The story of “The Strangers” began in 2008 with a horror film starring Scott Speedman and Liv Tyler, and the masked trio and home invasion premise was then used in a sequel film, “The Strangers: Prey At Night.” In 2024, director Renny Harlin began his take on the story with “The Strangers: Chapter 1” starring Madelaine Petsch and Froy Gutierrez. Their characters, Maya and Ryan, respectively, encounter the masked strangers in a remote cabin in a small town after their car breaks down. Spoilers ahead for that movie: the film ends with Ryan being killed and Maya being stabbed.
Maya survives, and that’s where the sequel, “The Strangers: Chapter 2,” picks up – with Maya recovering in the hospital. The identity of the strangers still unknown, the trio attempts to finish what they’ve started and kill Maya. However, Maya will not go down without a fight. She struggles with her trauma and immense trust issues that make her, and the audience, full of paranoia as she tries to survive.
The film has many classic slasher elements, including jump scares, a “final girl,” unrealistically inconsequential injuries, etc. But where this addition to “The Strangers” franchise differs is in one very important aspect of the film: a backstory for the killer. Without giving too much away, the movie focuses on one part of the trio and gives context – albeit incomplete context that leaves audiences wanting more – through flashbacks and glimpses of the killer without their mask.
But don’t worry about the backstory making the film any less scary. It’s clear through Maya’s conversations with the people in the town, and her own encounters, that these serial killers are experienced and ruthless. Despite the audience knowing more context about the trio, they are still very much strangers to Maya – making her distrust everyone.
Petsch’s performance as a final girl is brilliant, her persistence and determination to survive making you root for her every step of the way. While there are a few scenes that are silly, including a certain killer animal sequence that feels unnecessary, the overall film is definitely scary and great for slasher fans.
The film ends by setting up the next and final part of the trilogy, “The Strangers: Chapter 3.” There is no confirmed release date for this upcoming film, but a mid-credit scene in “Chapter 2” implies that it is coming soon. And I don’t know about any of you, but my movie tickets will be purchased as soon as possible.
Junior Emily Myers is a Staff Writer for the College Reporter. Her email is emyers3@fandm.edu.