The Strangers: Prey At Night

Horror movies today are in a big crisis. There are very few horror films that actually stands out from the crowd, and many films are either remakes, sequels, or prequels. So why is this happening ? Because Hollywood have run out of ideas, basically. On the other hand, there are some films that actually turn out to be good, thanks to talented directors and actors. One of the horror films i have been positive about, is the horror film The Lullaby from director Darrel Roodt. I have written a review about this film earlier this spring, and i especially praised the performance of actor Reine Swart ( remember this name ), since she really did a great job playing an unstable young mother. In the world of horror films, you either get a few highlights or a lot of uninteresting stories. And usually we wait for something unique to come, that will make horror films interesting again. So let´s look back a little bit on horror films that actually worked. How many of you have seen the horror film It Follows, released in 2015 ? This was one of the highlights of horror films that year, and i still think this film is very effective even today. The idea is very simple about the plot of this film. If you are followed, you must make sure to get away, and try and find another person to become followed instead of you, and you might survive. Does this sound bad ? It probably does, but i have to say that It Follows is such a great horror film, because this film manage to make such a simple plot and turn it into a really creepy atmosphere. Director David Robert Mitchell managed to make a horror film, that felt original in some ways, and still combine classic horror elements in an elegant way. If you have not seen It Follows and love horror films, you have to get the DVD or Blu Ray. Another good example is The Orphanage, a Spanish horror film directed by J.A. Bayona. Released in 2007, this horror film became quickly one of the best horror film of that year ( in my personal opinion ). What made The Orphanage so scary, was the way director J.A. Bayone builded up a horrific atmosphere of an old Orphanage that carried so much sadness and anger. The cast also did a really good job portraying strong characters, that made this film stand out of most horror films that year. Home invasion thrillers, or horror films in this genre, have been popular for many years. And one of those horror films i remember is a film that came out back in 2008 called The Strangers. A film that actually did well at the box office, and was also appreciated by most movie critics.  I did not expect to see a sequel, but here it is, 10 years later. Is this sequel to The Strangers actually a worthy sequel, or is this a film another cash grab release, just to make money but without anything positive to offer ?

Mike ( Martin Henderson ), Cindy ( Christina Hendricks ), their son Luke ( Lewis Pullman ) and their rebellious daughter Kinsey ( Bailee Madison ) are all spending some time together, in their aunt and uncle´s trailer park. A mysterious girl knocks on their door, looking for someone, but disappear. Kinsey is in no mood for family time, so she takes off, while her brother is forced to go after her. Eventually, Luke find Kinsey and talk to her, They locate the trailer that their aunt and uncle live in, but find out they have been brutally murdered. It turns out, that in this trailer park, there are 3 masked murderers, ready to find their next victim.

I have not seen the first The Strangers in almost 10 years, so i decided to watch it again since i was going to see the sequel. The first film is a horror film that may not have been original, but as a home invasion horror film i think the concept worked. The Strangers managed to make a creepy atmosphere, using simple details and a great main character played by actor Liv Tyler. I also think that director Bryan Bertino had a really good vision how to make a home invasion horror film effective, instead of making it blend and forgettable. And now we have a sequel to the first film, and is it really bad ? Actually, no. This sequel could have been a disaster, or even beyond awful. But thankfully, The Strangers : Prey At Night is one of those sequels that actually is good. I would not say that this sequel is better than the original film, but considering this is a sequel i am pleasantly surprised. I think what makes this sequel work, is because that the film is very simple. They don´t try and make too many twists, instead this film feels pretty close to the first film´s concept, without copying everything. In the first film, the home invasion took place in a house. This sequel changes location, into a trailer park instead. There are more characters this time around as well. For the most part, the acting is ok. I will say that in this film, i especially like the character known as Kinsey, played by actor Bailee Madison. A young woman who is thrown into a very serious situation. I also enjoy the character Mike, played by actor Martin Henderson. He feels like a natural character, who wants to make sure his daughter Kinsey and son Luke is alright. If i have to mention a problem with this sequel, i would probably say that i would have liked a very unexpected twist. Director Johannes Roberts is perhaps mostly known for directing the shark horror film 47 Meters Down, and another horror good horror film called The Other Side Of The Door. He must have enjoyed the first Strangers movie, since he seems to respect the source material. And i have to say, director Johannes Roberts uses camera angles well enough to capture unsettling moments. The colors looks great as well, especially in the pool scene. If you just want to see a classic concept of home invasion horror, this is a film for you. There is several scenes where you do sense a hostile environment, and the psycho´s different looks helps the creepy atmosphere feel intense. The Strangers: Prey At Night may not change horror films in history, but as a sequel it works better than i expected. One thing is clear, if someone rings my door bell, i will be ready with my battle axe. 

Rating: DDD