The Strangers: Chapter 1 is set to be released in 2024, and it serves as a re-imagining of the home invasion horror trope from the 2008 film The Strangers. With an action-horror filmography under his belt, Renny Harlin will direct this film, which is set to launch a new trilogy aimed at developing the original franchise’s lore further. Although this chapter is technically the third film in the series, it functions more as a reboot than a direct sequel.
Alongside Alan R. Cohen and Alan Freedland, Harlin draws inspiration from Bertino’s work for the screenplay. The movie features Froy Gutierrez and Madelaine Petsch as a couple on vacation whose getaway is interrupted by three unfeeling, masked murderers. While the film does attempt to deepen the emotional stakes and set up an overarching narrative for future installments, it mainly succeeds in replicating the tension and brutality present in the first film Strangers.
Plot Summary
The narrative follows a couple’s cross-country trip to Portland, Oregon: Maya, who is preparing for an important job interview, and Ryan, who is driving. Their vehicle breaks down in the small, rural town of Venus. The local mechanics provide little assistance, but do recommend that the couple rent an isolated Airbnb until repairs are complete.
Once night falls, the couple confronts their greatest fears. A mysterious woman knocking on the door inquiring, “Is Tamara home?”, leads to the couple being hunted and tormented by three masked strangers dubbed Scarecrow, Dollface, and Pin-Up Girl. The relentless siege forces Maya and Ryan to fight for survival while being pursued through the house and nearby woods, offering little reason or explanation. The killers do not utter a word. They conceal their identities. Most disturbingly, they take pleasure in the suffering they inflict.
Characters
Maya (Madelaine Petsch)
As Maya, Madelaine Petsch gives a grounded performance that goes beyond scream queen to reveal a transformative character from hopeful, professional, to terrified survivor. Throughout the course of the film, she increasingly shows signs of becoming more resourceful, suggesting that there is a broader transformative arc intended for her in future installments.
Ryan (Froy Gutierrez)
While presented as warm, supportive, and loving, Ryan is not very well developed. He tends to be more reactive than proactive, getting swept up in the chaos. While his destiny is interwoven with Maya’s emotional plunge, the character does not possess enough emotional resonance to leave a significant mark.
The Strangers
The film’s most terrifying manifestation is the masked killers. They encapsulate the essence of evil with their lack of backstory, dialogue, and motive. Their dread-inducing presence has an eerie stillness and slow movement. The personality-free existence they embody is what makes them particularly terrifying.
Direction and Style
An action film aficionado, director Renny Harlin is better known for his work in fast-paced action cinema. Here, however, he takes a more restrained approach. To build tension, the director employs dim lighting, prolonged silences, and close-up shots to create an atmosphere. Setting intensifies the suspense and Harlin’s choice to focus on the forest cabin which includes narrow hallways and the eerie calm of a small town enhances the claustrophobic dread and anxiety.
The film has a strong visual component. The masked killers slowly and methodically approach the couple, but they are out of focus in the background or reflected in windows. While jump scares are traditional in the horror genre, they become less frequent due to the slow building nature of Harlin’s work, which in turn fosters a sense of inevitability. Surprisingly, Harlin demonstrates restraint, steering away from his norm of bombastic set pieces.
Themes and Structure
The concept of random violence is deeply unsettling and is revisited in this film. Maya and Ryan are not targeted for any past wrongdoing or due to some hidden conspiracy. As a killer famously quips, “because you were here.” This stark worldview embodies the original film’s most disturbing element: the juxtaposition of violence as senselessly methodical in its execution.
Elements of more significant concepts such as “cryptic locals,” odd customs of the town, and religious hints suggesting deeper ideas might be explored in later chapters. Hints of these are found throughout the first chapter, hinting towards the possibility of it just being the surface layer of a much broader horror existence. Nevertheless, the film does not fully develop these ideas and instead uses them more as a backdrop to something else.
Pacing and Tension
With a runtime of around 90 minutes, this film definitely brings up a sense of suspense throughout. Once the attacks begin, the film rarely slows down. This relentless tempo rushes character development, with only Maya acquiring enough focus to matter and feel personally impactful. The quick escalation from a small annoyance to catastrophe is a double-edged sword, as while its effectiveness is commendable, it sacrifices a good amount of emotional depth.
As for the film’s last act, it focuses on physical horror and adds action violence and speed. While it is important to reach a dynamic finish, it starkly contrasts with the heavy, gradual build of dread during the first hour. Many may feel the tonal shift could be abrupt.
Reception and Criticism
The reception of The Strangers: Chapter 1 received mixed reviews from critics and audiences alike. Some showered praise on the return to minimalistic horror and Harlin’s skillful building of tension. However, others felt it too derivative of the original. Many believed it did not have the raw emotional impact that resonated off the 2008 version. There was also a lot of skepticism regarding the decision to stretch the story into a trilogy, with some arguing that this first chapter serves more as an elongated prologue rather than a complete narrative.
Nevertheless, the film achieved moderate box office success, capturing the attention of fans of the original, as well as newer horror audiences. Audience reception of Petsch’s performance was largely positive, as was the film’s atmosphere and cinematography. However, there was still the sentiment that the film relied too heavily on worn out beats.
Looking Ahead: The Trilogy Plan
To start, Harlin has confirmed that Chapter 2 and 3 are already shot and will continue to follow Maya and dive deeper in to the mythology of the masked killers and the town of Venus. There are hints that perhaps Maya will not only be a victim but emerge as a survivor and play a more pivotal role in what could be a larger narrative arc.
Now that is some interesting potential to explore. If the remaining chapters build upon the foundation established here and delve into the origins of the killers and their purpose, then it could evolve into something profound and distinct.
Conclusion
With a powerful performance from Madelaine Petsch and a strong sense of dread prevalent throughout, The Strangers: Chapter 1 delivers the fundamentals of a home invasion thriller with strong confidence. However, its unwavering execution of familiarity earning it further critique for lacking originality prevents it from standing out.
Nonetheless, it serves as the start of a trilogy, it provides sufficient information to spark interest. If later parts build upon the world and provide more complex character development, the entire story may be more satisfying than this unsettling yet lackluster first part.
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