The Strangers: Chapter 1 Review – When Remakes Go Wrong

The year was 2008 when Bryan Bertino unleashed the taut home invasion thriller The Strangers upon unsuspecting audiences. Liv Tyler and Scott Speedman starred as a couple tormented one dark night in their remote vacation home by three masked strangers.

With nothing but their wits and each other, they faced down relentlessly enigmatic killers motivated only by the cruel rationale “because you were home.” Minimalist in the extreme and all the more chilling for it, Bertino stripped horror back to its bare essence: atmosphere, mystery, and that most primal of human fears, violation of one’s privacy and safety within one’s own walls.

Over a decade later comes The Strangers: Chapter 1, a strange prequel/reboot hybrid kicking off a planned trilogy. Madelaine Petsch and Froy Gutierrez take the lead as Maya and Ryan, young lovers waylaid in creepy Venus, Oregon, when their car breaks down.

Trapped in an isolated rental, they soon find themselves prey for the trio of masked intruders in a storyline all too reminiscent of 2008’s original. Director Renny Harlin presses many of the same buttons competently enough, but the result is Iron Chef Strangers—we’ve seen it cooked before, folks, and this redo lacks the bite of that initial offering.

In revisiting such an effective standalone tale, Chapter 1 faced high expectations to break new ground and truly justify this franchise expansion. Regrettably, it instead plays things too safe, hitting familiar beats without augmenting what made The Strangers a surprise gem. A thriller better left to simmer in memory rather than steamed anew, Chapter 1 suggests cabin fever rather than fresh air for this rebooted slasher series going forward.

The Strangers Walk Among Us

Maya and Ryan’s road trip takes an ominous turn when they find themselves lost in the remote town of Venus, Oregon. Tired and hungry, they stop at the local diner, hoping to get directions and a bite to eat. But the patrons eye the city-folk visitors with distrust and unease.

When Maya and Ryan return to their car, it stubbornly refuses to start. Two men from the diner offer to fix the vehicle, though they claim it will take until the next day. With night falling and no other options, the couple begrudgingly agrees to spend the night somewhere nearby. The locals point them to an isolated cabin listed on a home-sharing site.

As the trees grow thick around the cabin, a sense of deep unease washes over Maya and Ryan. Their worries are not put to rest when a cloaked stranger comes knocking, asking hauntingly after someone named Tamara. Though they try to shrug it off, more disturbing noises echo through the forest darkness.

With Ryan leaving to find food, Maya is left nervously alone. That’s when the real terror begins, as masked intruders start stalking the cabin. When Ryan returns, the door bursts open to reveal their masked assailants. Maya and Ryan are now trapped in a nightmarish game with the strangers, fighting for their very survival in the ominous Oregon town, where even the residents seem twisted with malice.

The Strangers: Chapter 1 Falls Short of Atmospheric Dread

While director Renny Harlin brings decades of experience behind the camera, his work here lacks the subtle touch needed to effectively recreate the chilling atmosphere of the original. Harlin relies too heavily on simple jump scares and tense music to induce fear, rather than letting the dread slowly build through an unsettled mood and observation of unexplained details, as in Bryan Bertino’s masterful 2008 film.

Harlin’s close-up shots likely aim to obscure upcoming scares but have the opposite effect of anticipating each startle. Viewers come to expect a sharp cut just before another sudden noise or masked face appears. This repetition dulls any real tension rather than enhancing it. More impressive are Harlin’s occasional stylish shots that linger on a reflective surface like a piano’s polished top, within which unseen movements just out of view heighten unease.

Outside the confined setting of the house in the woods, where the original truly excelled, this film falters. The dimly lit forests look more like a damp soundstage than real Northwest woodlands. Chases through vague trees lack the intensity they could have if filmed on actual unpredictable terrain with practical lighting, as in Bryan Bertino’s sequel, The Dark and the Wicked.

Overall, Renny Harlin’s competent but impersonal direction lacks the sensitivity to build the immersive atmosphere of inescapable terror found in Bryan Bertino’s sparse yet deeply unsettling 2008 slasher film. While jump scares provide visceral thrills, a more restrained touch would have better channeled the sense of inexplicable menace lurking just beyond sight that made the original Strangers truly haunting.

Characters & Their Challenges

Maya and Ryan certainly face their fair share of challenges in The Strangers, Chapter 1. As two young lovers travel across the country to start a new chapter in their relationship, they find themselves stranded in the remote town of Venus, Oregon. Like many travelers before them in horror films, they quickly realize something isn’t quite right about this isolated community.

When their car refuses to start, leaving them dependent on the seemingly unhelpful locals, Maya and Ryan make some questionable choices that leave them vulnerable. She favors avoiding confrontation, hoping their troubles will simply work themselves out, while he grows increasingly uneasy about their situation. These character traits drive their actions, for better or worse, even if some decisions only serve to move the plot along.

Still, Madelaine Petsch shines in her portrayal of Maya. She conveys Maya’s bubbly optimism with sincerity, but she isn’t afraid to show the real fear and pain underneath as the threats escalate. Witnessing her journey from a carefree traveler to a woman fighting for her life keeps viewers rooting for her survival against the odds. While the characters could likely use more development, Petsch makes the most of what she’s given to captivate the audience.

Froy Gutierrez has his work cut out playing the protective boyfriend Ryan. At his best, he complements Petsch’s performance as her supportive partner. However, some scenes of Ryan staring longingly risk portraying him as little more than eye candy. With more balance, Gutierrez could have developed Ryan as a multi-dimensional character in his own right, rather than solely through his relationship with Maya. Still, both leads show real potential that may shine through as their story progresses.

Overall, while Maya and Ryan still feel somewhat shallow, Madelaine Petsch hints at greater potential for her final girl abilities. With luck, more nuanced portrayals could yet emerge as their terrorizing tale unfolds over the upcoming chapters. Fans will likely be compelled to see where both characters and their performers go next, despite the challenges so far.

The Strangers: Chapter 1 and Déjà Vu

While The Strangers: Chapter 1 had some successful jump scares and tense moments thanks to Renny Harlin’s competent direction, overall it struggled to distinguish itself from Bryan Bertino’s chilling original. The couple found themselves in similarly scary situations as Liv Tyler and Scott Speedman did over a decade ago, down to small, recognizable touches.

From the uncertain welcome in the remote town to mysterious knocks at the door at night, Harlin’s film shadowed its predecessor so closely that viewers spent much of the runtime experiencing a strange sense of déjà vu. Even specific scares, like Man in the Mask lurking in dark corners, appeared recycled from 2008. The callbacks began to feel more like rehashing than homage.

By hitting all the same plot beats, Chapter 1 offered weary fans a few surprises. The question “Why are you doing this?” elicited the same chilling reply as well, suggesting minimal thought went into expanding this world. While nostalgia is appealing, audiences also crave new thrills and insights each time a franchise is revisited. Merely reshowing older jumps and twists is unlikely to satisfy in the long run.

With so little deviation from the original’s formula, it’s hard to conclude that Chapter 1 truly needed to exist as its own feature. The opportunities to update or tweak elements for a modern audience went untapped here. While some competent frights kept engagement relatively high throughout, by the finale, there was still no signature reason to feel this reboot brought anything fresh for devoted fans of the IP. Only time will tell if the upcoming sequels can introduce more novelty to the Nightmare on Airbnb.

Open Doors Ahead

While The Strangers: Chapter 1 sticks closely to the blueprint of its predecessors, it leaves intrigue around corners yet to turn. Madelaine Petsch brings gravitas to the final girl role, her terrified performance holding viewers in its grip. Froy Gutierrez proves a loyal companion for the harrowing ride. Their romance grounds the stalker horror, yet it doesn’t solve the mystery of these masked assailants.

As the closing teaser promises, the next films will delve deeper into this ominous Oregon town. Secretary Brake’s foreboding sheriff seems poised to peel back its secrets, for good or ill. The trilogy format offers scope to build on elements like Maya and Ryan’s harrowing hunt through the shadowy woods. With a new visionary at the helm for each chapter, who knows where the paths may lead?

While an origin story may drain terror from the nameless nightmares, curiosity remains about their murky motives. Some questions fill in the blanks, others don’t. As long as random brutality and that haunting line retain their chill, the door stands open for fresh terrors.

With two movies yet to come, the verdict stays on the fence. If Harlin can inject even a soupçon of Bertino’s bone-deep dread, more may yet live to ask, “Is Tamara home?”. For now, the future is unknown, and isn’t that the true horror?

The Same Story Retold

The Strangers: Chapter 1 had the potential to breathe new life into this classic horror franchise. But ultimately, it tells the same familiar story without adding anything significant. Madelaine Petsch and Froy Gutierrez are likeable enough in the lead roles, but they have little to work with beyond the standard beats we’ve seen before.

The film is passable entertainment for those just looking for a fun scare. But for fans of the intense, slow-burn terror of the original, it’s hard to see why this particular retelling was needed. The success of The Strangers came from its simple yet deeply unsettling realism. By rehashing that same basic plot without putting a new spin on it, Chapter 1 just reminds us what made the first film so effective.

Now we must wait to see if the next two installments in this rushed trilogy can deliver anything more. With no real answers provided here, it’s difficult to get excited about continuing this story across three films released so close together.

The original will always be regarded as one of the best of its kind. This first chapter had a chance to build its own identity, but instead it just settles for repeating what we saw 14 years ago. Fans will likely find ways to enjoy it, but it seems The Strangers may work better as a standalone nightmare rather than an expanded universe.