Talk:The Strangers (2008 film)

Removal of "needs infobox" tag

This article has had its infobox tag removed by a cleanup using AWB. Any concerns please leave me a message at my talk page. RWardy 17:48, 12 September 2007 (UTC)

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True Events?

The real story:

The events actually happened in the Czech Republican area or Romania. A French movie was released in 2006 called "Them" which I'm guessing Bertino saw and decided to redo the movie as his own. You can find the movie at Hollywood video and it explains what happened.

Actually, this film has nothing to do with "ils" (the french film). Bertino wrote this movie years ago (2004) (http://www.killermovies.com/s/strangers/articles/4623.html), and ils came out in 2006 (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0465203/). and also, the movie has been passed around since because they couldn't find a director. eventually, rogue went back to bertino and asked him to do it(http://www.moviesonline.ca/movienews_12591.html). the movie was supposed to come out last summer, but got postponed to fall 2007, and then again to this summer. and according to the interview, he was inspired by manson's rampage. And since the movie was written well-before february 11, 2005 and the credits explain that the events in the movie are fictional and any resemblances to any persons living or dead, etc, are completely coincidental, probably just took an actual event and altered it to make his movie.72.49.19.163 (talk) 05:43, 2 June 2008 (UTC)

THE REAL FLIPPIN STROY! (Wikipedia have a brain and release this) --Oh god people. The event did not take place in 2005 it took place in 2004. Kristen McCay and James Hoyt were 100% truthfully real. They died in a homicide resulting in 1st, 2nd degree mourder, which of course is synonymous to Man Slaughter. The two kids you see at the end of this production were the last standing chance of keeping the couple alive. The two boys, who go by Minors one and two, rode their bikes home. Eventually 911 was called but before the ambulance even reached the home of this couple, Kristen McCay and James Hoyt were in such a state of death it would be impossible to recover them. In this, they called investigation squads, and found one man guilty. This man clarified the entire story you saw in the movie so that he could spend life in prision instead of death row. This man's name was never realesed but what got out was the man was part of the local church. Which really seems ironic with the christian academy boys. Kristen McCay and James Hoyt were in the towns obitiuaries in the paper. They truley did die of homicide, what makes these events unproven is that they came from the mouth of a killer who has really, no proof of his words. If you were already going to spend life in prision, wouldn't you want to go down as one of the best? He could have lied the brutal assualts. But Kristen McCay and James Hoyt DID die of murder. —Preceding unsigned comment added by Canes rool81 (talk • contribs) 16:27, 31 May 2008 (UTC)

Have a brain and use correct grammar and spelling. "Mourder" is actually spelt "murder". "Man Slaughter" is actually a single word: "manslaughter". Gregory.currie (talk) 08:05, 14 August 2008 (UTC)

Also, the story is fiction, but based on a handful of different real-life incidents, mainly The Keddie Murders. I really wish teeny boppers who can't spell or type would stay the fuck off the site. --Ragemanchoo (talk) 08:29, 22 August 2008 (UTC)

Since this movie is being promoted as "inspired by true events" I think information supporting this tagline should be included. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 208.81.105.101 (talk) 16:53, 19 May 2008 (UTC)

agreed -- but I assume that since the movie claims to take place in 2005, the real events took place several years or more earlier? Aristophanes68 (talk) 16:09, 23 May 2008 (UTC)

I'm not finding any news coverage of any events involving "Kristen McKay" or "James Hoyt" and am editing the introduction to reflect that they are fictional characters. If I'm incorrect, and they really did exist, please cite a source. Matt Fitzpatrick (talk) 14:47, 26 May 2008 (UTC)

OK, it's possible any news coverage of the "true event" has been buried under movie buzz, but it's also possible that this is a marketing hoax. I'm not deleting the "true events" claim yet, but the claim is dubious and needs to be verified by a reliable source. Matt Fitzpatrick (talk) 15:00, 26 May 2008 (UTC)

• • In the production notes for "The Strangers," the film's writer-director Bryan Bertino explains just what "true events" the film is based on:

"That part of the story came to me from a childhood memory. As a kid, I lived in a house on a street in the middle of nowhere. One night, while our parents were out, somebody knocked on the front door and my little sister answered it. At the door were some people asking for somebody that didn't live there. We later found out that these people were knocking on doors in the area and, if no one was home, breaking into the houses. In 'The Strangers,' the fact that someone is at home does not deter the people who've knocked on the front door; it's the reverse." Jilliancolleen (talk) 14:51, 28 May 2008 (UTC)

Filmed where???

The space in the article where it says where it was filmed is a blank, a coma, and then "USA". Where was it filmed? Obviously somebody dropped the ball on this. Come on, people. --Ragemanchoo (talk) 09:20, 21 May 2008 (UTC)

i think in the credits, it said that it was filmed in south carolina.72.49.19.163 (talk) 05:45, 2 June 2008 (UTC)

I KNEW IT WAS A FAKE

guys on the main page of the "the strangers" wiki page, there was info about the keddie cabin murders being the basis of the film's story. since the keddie cabin murders were about the "sharp's," i knew the names didn't match, as the movie's main characters were the "Hoyt's." I edited the page to correct this error, but my edit was deleted, probably to further promote the viral marketing campaign. They were working against me! as I had been unknowingly working against them. Well, it was all good and fun. Still, I might have known about this hoax earlier if I had just taken one more step and tried to make an account in the keddie cabin website and tried to post threads or whatever in the forum. alright thats about it, just had to express mah ingeniusness. yes. edit : guys they changed it again to it being based on the keddie cabin murders —Preceding unsigned comment added by 69.140.218.115 (talk) 05:46, 30 May 2008 (UTC)

Should we ask for page protection? Matt Fitzpatrick (talk) 03:53, 30 May 2008 (UTC)

Protection sounds good until it can be confirmed with dead on sources that this film is based on actual events or that the makers are just jerking around. people would be all over this ti change it because of something they seen on a bogus website. —Preceding unsigned comment added by Teledoc12 (talk • contribs) 04:20, 30 May 2008 (UTC)

From all that I've read, this movie is "based on" true events, the most commonly cited being the Keddie Cabin Murders. Given that all the media I've read on those murders reflects that they are still unsolved, "based on" doesn't mean that this is a faithful reflection of what happened in that specific event (especially given that none of the victims survived to tell the tale, and that the perpetrators are still at large), but simply that the writers were inspired by that story and did their own interpretation of what *might* have happened ... and then also changed the names of the characters to avoid anyone being confused into thinking this was intended to be an accurate portrayal of a specific event. I've also seen sources that suggest the Sharon Tate murders by the Manson Family may have provided some inspiration as well, in that the police theory of the Keddie Cabin Murders is that is was drug related, whereas this movie reflects the perpetrators doing it for the thrill of the torment, a la the Manson Family. Unfortunately, I don't think there are any rules governing just how much material has to be drawn from specific real events for a movie or TV producer to be able to say the project is "based on" true events; they really can be this far removed and still technically be "based on". Nolefan32 (talk) 13:46, 30 May 2008 (UTC)

wait guys i thought the movie was based on february 11, 2005 murders. and the 1980's murders with the whole hoax website was like a whole different story but made as a viral marketing campaign. the 2005 murders happened, but the keddie cabin didnt. is this right? —Preceding unsigned comment added by 69.140.218.115 (talk) 18:52, 30 May 2008 (UTC)

The Keddie Cabin Murders (1980s) did happen. Or at least there are news stories about them in realiable sources like The San Francisco Gate that predate this movie (one that has been referenced from 2001). Whether this movie did or did not use that event as a template, that's not been solidified - but reports of those murders that clearly predate this movie show that they were not created as a means of promoting this film. Nolefan32 (talk) 20:58, 30 May 2008 (UTC)

okay so some random wikipedia editor(s) accidentally put up false info that the movie was based off of the keddie cabin murders, when it actually wasn't? where did they even get the basis that the movie was based off the keddie murders? the keddie were the "sharp's" and in the movie were the "Hoyt's." wait, didn't we prove the keddie murders were fake? someone said that the forum was rigged, and other info... at first i thought the movie was based off of some 2005 murders(where did i get that? wikipedia only?). but then it was revealed the movie is actually about the director's memories and some "Charles Manson" murders. in any case, wikipedia might not have correct info at all. that being said, can't we just leave it that the director's experiences made up the film, and not all these keddie murders? —Preceding unsigned comment added by 69.140.218.115 (talk) 01:56, 31 May 2008 (UTC)

no cite for keddie cabin murders being a hoax

until there is a citation that backs up that cabin28.com and the story of the Keddie Cabin murders are a hoax, i am removing the claim. just because some people on the talk page speculate that it's a hoax doesn't mean it gets to be in the article. 69.206.155.72 (talk) 23:04, 31 May 2008 (UTC)

oops, nevermind, i didn't know the article was protected. but i really do think the claim should be taken down until someone finds a cite about it being a hoax. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 69.206.155.72 (talk) 23:06, 31 May 2008 (UTC)

The Keddie murders weren't a hoax. Its fairly well documented, too. Google it. Damn, people.. --Ragemanchoo (talk) 09:40, 2 June 2008 (UTC)

No, I know, I just meant that if the people who DID think it was a hoax (which it clearly isn't) weren't willing to prove it, then they should remove the claim altogether, that's all. :) —Preceding unsigned comment added by 69.206.155.72 (talk) 08:57, 28 June 2008 (UTC)

Music

Another song that appeared in the movie was "Mama Tried" by Merle Haggard. —Preceding unsigned comment added by DimitriX (talk • contribs) 22:15, 1 June 2008 (UTC)

It's by Merle Haggard & The Strangers Williamu (talk) 18:31, 7 June 2008 (UTC)williamu

Can someone fix the first song in the Music section? It's supposed to be Richard Buckner... there's an extra "k" in his name.

Thanks! (Rtrosino (talk) 19:11, 8 June 2008 (UTC))

Mormon boys?

Why are the boys in the plot description referred to as Mormon? Is there some significance to this? I haven't watched it, and it just looks odd in the description.

Also, it doesn't say why the boy is even there. It's like the plot description is missing large chunks. —Preceding unsigned comment added by Mr. Corgi (talk • contribs) 07:37, 1 June 2008 (UTC)

In the movie the boys are from a Christian academy handing out papers to sinners. Someone should really correct it. The are NOT Mormon they are Christian. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 75.62.141.11 (talk) 23:51, 1 June 2008 (UTC)

they ARE Mormon...official credits list them as such. —Preceding unsigned comment added by Wvsax27 (talk • contribs) 03:45, 2 June 2008 (UTC)

Look at the leaflets they are carrying with them in the scene where the killers leave the cabin. It clearly says Christian on them.

according to the movie credits and imdb (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0482606/) the boys are mormon. the boys are there because mormon boys dedicate two years of their lives to go around the country, during this time, the boys are 100% completely dedicated to spreading their ideals. They go house to house, preaching and giving out pamphlets (like the ones they give to gemma ward) (http://mormon.wikia.com/wiki/Mormon_missionaries).72.49.19.163 (talk) 05:58, 2 June 2008 (UTC)

Regardless of whether they are Mormon or not, they are not mentioned until the end of the plot summary. It throws the plot summary off and makes it look entirely unprofessional. The entire plot summary is written as though it assumes that everyone has seen the movie. --Mr. Corgi (talk) 02:25, 4 June 2008 (UTC)

Mormons are Christians, by the way.69.208.86.231 (talk) 06:13, 5 June 2008 (UTC)

It doesn't matter one bit whether or not Mormons are Christians (and this is not the proper place for that discussion). The only thing that matters is that the two boys are officially credited as "Mormon Boys" - Please see IMDB. Wilhelm meis (talk) 03:38, 7 June 2008 (UTC)

Just to let you guys know, Mormons are a branch of Christians. They just have stricter rules. The boys are who call the police the next morning reporting the murders. —Preceding unsigned comment added by Chickidebottom (talk • contribs) 02:48, 10 June 2008 (UTC)

Actually, Mormon and Christian are quite different. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 69.140.218.115 (talk) 03:13, 20 June 2008 (UTC)

Usually Mormons do not call themselves christian, whether or not Mormonism is a branch of Christianity. 66.139.106.157 (talk) 00:56, 27 June 2008 (UTC)

They can feel free to have preferences, but they are Christian. If I say to you that I prefer not to be called a human, it doesn't make me non-human. Gregory.currie (talk) 07:54, 14 August 2008 (UTC)

Not a Family

can someone please take down that crap about the killers being a family, that's just something some moron on IMDb said and only like 4 people agreed with him. There is no evidence to support it. —Preceding unsigned comment added by Wvsax27 (talk • contribs) 14:39, 2 June 2008 (UTC)

Actually, there is evidence to support that it was a family. They found prints when they arrived. 3 sets of prints. There are ways to tell from prints approximately how old the person was, and if they were male or female. They found two sets of female finger prints. One set was said to be from a girl around the age of 16. The other was from a woman around her 30's. The other set found was an older [40's or 50's] man.

You can tell the sex by the wideness of the prints, and the age by how developed the prints are. You don't fully develope your prints in your teens.

It would make sense that it would be a family then, because you don't just find to random people of different ages on the steet and say "Hey, let's kill someone tonight!" —Preceding unsigned comment added by Chickidebottom (talk • contribs) 02:42, 10 June 2008 (UTC)

I believe they may be a family, but there is no real clues point either direction. 66.139.106.157 (talk) 00:56, 27 June 2008 (UTC)

Citation for the inspiration

This is my first time adding to wikipedia so I'm hoping that I'm doing this correctly. If not, apologies all around.

Found an interview with Bertino written by Jeremy Smith from Chud.com. In the interview, Bertino talks about (among other things) some of his inspirations for the film, including an incident from his childhood. Here is the link:

http://chud.com/articles/articles/14888/1/EXCLUSIVE-INTERVIEW-BRYAN-BERTINO-THE-STRANGERS/Page1.html

Here is a quote:

"Once, me and my sister were left alone, and a group of men walked down the street and knocked on each door; anybody who wasn't home, they broke into their house. My little sister answered the door when they knocked, and we didn't find out until the next day - when cops were out in the neighborhood - what had happened. So I thought about the idea: what if Carrie hadn't gone to the door?"

In general, he talks a bit about all of the things that added up to inspiring the film.

The quote from the wikipedia article about the incident from his childhood is misleading but has some truth to it. It should be reworded so that it reflects the passage above.

Kmanganello (talk) 06:14, 3 June 2008 (UTC)

Editing Mistakes

Did anyone else notice that James's tie tends to move around a lot? For instance, James bandages Kristen's hand in one scene, yet in the very next he's seen striding outside with his tie flapping in the wind around his neck, only to disappear again when he's inside the car. This probably isn't encyclopedia-relevant, but it's interesting nonetheless.

Falquaddoomi (talk) 18:08, 6 June 2008 (UTC)

You're right, it's totally unencyclopedic, but you're welcome to log onto IMDB and talk about it. Wilhelm meis (talk) 03:41, 7 June 2008 (UTC)

Soundtrack Spelling Error

Not really a big deal, but in the Soundtrack section, it credits "Richard Bucknker" for "Ariel Ramirez" which is a typo of "Richard Buckner". I can't change it, so i thought i'd point it out. Jenna4Ever (talk) 09:30, 10 June 2008 (UTC)

Done, thanks for the heads up. --Silver Edge (talk) 10:14, 10 June 2008 (UTC)

Korean Version, Subtitles at the end?

I wen to to see the film in a Korean cinema and at the end of the film as the credits were rolling the Korean subtitles were providing some sort of an epilogue. I can't read Korean but a Korean friend translated for me saying that they said something along the lines of how Kristen was found alive and she is now in a mental institute. Does anyone else have anymore information on this? --Dharbinson (talk) 22:47, 5 July 2008 (UTC)

Inspired Versus Based

The story is "inspired" key word inspired. It does not say "based" like many movies that talk about real life. You must also note it says "inspired by true events" meaning more than one event. The common assumption is to think it is about a true story, as in one story, but when he states inspired, which many newspapers have written, he took several different true stories and combined them to make a movie. So technically he used true stories and the movie itself was inspired by these events. In addition, take the key where it talks about FBI home invasions, here he was trying to state that bad things can happen to you at home. As for a James Hoyt, the only real James Hoyt is Ryan James Hoyt who was guilty of helping out in a 15 year old killing in California.http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/inspire and http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/based--220.127.51.66 (talk) 13:38, 31 July 2008 (UTC)