The Strangers: Chapter 1 – A Reimagining That Missed the Mark

Let’s get one thing out of the way: I never saw the original Strangers movies. When I heard The Strangers: Chapter 1 wasn’t a continuation or a reboot but a “reimagining,” I was intrigued. A fresh take on a couple being terrorized by masked strangers in the middle of nowhere sounded like my kind of horror flick. I was ready to be on the edge of my seat, gripping my popcorn with every twist and turn. But alas, what I got was a movie that started with promise and quickly dissolved into frustration and disbelief.

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Setting the Scene

First off, the set design and costumes deserve some props. The film nails that creepy, isolated vibe. The cabin and surrounding woods provide the perfect backdrop for a night of terror. The masked strangers give off a distinct "Jason" aura without feeling like outright copycats. Visually, the movie has a lot going for it.

Image by Screen Rant

The Suspension of Disbelief – or Lack Thereof

Now, every horror movie requires a bit of suspension of disbelief. We’ve all shouted, “Look behind you!” or “Why did you drop the knife?!” at the screen. It’s part of the fun. But The Strangers: Chapter 1 takes this to a whole new level. The main characters, Ryan and Maya, redefine stupidity in the horror genre. It’s one thing to make a poor decision in a moment of panic; it’s another to spend the entire movie making one boneheaded move after another.

Image by IMDb

Unbelievably Dumb Decisions

Take, for instance, the first real attack. Ryan and Maya run upstairs and barricade themselves in a room with a dresser. They then sit, completely exposed, across from the door. There’s a window right behind them, boarded up from the outside. If they were serious about escaping, they’d break the glass and fight to pry off those boards. Instead, they sit and wait as one of the strangers starts hacking through the door with an axe. It’s painfully clear that the killer sees them, but do they hide? Do they arm themselves? Do they make any attempt to escape? Nope. They just sit there, frozen in the most nonsensical way possible.

Then there’s the scene where Ryan has a shotgun aimed at one of the killer’s heads. He’s been chased, he knows they’re out for blood. Does he pull the trigger? Of course not. Instead, he demands she turn around and tell him where Maya is. Predictably, she doesn’t comply and instead mocks his hesitation. It’s infuriating to watch him threaten her without following through, even though every second counts. Just shoot her! Or at the very least, injure her to buy yourself some time!

But perhaps the most glaringly dumb choices happen when Ryan and Maya are outside the cabin. Several times, they have the opportunity to run into the forest or down the road, far away from their tormentors. Instead, they stick close to the cabin or hide in a nearby shed. It’s baffling. Any sane person would put as much distance as possible between themselves and the danger, yet these two seem to think lingering around the murder house is a good plan.

Image by IMDb

Wasted Potential

The film starts strong, building a sense of unease about the small town where their car breaks down. The locals give off an unsettling vibe, and it seems like there’s a deeper story brewing. But, like everything else in this movie, it goes nowhere. The eerie small-town atmosphere is completely wasted. You could cut out the entire town sequence and the plot wouldn’t change a bit. It’s just another example of the film's wasted potential.

Image by IGN

Final Thoughts

While the cinematography and special effects were well done, they couldn't save the film from its poor writing and baffling character choices. Ryan and Maya’s constant blunders make it hard to root for them or take the film seriously.

In the end, The Strangers: Chapter 1 isn’t the special horror movie it could have been. It’s not even mediocre. It’s a frustrating watch that squanders its potential at every opportunity. If you’re a fan of horror, you might find something to enjoy in the atmosphere and visuals, but don’t expect much more than that.

For a movie that had the chance to be a chilling reimagining, it ends up being a prime example of how not to execute a horror film.

Overall Score: 4 out of 10.

Pros:

• Set Design and Costumes: The movie captures a chilling, isolated atmosphere. The cabin and woods create a perfect horror backdrop, and the masked strangers evoke a "Jason" vibe without being direct copies.
• Intriguing Premise: The concept of two people being terrorized by masked strangers in a secluded area is compelling and has great potential for a tense horror experience.
• Cinematography and Special Effects: The film’s visual elements are well-executed, enhancing the eerie mood and overall horror aesthetic.

Cons:

• Incompetent Main Characters: Ryan and Maya make nonsensical decisions throughout the film, from sitting exposed during an attack to not utilizing obvious escape routes. Their constant blunders undermine the suspense and make it hard to take their plight seriously.
• Poor Writing: The script fails to follow through on its setups, such as the mysterious small town. Instead, these elements feel underdeveloped and wasted.
• Overused Tropes: The film relies heavily on repetitive and predictable horror tropes, like characters failing to act in self-defense or not capitalizing on opportunities to escape. This overuse diminishes the impact of these moments and makes the plot feel stale.
• Predictable Ending: The outcome of the film is apparent early on, making the supposed twists and turns feel telegraphed and reducing the overall suspense.