The Strangers: Chapter 1 (2024)

The-Strangers:-Chapter-1
The Strangers: Chapter 1 (2024)

It is rather humorous, as I have indicated elsewhere, to have a third addition to a movie series titled ‘Chapter 1’. Yet here we are with “The Strangers: Chapter 1” which is described as a prequel to the 2008 original film by Bryan Bertino. A great deal about the movie Strangers, the first Strangers film is intriguing to me. It was a horror film that was quite basic and direct in terms of plot but rich in both atmosphere and suspense. It was truly scary and rightfully deserves to be called a cult classic. Sequels do exist for the franchise such as “Strangers: Prey at Night” which was released in 2018 but this time it is a movie best left ignored.

The Strangers: Chapter 1” dares to begin what is expected to be a trilogy of films. the shooting for the latter was hosted within a three-month period in the latter part of 2022. All three were directed by Renny Harlin who is remembered for directing such hits as “Die Hard 2” and “Cliffhanger” in the early 1990s. And all three are written by Alan R. Cohen and Alan Freedland working from a story by Bryan Bertino. It is intended to be a relaunch of sorts, but it is difficult to ascertain the extent to which it will elicit anticipation. Especially now, after seeing how this one turned out.

As the twelve-year gap was bridged with the release of the 2008 original, ‘Chapter 1’ partly draws its resources from the latter which in fact is too much. It is said to be ‘one of those’. More like a photocopy, sans the horrible tension and suspenseful gloom. However, the biggest downside of the movie is that it is more like an average half a movie made into a feature-length. There’s roughly about 30 minutes worth of content and that only leads to frustration as there is a lot of time wasting and lack of progression. It is compounded by a very dull “The End” which does not make viewers excited for anything that is yet to come.

What is commendable though is the fact that the film adequately sets up the premise of the story which is ‘somewhere in Oregon’. While on a three day east to west cross country trip from New York to Portland for an important job interview for Maya, the two lovebirds in the movie, Maya (Madelaine Petsch) and Ryan (Froy Gutierrez) a quick stop for food at the only diner in Venus, a small town they are driving through. They’re welcomed by a bunch of your basic, run-of-the-mill, inbred hillbilly, ‘y’all come back now’ types odd and slightly unsettling (like in many movies).

Unfortunately, they are stuck there since Ryan and Maya’s car refuses to start and the mechanic informs them that he can get the only part needed the next day. They are however able to locate a cabin which is a beautiful rustic Airbnb in a forest outside town where they do their best to prepare for a peaceful romantic evening. That is until three masked psychos begin their attack first by annoying Ryan and Maya with mild forms of harassment. Mild it may be until they bring out the axes and the butcher knives.

Like its 2008 predecessor, the plot is quite basic. But “Chapter 1” fails at delivering because it does not deliver the scares or the tension and suspense that is required. Other than a few disoriented jump scares, Harlin’s strategy is to pump in plenty of terrifying facial shots and the standard house-breakers looking for some action by tapping doors and windows, hiding in corners. A few fight scenes are there but that’s not what one may expect from the film.

On the other hand, Ryan and Maya are definitely not the brightest bulbs in the pack. Some decisions are made that will frustrate you to the point of screaming at the television. Particularly later in the film where there isn’t even a hint of good decision-making. Yes, I know that this is not something new in horror films. But here, it was particularly horrible.

But, in the larger picture, that would appear to be a minor issue. This is mainly because “Chapter 1” can be said to be nothing more than a dilapidated variation of the 2008 film “The Strangers”, which honestly, felt like a 30-minute sitcom as the whole movie. Rather, we wait with bated breaths for a single occurrence anything at all. And when the payoff moment comes, it is most definitely not worth the wait. To make matters worse, it lacks any effectiveness to build any kind of anticipation for the upcoming films. “The Strangers: Chapter 1” is currently available only in theaters.

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