The Strangers: Chapter 1 (2024)

The Strangers: Chapter 1 asks for 91 minutes now and two more movies later, and it doesn’t earn the first part. Maya and Ryan, played by Madelaine Petsch and Froy Gutierrez, are driving to Portland for her job interview when their car quits in Venus, Oregon, a tiny town with a diner full of unfriendly stares. A waitress named Shelly drops them at a rental cabin in the woods for the night. Then a young woman knocks and asks for Tamara. She comes back. Then the masks show up. That knock is still unnerving, and a masked figure silently watching from a distance is the scariest image here. Everything after is running, hiding and bad choices, with no real suspense between the jolts. Critics gave it 21% on Rotten Tomatoes. It made $48.2 million worldwide on a reported $8.5M. A 2.3 because a classic knock deserves better than a warmup for a sequel. $78.15 says the next time your car breaks down out of town, you turn down every friendly offer of a cozy place to stay.

What works: The repeated knock and the silent, watching figures still carry a chill, and the small-town setting has an unfriendly edge.

What doesn’t: It lacks real suspense, the leads are paper thin, and the whole thing plays like a setup for the next two chapters.

Who it’s for: Devoted fans of the original who plan to watch all three chapters no matter what.