The trailer for The Strangers is REALLY scary

As a rule, I try to avoid previews, particularly for movies that I want to see. I feel there is such a push to sell the film that anything interesting gets thrown into the trailer. The current clip promoting The Incredible Hulk is a grand example of this. The ad builds suspense and interest for a minute or so then proceeds to give away what looks like most of the major plot points (I won’t relay them here in case you have managed to avoid it).

Every once in a while, however, I am reminded of the true art of the movie preview. This occurred last Thursday while I was innocently watching my television. Suddenly, I was subjected to a two minute clip promoting The Strangers. The preview was so startling and scary that, later that evening, I had a series of bad dreams. I can’t remember the last full length movie that had this effect, much less a preview.

So here I am all aflutter about some horror movie that I previously knew nothing about. I am talking about The Strangers (and my accompanying nightmares) to anyone who will listen. I can’t decide if I should see it Friday or to spend the weekend hiding under my bed. It is wonderous to have such a visceral reaction to a movie, especially since I haven't even seen it yet.

Now here is the question: Is the The Strangers any good? From the looks of the preview the concept seems simple enough to be horrifying: a couple realizes their house is surrounded by some masked strangers who are icky and malevolent. The radio commercial indicates that the couple is actually on a getaway in the woods. If true, this would hamper the film because home invasion is a fear far more palpable than creepy cabin invasion (I can avoid cabins but I am in my house right now!). Perhaps the trailer is just getting potential viewers worked up over something that isn't that scary (it’s a pretty smart ploy considering it will have to compete with Sex and the City at the box office). Even worse it could just be another horror-porn sleaze fest a la Saw or Captivity. All I know is that it needed to be broad daylight before I could bring myself to re-watch that preview and I still got chills. I have included it below incase you are curious/brave enough to check it out.