Perfect Strangers (2003)

29% of critics liked it
(7 reviews)
36% of users liked it
(1,464 ratings)

Written, directed, and co-produced by Gaylene Preston, Perfect Strangers centers around the romance between Melanie (Rachael Blake) and the handsome stranger (Sam Neill) who charmed her into joining him at his "castle." The so-called castle is little more than a beat-up shack on a deserted island,… More Written, directed, and co-produced by Gaylene Preston, Perfect Strangers centers around the romance between Melanie (Rachael Blake) and the handsome stranger (Sam Neill) who charmed her into joining him at his "castle." The so-called castle is little more than a beat-up shack on a deserted island, however, and it isn't long before her admirer's charm turns into all-out obsession. Clued into the fact that the romantic tryst has degenerated into kidnapping, Melanie makes plans to escape, but the stranger has other ideas. Perfect Strangers was filmed on the remote west coast of New Zealand's South Island and features music by Neil Finn. ~ Tracie Cooper, Rovi

Play Trailer

Rating, Runtime: PG-13, 1 hr. 36 min.
Directed By: Gaylene Preston
Written By: Gaylene Preston
Genres: Mystery & Suspense, Drama

In Theaters: Jan 1, 2003 Wide
On DVD: Jun 22, 2004
Studio: First Look Pictures

Critic Reviews

Tom Horgen, Minneapolis Star Tribune
It's a movie that fails so miserably in its weirdo aspirations that you'll wish you were watching that bad '80s sitcom of the same name (with Balkie, remember?).
David Nusair, Reel Film Reviews
...infuriating...
Chris Hewitt (St. Paul), St. Paul Pioneer Press
When horror heroines are this lame-brained, my impulse is to start rooting against them.
Jon Popick, Planet Sick-Boy
A cross between Cast Away and Swept Away, carefully flitting between the quality and pretentiousness of them both as it constantly reinvents itself.
Rich Cline, Shadows on the Wall
Preston's screenplay is ingenious, drawing on British classics like Cul-de-Sac and The Servant to constantly undermine audience expectations.
Erik Childress, eFilmCritic.com
Even David Lynch would watch this and yell out "what the crap!"
JoBlo, JoBlo's Movie Emporium
If you're looking for thrills, probing questions, great acting, a meandering, but always engaging, plotline, as well as a unique vision.

Read all 7 critic reviews

Critic ratings and reviews powered by RottenTomatoes.com

Fresh (60% or more critics rated the movie positively)

Rotten (59% or fewer critics rated the movie positively)

Featured Audience Ratings

Film C

this movie gets two stars purely for sam neill looking gorgeous!! This isnt the one with Bruce wilis and Halle Berry, this movie is about a man who is in love with a woman who he knows everything about but she knows nothing about him!! He kidnaps her, shes stabs him and this leads… More
this movie gets two stars purely for sam neill looking gorgeous!! This isnt the one with Bruce wilis and Halle Berry, this movie is about a man who is in love with a woman who he knows everything about but she knows nothing about him!! He kidnaps her, shes stabs him and this leads to a whirlwind of weird love that is strange, weird and probably the most stupid storyline in the world!! Its boring predictable, weird and just plain rubbish, however Sam Neill looks so gorgeous!!