Hi all!

Today I am reviewing new-release, horror: The Strangers: Chapter 1. It hit cinemas in Australia this month, allowing me the opportunity of seeing it on the big screen. After their car breaks down in an eerie small town, a young couple are forced to spend the night in a remote cabin. Panic ensues as they are terrorised by three masked strangers, who strike with no mercy and seemingly no motive. Without further ado, let’s get into it!

Click here for my review of The Strangers: Chapter 2 

WHAT WORKED:

I’m always down for a Strangers film. It was fun to finally see one at the cinema. The cabin in the woods setting really helped build the eerie atmosphere and tension. I love a creepy small town too, with strange and suspicious individuals. Furthermore, my favourite masked killer, the Pin-Up Girl, was featured more than the other two movies. I’m grateful that the ending gave us a hint of what to expect in Chapter 2. However, I don’t have anything else positive to add.

WHAT DIDN’T WORK:

If this film didn’t have two more instalments coming, I would have given it a one star. It didn’t give us any insight into who The Strangers are. In fact, it barely felt like a prequel. I’m really hoping Chapter 2 and 3 provide more. I am desperate to know who this trio are, how they came together, are they related and most importantly, who the hell is Tamara?!  Chapter 1 also suffered from unoriginality. It didn’t do anything we hadn’t seen before. I would go so far as to say it pulled from the other two existing movies in the franchise. Additionally, the dialogue was quite cringy and the gore could have been pushed so much further. I know this series has a lot of potential, given Prey at Night was so phenomenal. I’m resting all my expectations on the final two chapters.

OVERALL STAR RATING:

I gave it 3/5 stars. It was just fine.

Thank you so much for reading! Have you seen The Strangers: Chapter 1? 

Peace & Love xoxo