The film, directed by Renny Harlin, is the first part of a trilogy and expands on the world of The Strangers on an epic scale, explaining why random masked people break into homes and do horrible things. (thus missing the whole point). Chapter 1, on the other hand, starts off small and is content to be, in effect, director Brian Bertino's remake of his wonderfully nonsensical and suspenseful 2008 film.
The story begins with Maya and Gregory (Madeleine Petsch, Gabriel Basso), a young couple in love, enjoying a road trip and proving how happy they are. Such happiness is short-lived, however, when his car breaks down in Hicksville, America, and he is forced to spend the night in a secluded house. But wait… who’s that rapping at the door? Of course it’s the pin-up girl, the doll face, and the guy in the mask…
The Strangers marks a grand return to the genre in which Harlin established himself as something of a journeyman (A Nightmare on Elm Street 4: The Dream Master, The Exorcist: The Beginning). ” Chapter 1 makes good use of the contained setting of the house. To put it in a clichéd way, it has its own personality, but it cannot overcome the feeling of fatigue.
Bertino's original is a masterful adaptation of streamlined horror and a masterpiece of the modern home invasion film. But there have been many imitations since then, and Harlin's efforts lack not only the element of surprise, but also the controlled technique. What's most distinctive about this marketing? Masked killers are popping up all over America and scaring real people.
The Strangers: Chapter 1 will be released in US theaters and UK cinemas on May 17th. For more information, check out our guide to all upcoming horror movies and our selection of the best horror movies of all time.
