RELEASED back in 2008, The Strangers, written and directed by Bryan Bertino, proved a modern classic of the home-invasion sub-genre.
A remote getaway for a couple with some relationship issues turns into a night of psychological terror when three masked psychopaths with murderous intent pay them a visit. Tense, unsettling, and stripped back to its terrifying basics, it’s a horror film that leaves you almost dizzy with anticipation as the slow build reaches its bloody crescendo.
Unfortunately, as 20224’s cash-cow The Strangers: Chapter 1 proved, the whole point of the original film – a masterclass in suspense and fear – becomes business-like and exhausting when it’s just about the dough. What started off as something bleak, visceral, and downright menacing is now just another tedious horror franchise, making a living off the back of John Carpenter’s former glories.
The Strangers: Chapter 2 trudges down the same well-worn slasher path as so many other forgettable masked mediocrity murder sprees and plays out in the opening half, at least, like a direct remake of Halloween 2. To be fair, if you haven’t seen the original film, or Michael Myers in his memorable visit to accident and emergency, there’s plenty of jump scares and nail-biting ‘he’s behind you’ moments to pass the time.
Chapter 2, if anything, is less irksome than its predecessor, only slightly, and despite dreamy flashback origin scenes – I’m sure there will be a prequel at some point – this is titillating enough to while away 96 minutes and warrant your admission fee.
The Shining gets a nod as an axe is put through a bathroom door in one scene, and director Renny Harlin tips his hat along the way, which seems the norm these days, to some of horror’s finest work. A Nightmare on Elm Street, Martyrs, and The Texas Chainsaw Massacre all get an honourable look in, but this baffling mess certainly doesn’t stand among these giants.
(2/5)
