The Strangers: Chapter 1 (2024)

   

Directed by: Renny Harlin

Written by: Alan R. Cohen & Alan Freedland

Story by: Bryan Bertino

Starring:

Madelaine Petsch .... Maya
Froy Gutierrez.... Ryan
Matus Lajcak .... Scarecrow Double
Olivia Kreutzova .... Dollface Double
Letizia Fabbri .... Pin-Up Double

Release Dates: Quick Theatrical: May 17, 2024

 

Rating:

 

A couple are on a destination but their car breaks down in a strange small town. They reside at an airbnb in the deep dark woods till their car is fully repaired. They are confronted by a group of mask faced killers that are stalking them.

 

The beginning looks great with a camera zooming over the great outdoors in the forestry area as I had high hopes for this horror flick.
Then suddenly we spot someone running away from some vicious killers that are stalking him as this looked terrifying and energised. It was necessary to have this in the beginning of the story.
Then the story centers around a young adult couple Maya and Ryan driving across the country. Ryan is driving the vehicle and is distracted on what Maya is telling him. There's a perfect jumping moment when this moment was still. Almost made me think a car accident was going to happen. It for sure leaves tension while watching the outcome of all this.
Then when they try to find directions in a small town where a diner is revealed the locals stare at them strangely as this leaves off a nice mysterious horror touch to the story making out that this isn't a safe community to be there.
Suddenly their car breaks down as this was another fine pointer that they're stranded in this strange town. Not only that a group of children preaches to them as if they know on what goes on there. Both of these were great pointers to a horror flick and can make you feel frightened as to what will happen later on. All of this was a great start to the story.
While they are forced to stay at the airbnb in the deep dark woods they end up making out and stuff like that. Plus good shots on the misty night in the forestry in which this had a nice still horror feel along with shots around the home with a chicken coop.
Suddenly, they hear a loud banging on the door as it sounded intense and very effective. Truly a scary moment to happen in which I wondered as to who would be at their door in the middle of nowhere.
Ryan has to head back to the diner realising that his inhaler is in the car that's being repaired and takes a motorbike to get there while he leaves Maya all alone in the house. It left an impression that this is not a good idea in which this kept me in suspense wondering as to what will happen next.
While Maya is alone in the cabin there's some shuffling noise coming from outside with again the loud banging on the door. Plus more creepy moments like that which can leave a chill down anyone's spine.
Then she plays the piano there to get things off her mind in which there's a well focused situation on this along with good camera takes. The power suddenly goes out leaving more creepy moments that looked well drawn in. She turns a light on from her cell and something is spotting her. This was a near jumping moment for sure.
When Ryan returns things looked good when he conforts her as well as them having a hamburger for dinner which there's good close up shots on this. This was a total attention grabber and we get a creepy feeling with the ketchup dripping on the table that it will be something else. Boy do things really get going adding a punch to the terrors.
They both find a away to escape while running to the motorcycle but of course something is going to happen as it often does. Boy does this moment look very suspenseful.
Ryan finds a shotgun and they hide as they hear someone on the porch as he fires in which this left me an impression that it wasn't one of the masked maniacs which is common for a horror flick such as this one. This situation was strongly well done.
Maya runs away into the woods and hides under a pit full of leaves as well as great foggy shots on the killers holding their weapons especially Scarecrow Double. She tries to call 911 on her cell without trying to speak loudly which drew me in as the receptionist on the other end couldn't hear her as well as static which was bonechilling. Especially when she finds what is lying next to her.
Ryan finds Pin Up Girl in the woods and points a gun to the back of her head demanding to find out where Maya is as this woman taunts him. I was thinking to myself "Just kill the bitch!!!!" I had a creepy feeling that things will backfire with him and boy it sure does as this is another common situation in a horror flick.
Perfect touching moments with both Ryan and Maya tied together in a chair acting emotionally scared and he proposes to her which really looked effective.
Bottom line is that this film is still effective like the first two but only gave it three bats cause it didn't seem to go much further like I thought it would've been. Still it's a good movie and two others are yet to come making this one a trilogy which excited me to find out on what happens next. Hey before the closing credits it announced to be continued.

The cast was small for the main roles but it was well performed such as Madelaine Petsch (Maya) in which she shows a good girl type of attitude as well as having a good outgoing behavior. She was believeable with all of this. Plus shows a great versatality when she gets really terrified when the horror strikes her which she really brought to life big time. Was great sobbing in fear and reacts well to being in pain too. She brought a ton of spunk and adrenaline into her role as this was a good plus.
Froy Gutierrez (Ryan) brought it on nicely as the sympathetic boyfriend in which he for sure showed off a good outgoing type of behavior. He was full of action by what he did here as well as showing off a great courageous attitude. Does a nice job when he acts comforting. Also was great by acting terrified. Shows off a great aggressive attitude in many spots as he was a true force of nature. Reacted terrifically when tied into a chair sobbing in fear which was realistic.
Matus Lajcak (Scarecrow Double) I had to mention him for the first time. Although he didn't have any lines he was truly hulking and really brought alot of menacing motives into his part of the story. He stood out well when he acts deadly towards his onscreen victims and deserves good credit.
Ben Cartwright (Rudy) had a small role in this one as a town local mechanic in which he was worth mentioning. He did a nice job acting eccentric and sneering with his words. He definetely cam across as mysterious. It make me wonder if he was one of the killers by the way he acted. I can see him going places and getting bigger roles.
Stevee Davies
(Dougie) was another cast member worth mentioning as a fellow helping the two main people out on where to stay. He shows off a believeably outgoing and generous type of behavior. He was believeably freidnly and made his part very likeable. I can see him getting more work as well.

Man is bloodily shot in the head.
Woman's hand is stabbed by a nail.
Slaughtered chicken is hanging on a chandelier.
Flesh rotting corpse is revealed in a pit of leaves.
Bloody stabbings in the crotch.

Justin Caine Burnett definetely had alot of powerful dark music for this horror flick especially during the beginning of this flick as it sounded spooky showing the forestry area and so fourth. Alot of great plucking sounds as well as deep and dark low sounding synthesizer music that was well concentrated for the terrors that were happening in which he showed terrific timing making the viewer stand at the edge of their seat while watching this. Plus it gets stronger and louder during the final moments with more classical sounds too. Also alot of great windy sounds throughout the story which seemed necessary since it takes place in the deep dark woods.

The film had a soundtrack by oldie artists but what really stands out is a record playing of the Moody Blues' "Nights in White Satin" in which they are having a hamburger and then the terror strikes them. The song fits on what goes on their with the harmonies and so fourth. A great choice for this one.

Maya: Why are you doing this to us?
Pin-Up Girl: Because you were *here*.