Gave so many stars ONLY because I couldn't give less!

[trackhouse · 1/10 · 30 December 2018]

Do NOT, I repeat, DO NOT waste any minutes of your life on this movie! And SHAME on all of the people who rated it 9 stars lol what a sham! You have been warned!

people don't get it

[Thell7 · 9/10 · 7 September 2003]

The people who have written most of these comments are disappointed of the ending. I say that the ending takes the film a step higher! You don't have to analyze everything and you don't have to come up with meanings that you believe is the idea of the film and then hate them. At least it won't make anyone happier. There is no background music in this film, as I recall, and there are very few people. That sets the mood, and it's a pretty frightening one. Pressuring even. The filming is great, or so I think anyway. My best tip for those who are going to see this movie is that you shouldn't have expectations. This film won't give you all the answers you perhaps will be looking for but it gives you a feeling of something, and if you ask me it's just what films are for - Making you think and/OR making you feel something. In this case, the mood. Beautiful. Top score.

Pointless, Gimmicky and Cheap

[philochlos44 · 1/10 · 19 November 2007]

"When Strangers Appear" is problematic in many ways. It is the kind of movie after which a viewer often feels duped. The plot is secondary to the action. Characters are introduced for the sole purpose of confusing the viewer. I enjoy suspense movies, but this offering hardly lives up to the movie part of that formula. It is nothing but a vehicle for shocking-if unexplained and probably unexplainable-imagery. Of course, these scenes don't really advance the story as such, which is actually a superficial structure laid on top of a series of cheap cliffhangers. This movie is not absurdist (Pasolini would twirl in his grave if that label were ever applied to this picture) but just absurd. I can't believe a producer gave this script the green light.

When strangers appear you better press "stop".

[rainking_es · 3/10 · 28 May 2005]

Here in Spain this movie didn't make it to the cinemas, so I watched it a few days ago on TV. I think they broadcasted it because of the recent popularity of Radha Mitchell and Josh Lucas; other way it doesn't make sense to buy such a poor low-class thriller which it looks like a second rate TV-movie.

A girl which owns a motel and a road restaurant gets involve into some spy-related intrigue with those "strangers" from the title (the fact is that we never get to know what's all about) although she has nothing to do with it. Poor story, poorly showed, and the actors are nothing to write home about (anyway they didn't had the right stuff to develop their talent).

If you like Radha Mitchell (I confess she's one of the most beautiful actresses at present time) give it a chance, 'cause she's on 99% of the stills, but if you like nice thrillers you shouldn't like this one.

*My rate: 3/10

Exceptional thriller.

[gridoon · 8/10 · 13 July 2003]

In 1997, Scott Reynolds made an impressive writing and directing debut with "The Ugly", although his story was a bit too shallow and his direction a bit overly flashy. This time, with his compelling, perspective-shifting script and taut direction, he achieves moments of true brilliance - so many, in fact, that it's hard to pick just one (the little girl who witnesses a violent struggle but doesn't understand it? The sink that may not hold the weight of a man? The killer silently stalking his victim in the toilets, using an admittedly old trick?). This man could very well develop into the Hitchcock of the next generation - the movie even has its own McGuffin to propel the plot (the computer disk). The first half is essentially a mystery, with plenty of twists; when the truth becomes (somewhat) clear, the movie becomes a full-blown thriller, and it offers one absolutely astounding suspense sequence after another. Don't miss it. (***)

Not his best work at all. (no spoilers)

[swiftyl · 1/10 · 4 September 2001]

When Strangers Appear- not much happens. You want them to disappear, and fast. But they don't. They just keep reappearing. And you just get sleepier and sleepier. And still very little is happening. Very slowly. I have a theory; the director suffers from "Kevin Smith syndrome"; that is- his first film would appear to be his best, because the following films just get worse. To check this theory watch "The Ugly" and then "Heaven", then this. Of course I'm not recommending any of these films to anyone...

One of the best thrillers I have seen for a long, long time.

[maria_damkjaer · 9/10 · 5 February 2006]

A lot of the discussion seems to be about the last two minutes of this film, which seems unfair, but actually makes sense because the ending, for me, is the main beauty of the film. I have seen many films spoiled by a silly ending, but this is not one of them. The ending is perfect. This film is fast-paced, with constant turns and surprises, a real, classic thriller basically - and throughout the film there are long scenes where almost nothing happens, just suspense building up, and then it explodes in panic and headlong flight. You never really understand what it is all about, and that, for me, sends the film right up there with "The Birds" and other thriller classics. You don't always have to have things explained to you, sometimes there is a strange beauty in the things that you don't understand. So watch this film is you want to see something a little different, guaranteed no boring exposition and long-winded explanations. This film is an attempt to make a thriller that doesn't have to prove itself, that doesn't need an excuse to exist, that simply just works on the basis of atmosphere and mood. This has to be one of the best thrillers I have seen for a long, long time.

very poor film

[guilfisher-1 · 1/10 · 7 December 2006]

Am I the only one that disliked this? I found myself rooting for the villains. For surely Radha Mitchell was absolutely the worst actress ever. Her screaming, over acting and generally annoying presence made me want the three guys to do her in. No such luck. She survives. I didn't even find her that attractive. With acting talent that maybe goes to a 2 level, she ruined this film for me. Scott Mitchell who wrote and directed this must have been in cloud nine when he cast her, as everybody else wasn't that bad. I liked Josh Lucas and Barry Watson and would like to see more of these guys in a more likable movie. Glad this was on LMN TV as I didn't have to pay for it. If I did, I'd ask for my money back. What kind of a name is Radha anyway?