The Strangers

Parents need to know that The Strangers is a grisly, tense, very scary horror movie with plenty of blood spilled. Characters are stabbed, beaten, and shot, often very graphically. That said, unlike many others in the horror genre, the film doesn't sexualize its terror, and the characters in peril aren't just sacrificial lambs -- the filmmakers attempt to make you care about them. Some teens who aren't necessarily gung-ho horror fans may be drawn in by stars Liv Tyler and Scott Speedman -- but even though the film is well made and, by the standards of the genre, "tasteful," there's still plenty of shocking violence and high-strung tension (not to mention some swearing, drinking, and smoking), making it better suited for older viewers with strong nerves. One of the scariest aspects to the movie is that the home invaders don't seem to have any motive: No backstory is given, and they display a coldblooded lack of emotion, empathy, or concern. "F--k" is said frequently.