- Director: Renny Harlin
- Writer: Alan R. Cohen, Alan Freedland
- Stars: Madelaine Petsch, Froy Gutierrez
REVIEW
Whether you are a home invasion aficionado or a casual horror fan, you certainly know about Bryan Bertino’s 2008 film The Strangers. Much like Craven reignited the slasher genre with Scream, Bertino changed the face of home invasion with his simple story of three masked killers terrorizing a couple just because they were home: this blueprint has been copy and pasted endlessly ever since we saw the Man in the Mask ominously enter the frame with Liv Tyler only to disappear and she has no idea what kind of night she is about to have. Ten years later, a sequel of sorts would be released to mixed reviews and fan reaction. The Strangers: Prey at Night works best when viewed as its’s own story and not as a direct sequel to it’s predecessor and one has to wonder if that’s why this new trilogy is being described as existing in the same universe as the 2008 film, but not a sequel. In fact, producer Mark Canton stated that this relaunch is a way to introduce new audiences to the “world of the Strangers,”* and producer Courtney Solomon said their intent was to tell a bigger story than before and also “expand that world.”*
Directed by Renny Harlin, starring Madeleine Petsch as Maya and Troy Guiterrez as Ryan, The Strangers:Chapter 1 starts with a cold open that sets up what is in store for Maya and Ryan as they enter the town of Venus Oregon, population 468, and stop at the local diner only to find their car broken down when trying to leave. It’s the usual small town of people giving the big city folk a strong crook-eye, so it’s all a bit too convenient when these same people help drive the couple to the only Air BnB that happens to be empty tonight. You can guess how this all goes from here: remote cabin, jokes about how it’s spooky, boring couple banter and then, f inally, comes the loud knock at the door. “Is Tamra home?”
For the most part, this first entry of the new trilogy chugs along about the same as the 2008 f ilm, complete with phones being moved around, Man in the Mask quietly lurking in the background and then a reason for Ryan to leave Maya alone for a while so The Strangers can begin their taunting that will be treated as paranoia when Ryan returns. (Galighting women in horror movies is so 20th century. Please make it stop.) Once our couple realizes that there are three masked people in the house that want nothing more than to terrorize and kill them, they both go into survival mode. Petsch (Riverdale) plays Maya as a perfectly charming and agreeable gal who has real guts and problem solving skills when the shit hits the fan. Watching her and Gutierrez (Teen Wolf) work together is actually quite charming and makes you root for them. Of course, this is the first in a trilogy, so we know someone isn’t going to make it out alive, and that does ruin some of the suspense.
Renny Harlin is better known for big action films, but he did show off his ability to create tension and suspense with Deep Blue Sea, and he brought that same energy to this film. Harlin utilizes the dark, foggy woods at night to really amp up the cat and mouse game in the final third of the film. The tables get turned a few times, and both Maya and Ryan exhibit moments of true survival, but we all know where this will end up. The titular scene of The Strangers standing in front of a couple who are tied to chairs is really amped up in this iteration. This one feels meaner, and it’s exactly the kind of situation that will make Maya a Final Girl with a score to settle. Yes, Maya is in all three films, and the filmmakers saying that we will learn more about The Strangers themselves is what keeps this viewer cautiously optimistic. Chapter 1 is a pleasantly put together story that follows all of the rules of a horror film, has some creepy shots, and even has an overachieving stinger in the credits. In the never-ending list of remakes, reboots and requels that no one asked for, this is a lukewarm start at best, but I’m going to put my faith in the writers that they are building a more complex narrative and universe than is presented with this entry, otherwise, I fear this may go the way of Halloween. And none of us want that.
* – “Renny Harlin to Remake Horror Film ‘The Strangers’ as Trilogy With Star Madelaine Petsch at Lionsgate”. The Wrap. Archived from the original on September 13, 2022. Retrieved September 14, 2022.
Lisa Fremont
Leave a Reply