Skip to main content

The Strangers: Prey at Night

The Strangers: Prey at Night is the follow up to the 2008 film The Strangers. The premise is pretty much the same except it's at a mobile home park and it's a family of four.

Bryan Bertino did the original and wrote this follow up's screenplay. The dialogue and structure of the film is very 80s horror and throws in a lot of tropes that audiences have come to expect. It's formulaic and predictable if you're an adult. This film is rated R but for some reason, the kills that were used throughout the film were generally muted. Sure there's blood but I left the theater thinking that I saw a PG-13 film.

Johannes Roberts has improved since doing 47 meters down. Don't ask me why that film got a sequel. This man loves his horror films and it shows. There are some camera and editing problems but nothing too major. He used the zoom function of the camera so much in the film. There are parts where I could see intent on how he chose the shot and then others seem random. Randomness is a theme to the film so I suppose there's a connection there.

I wish there was more Christina Hendricks, not just because she was in one of my favorite movies of all time, Drive, but because she can act really well and I felt she was just briefly in the film even though she's credited first.

Daughter of Christina Hendricks was the wonderful Bailee Madison who you'll recognize from the television show Good Witch or The Fosters. I believe, maybe foolishly, but I believe that there was intent on how Kinsey emoted at the beginning of the film. I suppose I should say lack thereof. There is a bigger character arc if at the beginning there are little expressions on an actress's face so that when there's horror there's a drastic change in how the audience sees her. She nails the horror queen, Laurie Strode, scream, and whimpering.

The bigger problems with the acting come from the two males in the film. They were stereotypic with underdeveloped characters and poorly written excuses to separate the family from each other. The choices they make are a roller coaster of fickleness.

I disagree with some of the critics on just how bad of a film most believe it was. It's not that bad. Sure the final scenes are an eye roller and the first ten minutes aren't all that interesting, but I enjoyed the hunt and horror the rest of the film provided. I didn't like it as much as the first but I think Bailee Madison carried the film pretty well.

Result: C (The Ritual is a better choice and you don't have to leave home to watch that horror film.)


Labels:

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Disclosure Day (2026)

Disclosure Day is directed by Steven Spielberg , known for Jaws , Jurassic Park , and Schindler's List , with a screenplay by David Koepp , whose work ranges from excellent efforts like Mission: Impossible and Spider-Man to less successful projects. Unfortunately, this film falls closer to the weaker side of that spectrum. The premise is intriguing, and Spielberg's craftsmanship is still evident in the film's pacing and visual storytelling, but the narrative struggles to capitalize on its potential. As the story unfolds, it becomes increasingly clear that many of its most interesting ideas are left underdeveloped, culminating in an ending that fails to provide a satisfying payoff. Emily Blunt , known for Sicario and Edge of Tomorrow , serves as the film's central character and the key figure around whom the entire mystery revolves. Blunt delivers a professional and committed performance, carrying much of the emotional weight of the story. However, some of the chara...
Post a Comment
Read more

The Furious (2026)

The Furious is directed by Kenji Tanigaki , a filmmaker and action coordinator known for his work on Snake Eyes and a longtime veteran of the stunt world. A fun piece of trivia is that Tanigaki was one of the stunt doubles on Mortal Kombat: Annihilation , and his experience behind the camera is evident throughout the film. The action is relentless, the pacing rarely slows down, and the movie understands that tension comes from constantly forcing its characters into increasingly dangerous situations. From beginning to end, it feels like an action film designed by people who genuinely understand action filmmaking. Miao Xie anchors the film and delivers some phenomenal fight sequences. His athleticism and screen presence make every encounter believable, and the choreography allows him to showcase a wide range of techniques rather than relying on repetitive exchanges. The action scenes are impressive on their own, but they become even better when paired with his co-star. Joe Taslim , ...
Post a Comment
Read more

Obsession (2026)

Obsession is written and directed by Curry Barker , marking the first film of his that I have seen, and it leaves a strong impression. The film builds tension through character-driven horror rather than relying entirely on jump scares or spectacle. It understands how to create discomfort and maintain suspense, allowing scenes to breathe long enough for the unease to settle in. The horror feels confident and focused, delivering some of the strongest scares/scenes since Weapons last year . One scene in particular, the car, was so full of dread that the payoff was so very earned. Michael Johnston plays the timid central character and does an excellent job selling the vulnerability and awkwardness the role requires. His performance feels believable throughout, making it easy to invest in his fear and growing desperation as the situation escalates. Johnston carries much of the emotional side of the film and helps ground the more intense horror elements. Inde Navarrette , known for S...
Post a Comment
Read more