Horror Short Review: The Stranger (2020)

A psychological horror short that creates a ton of tension, which might seem par for the course for some at Christmas, but The Stranger’s tension comes from deeply disturbing place.

Written by Carolina Garrigo & Katherine Oostman, with the former directing, Melissa Saint-Amand stars as Blake, who has her surprised her mother, Trudy (Ashley LeConte Campbell) by returning home for Christmas. Only to have the door answered by a woman she’s never seen before. This is Lily (Autumn Dial) and she claims that she Blake’s sister.

Imagine that? Coming home to find a stranger in your house claiming to be family. Now imagine that your mother also claims that this person is family. What would you do?

It’s a very creepy idea, and The Stranger does a great job of making the viewer feel uncomfortable right up to the end. Even though the tension doesn’t dissipate and the short ends leaving you wanting so much more.

It is fantastic though. Really unnerving, with great acting, visuals, and sounds (the pulsating effect on the latter really gives it an alien like feel). You may not get the answers you want come the end, but you will be left feeling satisfied none the less.