My Unpopular Opinion About "The Strangers: Chapter 1”
Over the weekend, I was in full couch potato mode as I filled my mouth with chips and watched a new movie while screaming at the characters through the screen. There truly is no better way to spend a Saturday night.
With that said, “The Strangers: Chapter 1” has been on my watchlist for quite a while, purely out of curiosity, as I don’t see the need for a prequel to the original 2008 film.
In this latest release, Maya and Ryan, a young couple, venture into a small town when their car breaks down, disrupting their trip. With no other option, they spend the night in a remote cabin and are later terrorized by three masked figures.
As the plot developed, I grew attached to our two main characters and rooted for their survival, although I knew the most likely outcome. Given that this film is a prequel, I was expecting some backstory on the killers, but instead, it was a scene-by-scene remake of the original with minor adjustments, which caught me off guard.
Contrary to everyone’s opinion online, I actually enjoyed this movie simply due to the likable characters and its ability to keep me entertained. While I agree that this film was unnecessary, it certainly embodies everything I love about the horror genre.
There will be minor spoilers ahead, so you’ve been warned!
The Best of “The Strangers: Chapter 1”:
Likeable Characters.
Although this film is a direct copy of the original, it features characters with entirely different circumstances. In the original, the couple we meet is on shaky ground due to some challenges in their relationship which leads to tension and uncertainty.
However, in this prequel, Maya and Ryan are celebrating the 5th anniversary of their relationship and appear to be deeply in love.
Despite Maya’s naivety contrasting with Ryan’s straightforward nature, these two complement each other very well and I kept hoping they would figure a way out of this horrifying situation.
Although some of their decision-making skills were questionable, I enjoyed their conversations and how they worked together when their night began to take a turn for the worst.
Pure Entertainment.
Although this film did not capture the eerie atmosphere of the original, it still provided a level of entertainment that horror/thriller fans will enjoy. I will admit that although I wasn’t scared or on the edge of my seat, I was still thoroughly invested in the movie due to the characters.
The original has so many creepy moments that make you squirm in fright, but this prequel didn’t have the same effect on me. This prequel is most certainly a tone-down version of the original while still possessing thrilling elements.
The Small Town.
The detail that allows this film to differ from the original is the presence of a small town filled with uninviting, suspicious people. When Maya and Ryan eat at the local diner, the people they encounter are presumptuous and ask questions about the status of their relationship.
Later on, when their car doesn’t start, Ryan is convinced that they are being scammed but despite his suspicions, he accepts the offer to stay at the remote cabin.
Although the identity of the killers is never revealed, it’s safe to say that the killers are some of the townspeople. This is perpetuated by the fact that we see a ‘Wanted’ poster in the diner, which showcases a man who was brutally killed at the beginning of the film.
Is it possible that this town is a part of a wider scheme to ensnare future victims? We may never know.
Either way, this detail allows this prequel to stand on its own and provides some much-needed suspense.
The Worst of “The Strangers: Chapter 1”:
The Lackluster Impact.
There’s an infamous line uttered from the lips of the masked murderers in the 2008 original when asked what inspired their rampage. One of the masked women states, “Because you’re home,” which is undoubtedly terrifying as it shows the invasion of a place where we’re supposed to feel safe and at ease.
It also highlights that there is no particular rhyme or reason behind this attack; it’s simply a case of being at the wrong place at the wrong time.
However, in this new film, the reason behind their attack is simply stated as “Because you’re here,” which doesn’t have the same spine-chilling effect as this implies that the couple could’ve been attacked anywhere the killers chose.
Therefore, the ending of this prequel was very lackluster and had a lasting impact.
However, this prequel is more digestible for those new to the horror/thriller genre.
In the grand scheme of things, we could make a mile-long list when discussing all this film’s problems in comparison to the 2008 original. From a lack of originality to cringy dialogue, this film lacks the aspects that made the first film so terrifying.
But guess what? I still had a great time watching this film, and it’s perfect for movie-goers who haven’t seen the 2008 film or its sequel, “The Strangers: Prey at Night.”
Two other films will be premiering soon, so it’ll be interesting to see what the future holds for this franchise.
Have you seen ‘The Strangers: Chapter 1"? What did you think of this new addition?
