The Strangers: Chapter 1 Blu-ray Movie

Rating summary

Movie		2.0
Video		4.0
Audio		4.5
Extras		2.0
Overall		2.0

The Strangers: Chapter 1 Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Jeffrey Kauffman July 25, 2024

The scariest thing about this attempt to reboot 2008's The Strangers may well not be anything in the story itself, but that terrifyingly ominous Chapter 1 appended to the title. Renny Harlin, evidently on some kind of misguided attempt to reinvigorate his career (again?), is the supposed "stylist" behind a would be nascent trilogy of which this is the first part, but the fact that even the original film could be considered at least a riff on any number of other home (and/or cabin) invasion properties should indicate in and of itself that there's a certain derivative quality suffusing things. That means that any follow ups to this particular "chapter" may have to do some serious rejuggling if anything new let alone improved is added to the mix. The kind of weird thing about how rote this first "episode" is may be hinted at in some of the passing comments on supplemental material, where it seems like different takes on the material mentioned in these supplements were not really followed through on in the finished product.

Now, there's probably no denying that The Strangers (in its original cinematic iteration_ may well have "inspired" later "masked intruder" efforts like You're Next, but that may only serve to point out how kind of tired and repetitive this entire subgenre can be. You get to know the nice, unsuspecting "normals", who of course end up in an isolated environment and then end up getting slowly harassed and tortured by seeming lunatics. There's no real "narrative" in an effort like this, something that, first, makes a "reboot" seem positively bonheaded, but, second and potentially worse, really doesn't offer much in the way of future developments. That said, considering the flourishing oak that has sprung from the bloody acorn of Saw, I guess stranger things have happened.

Maya (Madelaine Petsch) and Ryan (Froy Guiterrez) arrive in my home state of Oregon to the (hopefully fictional) town of Venus, on their way to some new employment opportunities. Suffice it to say that a perceived "franchise" like this exists only if people are stranded in some woebegone locale, Maya and Ryan end up at a kind of VRBO-esque Cabin in the Woods (so to speak), after Ryan encounters (in just one of several tradition bound tropes) car trouble and the two can't proceed on. They've already experienced a less than warm welcome from the "natives", but even that chilly reception pales in comparison to what's ultimately in store for the couple once they "settle down" for an evening in the forest.

Several of the supplements on this release make a supposed case for how "realistic" this version of the story aims to be, but with invaders wearing cheeky masks and a backwoods town right out of every horror movie you've ever watched, that may be a losing proposition, one way or the other. Structural issues also pervade at times, in what may be an attempt to keep Maya in "damsel in distress" mode for as long as possible.

Brian Orndorf's review provides a perhaps even less charitable reaction to this first chapter, and also provides a few more plot points, for those interested.

The Strangers: Chapter 1 Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

The Strangers: Chapter 1 is presented on Blu-ray courtesy of Lionsgate Films with an AVC encoded 1080p transfer in 2.39:1. The IMDb lists both Arri and Red cameras as having been utilized, though as of the writing of this review, there's no definitive data point as to the resolution of the DI, though a regular member here has set that spec on Lionsgate's 4K UHD release to native 4K, which I'm letting stand in lieu of being able to find anything else. As always with my reviews, if any reader has authoritative information to the contrary, just let me know and I'll happily update things. One way or the other, this is an evocative looking presentation that offers generally secure detail levels, at least when lighting regimens allow, and an undeniably spooky palette that emphasizes slightly sickly looking yellows, and some very interesting teals out in some of the forest material (I have to say as someone who has spent the majority of my life in Oregon, the forest looks nothing like most of the wild green spaces in this state). An emphasis on (sometimes extreme) close-ups works to the benefit of fine detail levels, and in fact I'd argue that fine detail is remarkably consistent throughout, with (again) the exception of some scenes where there's simply not much light. Digital grain is probably more subliminal in this version than in Lionsgate's 4K UHD version.

The Strangers: Chapter 1 Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

The Strangers: Chapter 1 features an expressive Dolby Atmos track that is perhaps just slightly "limited" given the claustrophobic confines of so much of the story. When the film ventures outside, as it does in its opening vignette and then recurrently throughout the tale, there is noticeable engagement of all the surround channels, including the Atmos speakers. Even in some of the cabin material, there's appealing directionality in terms of sound effects. Justin Caine Burnett's score is also nicely immersive and provides a suitably propulsive bed for some of the more anxiety producing sequences. Dialogue is rendered cleanly and clearly throughout. Optional English, French and Spanish subtitles are available.

The Strangers: Chapter 1 Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

• Audio Commentary with Producer Courtney Solomon and Actress Madelaine Petsch


• Reimagining a Classic: Making The Strangers: Part 1 (HD; 17:01) features some interesting interviews, though some of the "changes" or "new approaches" discussed here sure don't show up in the finished product. There's also the perhaps hilarious assignation of "classic" to the first film, which some may find debatable.


• A Hostile Environment: The Visual Design of The Strangers: Chapter 1 (HD; 10:54) features Renny Harlin and director of photography Jose David Montero among others. There's some good behind the scenes footage here, including both on location and setbound material.


• Theatrical Trailer (HD; 2:25)

Additionally, digital and DVD copies are included, and packaging features a slipcover.

The Strangers: Chapter 1 Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

One of the supplements included on this disc mentions how a sudden acquisition of rights to the original film gave birth to this "new" if not exactly "improved" version. Some may feel after watching this "chapter" that just having appropriate rights doesn't necessarily mean that a remake should be undertaken. There are definitely some moments of angst here, but they're enveloped in such an overarching feeling of derivation and repetition that they dissipate almost as soon as they're established. Technical merits are first rate, and while the supplements sometimes suggest a film materially different from what's actually on screen, they're also rather interesting, for anyone who may be considering making a purchase.