Additional positive feedback for the film came from Joblo.com reviewer Berge Garabedian, who praised director Bertino for "building the tension nicely, with lots of silences, creepy voices, jump scares, use of songs and a sharp eye behind the camera, as well as plenty of Steadicam give it all more of a voyeuristic feel." "Empire Magazine" remarked on the film's retro-style, saying, "Like much recent horror, from the homages of the Grindhouse gang through flat multiplex remakes of drive-in classics, "The Strangers" looks to the '70s.", and ultimately branded the film as "an effective, scary emotional work-out." "Slant Magazine"s Nick Schager listed "The Strangers" as the 9th best film of 2008.