“The Strangers – Chapter 2” manages to be a slight enchancment over “Chapter 1,” which is not saying a lot, however at the very least it is obtained that going for itself as we head into the finale of this pointless remake/prequel/sequel/alternate universe trilogy. Returning director Renny Harlin and writing duo Alan R. Cohen and Alan Freedland make the fascinating alternative of pivoting from dwelling invasion to survival horror, which makes for some sudden set items and a few thrilling sequences within the woods — together with a enjoyable animal assault set piece. Sadly, the movie suffers from being repetitive in its set items, forcing some unhealthy decisions from the principle character. However the greatest mistake “The Strangers – Chapter 2” makes is that it spends a major period of time telling us the backstory of the titular Strangers.
Sure, that is proper, we now know what the Strangers had been like as children, and even why they began killing. Now, constructing a mythology is not essentially unhealthy, neither is giving your masked murderous trio some lore. However to really present their first kill and provides it a goal apart from “Since you had been dwelling” outright betrays the “random killings” thesis of the movie (which is but once more repeated in a gap textual content spewing some statistics about strangers killing individuals randomly).
Taking a web page out of “Halloween II,” the film takes place minutes after the top of “Chapter 1,” with Madelaine Petsch’s Maya Lucas within the hospital after surviving a brutal assault by Dollface, Man within the Masks, and Pin-Up Woman. The second the townsfolk study that there was a survivor of the most recent random killing of their distant city, Maya simply so occurs to get one other go to from her would-be killers. From there, the film turns into a cat-and-mouse sport as Maya runs by the woods of Oregon, warding off the killing trio, the weather, and different risks.
Higher than The Strangers: Chapter 1, however that is not saying a lot
Lionsgate
Harlin is competent in relation to the survival features of the script, going from longer takes and steadicam as Maya runs for her life within the hospital, to extra frenetic cuts and digicam actions within the woods. Now that the suprise issue is gone and the killing makes an attempt aren’t precisely random, “The Strangers – Chapter 2” properly spends a giant chunk of the runtime with Maya having to simply survive out within the woods somewhat than simply attempting to flee seize. Overlook the torture or the slashing and dicing — probably the most horrifying factor that occurs on this film entails a easy re-stitching of wounds, with the sound design doing a hell of a superb job in making the viewers need to crawl deep into their seats.
Sadly, “The Strangers: Chapter 2” falls aside by nature of it being a part of a deliberate trilogy. Who is aware of, possibly it’s going to all repay when the final entry arrives and we’ll look again on the baffling decisions made within the first two and see the massive image. However because it stands, these first two motion pictures aren’t profitable as standalone tales, and as a follow-up to not simply “Chapter 1” however the authentic 2008 movie from Bryan Bertino, “Chapter 2” simply looks like too huge a left flip. As talked about, the film tries to elucidate the origins of the Strangers, slowly increase some bigger conspiracy and cycle of random killings, whereas additionally letting us get to know the three individuals beneath the masks. The issue is that to present them backstories is to remove from the randomness of the killings, and to present us an precise motivation for the murders looks like an entire betrayal of the franchise.
With a somewhat abrupt minimize to black and a mid-credits tease for “Chapter 3,” it’s clear that Harlin and firm consider this as a singular story instructed in three chapters, one which has extra to say than simply “do not open your door to strangers.” The issue is that, as a singular film, “The Strangers – Chapter 2” looks like a misstep. It is an enchancment just because this trilogy began off fairly badly, however however an uninspiring survival horror with repetitive set items, baffling character decisions, and a mythology that feels prefer it’s erasing the very motive his franchise exists within the first place.
/Movie ranking: 4 out of 10.
“The Strangers – Chapter 2” releases in theaters on September 26, 2025.
