User Reviews

just saw the first very exclusive screening of the newest film by Mr.Shokof.it was just an honor to watch it with his presence.the man and the myth and all his remarkable works over 3 decades.i was invited privately to attend the screening in Berlin.there were less than 20 selected people in the room and i have to admit that half of them did not even understand the English, but who cared.this movie like all other films of Shokof can be a super Cult-Hit and a Box office hit though he remained completely dedicated and loyal to his artistic visions, there was not a second where you could move away from the stark pictures, the amazing sound and music by Mexican Dog group and acting that dazzles you numb to believe it is Ric Paredes,s first ever movie debut. the film remains flawlessly Shokof to the last second. i had seen his Seven Servants and then Asudem.Strange Stranger can top both of them in which he seems to have deliver not just his own masterpiece but one heavy one for the movies that is destined to go down the record,s books do not miss any of his films.Shokof is always boldly ahead and different. a 10.

i viewed this movie with mix feelings about shokof films as i was under the impression that he is turned to a political filmmaker rather than the true artist filmmaker he once was. his stylish debut film seven servants blew my mind away and then thereafter i never heard of him again until a film called Hitler,s grave started getting raves and viewers from most peculiar places and again the film was not available anywhere in the world? however with all this confusing information and myth about the man and his works and life , i suddenly got a one in a life time chance to view the movie, strange stranger first hand out. praise the lord the true artist stood out tall again where i just saw perhaps the boldest most wonderfully instructed film i had seen ever since Fellini,s satyr icon or perhaps any of ........ really terrific from the start to the end. the performances are just great. the directing is so timed and accurate that one expects the film has been under careful research and pre production for years. that,s how long it takes for any standard film to be made in Europe, but an out of standard frame of a film? man just forget it. despite all the complications where the man himself explained about how they made this great work of art that actually has all the elements of becoming also a popular hit, a movie is there that is made with heart, great thoughts and above all bravery from an army of believers of Mr.Shokof,s works.having seen strange stranger i am a believer now as well. count me in and please, ask me to work with you honorably for no fees as long as i could get a DVD. really one of the world,s best minds behind the camera who also knows how the write most incredible original stories ever. o, by the way, the music is a knock out. see this move 1 9, cause i just never thought a 10 is permitted to be given to any director,s film while living. otherwise i would easily give this rare movie a 10.

i saw this film on a small screen but the sound was great.the music was great.the actings from all actors who were in front of the camera for the very first time were just stunning and all this goes to credit of a Master director who writes well, composes well, designs well; and knows how to get the best act from absolutely new comers to the acting world.Strange Stranger is another most original film by shokof that starts with fun and ends with disaster as he puts it just like life is supposed to be but only delivers the second half which he means is death and a disaster or relief?! by all token this mind blowing 90 minutes trip to the strange world of shokof with all his skillful, original, signature like elements from design to concept to story works beautifully all the way to the end.it is not suppose to be scary but it is, and or erotic but it is almost a porno, and or funny but it is even funny at times and even plain sick in some scenes which are extremely graphic and aggravating but it all works because shokof knows where to place what factor to get the best of everything he has in his hands for the best results.the story is simply about a stupid bet between two young men over who gets that (it) girl tonight. they end up in a club which is really a very peculiar scene all by itself and then the (it) girl leaves the club with the playboy good looking Ric Parades on a ride home to her house somewhere in the woods.eerie, night, cold Smokey, fog all over and the (it) girl is all naked in temperatures way below zero where they finally arrive to her place, take a hot bath outside the spooky old house, then go inside as he she starts her moves onto him with her gorgeous body.he is being used, raped, slaved and practically driven by a goddess of beauty to the point of madness.he tends to escape but the car is empty of gas, and soon she drags him back inside for more sexual desires.there they are joined with the surreal third presence of a woman who just adds to his misery as he is tortured half to death.the scenes with shokof design with fruits which show up in most his films in sign of liveliness of an atmosphere play themselves out beautifully join contrast to what in actuality is being seen in every scene. the poor fella tries to escape again and even manages to drive out of the house and into the woods where he is soon escorted by the evil surreal third presence in the back seat of the car.the woman screams his ears full until the car crashes and now he has to run through the woods to get somewhere and free himself from the nightmare he got himself into. but does he?! would he?! and even if all this was a fact are we watching a film that is there to make sense with a sensibly ending?! i for one was touched all throughout the film and was aware i again am watching a film by someone who makes (amenic films) without any respect for what anyone might expect from watching his films.absolutely on his own way creating pictures that move with no regards for what they should mean or who is there to see them.he concludes again in this film like many of his films a result he sees fit for this film and this is how iy ends.just very God-Like if you asked me where we all go through incredible lives having almost no idea why it had to start to begin with?! right?! another 10 for shokofmaniatically absurd film.loved it.

I somehow stumbled across this movie a few years ago when the entire movie was up on youtube for a little while, but shortly after it got taken down (I assume because some of the scenes in the movie are pretty explicit). I was captivated by what was happening from start to finish and I've been searching for it again ever since. Unfortunately this movie is really not easy to find. Glad I had a chance to experience it once, however still very interested in finding this again. I feel like a lot of artistic effort went into this movie and the right audience of people who like wierd movies would really appreciate it, however unfortunately a lot will miss out on this gem.

i must have been a privileged invited person amongst the very few who were at the screening of shokof,s Strange Stranger.i know the less than 20 people left the screening with mouth wide open and some did not even understand the language as they confessed later .however, this remarkably original as ever film by shokof gets you involved in a most realistically bizarre story right from the start to the end.done with only the power of arts, vision, uniqueness of perspectives ,one forgets that most magnificent films are really doable without 100 million dollars tag bill on the budget.strange stranger begins with a simple betting between two friend who one is Ric Paredes "simply great Debut performance" and Afshin Akhavan "who is out of this world as a Comedian".Ric, "the playboy " should get the girl at the disco club tonight or else Shin gets all he wishes for. and all Shin wants is Elly "the most gorgeous girl who dances your brains out in less than a minute". film starts with the bet already lost as Ric leaves the club with the great looking Alien "Anina who is also a knock out in her first Debut in the lead".things develop gradually , soft and appealing as the two have only sex in mind, and then, little by little we fall into a nightmare of a blend of horror and mystic that has never ever occurred on any screen ever since movies existed. if the film is out, do yourself a favor and do not miss this gem of a cinema brilliance. a10. a solid 10.