The Strangers: Chapter 1

"The Strangers: Chapter One" is completely devoid of everything that made "The Strangers" (2008) such a compelling and menacing motion picture. The strangers of the title are immediately at a disadvantage this time around because they obviously no longer have the element of surprise on their side. We have seen it all before as they silently move through the shadows while observing their unsuspecting prey before finally attacking them without mercy or remorse. The jump scares are all tepid and ruined by well signposted and unimaginative camera angles and it is unfortunate the stabbings at the end are actually shown and no longer suggested (the human imagination is one of the most subtly powerful allies at a director's disposal during such moments). However, it is somewhat surprising this film isn't a good deal more tiresome and monotonous, but having said that it also never manages to rise above being an average and overly familiar waste of time which boasts only a few insignificent and uninspiring changes to the formula used in the first film.