Highway Psychos

I say this film a couple of nights ago when I couldn't find anything to watch. Having seen the first couple of minutes I was wondering if I'd made the right decision, I'm glad I stuck with it because this is one very cool film. Twists that keep you guessing, fantastic acting, an unusual ending, splendid locations. And, the absolutely gorgeous Radha Mitchell. See this film, you won't be disappointed.

One question though - what is it with Volvo's? They appear in almost every film I've ever seen!

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!

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. (***)

A beatiful trip into the cinematographic nihilistic non sense of a story without real meaning, but tight, well written and with a cool music all around. This is a thriller how it should be done, without relaxation, always on the edge of something, full of surprises and with good acting for most of the leads. This is another good surprise from down under, thanks to the misunderstood genius of new-zealander Scott Reynolds, whose The Ugly was something of a miracle, a really disturbing tense horror, not very much appreciated. The female lead is the gorgeous Radha Mitchell (already seen in Pitch Black). What more can I say? Buy or rent this movie and you'll find your money well spent. Thumbs up!!

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.