Published via Ecency

(source: tmdb.org)

Success or failure in hospitality industry often depends on factor beyond control of people directly involved in it. That involves establishment which is the setting of opening scenes in When Strangers Appear, 2001 thriller written and directed by Scott Reynolds. Protagonist is Beth (played by Radha Mitchell), the only employee in diner set in remote rural area of Oregon. The diner used to thrive once before the closure of highway removed potential clientele. Beth is now bored to death, and when the charming young man named Jack (played by Barry Watson) arrives there, she is more than willing to offer house specialities even if Jack happens to be short on money. Before she is able to continue flirting, the diner is visited by trio of suspiciously looking men. Jack claims that they are after him and begs Beth to protect him. Peter (played by Josh Lucas), trio’s leader, claims that Jack is his brother suffering from paranoid schizophrenia. Beth doesn’t know whom to believe and the police might be of little help, because Bryce (played by Kevin Anderson), one of its members, has raped her in the past.

Made with relatively low budget and shot on New Zealand locations, When Strangers Appear was supposed to get theatrical distribution in USA, but ended as direct-to-video film. The basic concept, borrowed in countless thriller and horror films, is initially given somewhat interesting treatment by relatively unknown film maker Scott Reynolds. Unfortunately, Reynolds loses much inspiration before the end and the film gets is climax with predictable showdown at gas station. Thankfully, Radha Mitchell, actress who became famous due to her action-packed role in Pitch Black, provides a lot of charm and talent in this film and makes it more than watchable. General impression of When Strangers Appear will be improved by ironic epilogue during end credit sequences.

RATING: 5/10 (++)