Comparisons to The Strangers are probably inevitable with this one and not without good reason. Both stories are centered on a couple in a rural home who are terrorized by unknown assailants for the duration of the runtime. That being said, Ils is definitely still worth a watch if only for the best employment of the Based On A True Story shtick yet to be shown on screen. The couple is forced to deal with a growing sense of dread as the attacks escalate from harmless pranks to real violence, but unlike The Strangers the antagonists in this one do have a motive beyond simply "terrify." Tense and well-acted throughout, it is the ending that really hammers home a sense of despair about the current and future state of humanity. Also, a note for would-be victims in circumstances similar to this one: try not to end up on the roof or in a series of dark underground tunnels you're completely unfamiliar with. Maybe leave yourself a possible escape route? Just a thought.
Joe Sippy grew up in Chicago and now resides in Los Angeles. He enjoys corn dogs, rap music, and horror movies. On weekends you can find him in the ocean, surfing very poorly.
