LIKES:
The Lead Actress
A Few Answers
Some Creative Escapes
Short Run Time
Interesting Filters/Cinematography
Sound Editing/Creepy Music
Summary:
The movie does address one of the (supposed) complaints of the last one in that it provides some answers to why the killers are hunting. Chapter 2 reveals a few of the faces behind the masks, giving us a glimpse into the minds of two of the hunters as to what motivates them to be the imposing figures they have become. And helping to progress the present-day story is Maya, played by Madelaine Petsch, who does a lot with such a limited role. The fiery redhead captures the spirit of a victim well, portraying fear, trauma, bravado, and anger as she traipses through the woods. I was amazed by the physical acting, doing a nice job of walking through the woods as her injuries from the last movie take their toll. Taking much of the movie's acting on herself, she was very dynamic, and I was happy she agreed to take this series on, because she continues to be a strong aspect, and perhaps the main reason I'm keeping with the film.
Outside of that, the movie's visual elements work to establish the same desolate, meek, and dire circumstances that Maya is still in the middle of. The grey filters work to add that isolation, hope loosely filtering in the dense trees as it offers limited safety to the madness of the masked marauders. Heavy rain effects are authentic, an imposing first act to the second chapter that offers plenty of seclusion to the potential jump scares, and adds a foreboding element she has to fight off. I'll also give Harlin points in directing, finding some dynamic shots of the action to help immerse us in the intense moments, especially in finding some clever ways for our leading lady to escape. Accompanying the visuals is a good bunch of sound editing, nothing spectacularly unique, but still giving you that harrowing collection of sound staples that are associated with horror movies. Some creepy music also finds a place in the film, again, nothing very original, but it uses the token music to a nice degree. And if none of that is up your alley, then take solace that this movie is about 80-85 minutes long, so you'll get out of it relatively quickly.
DISLIKES:
Limited Story
Predictable
Lacking Scare
Animal Cruelty
Simple Kills
Horrible Character Usage
Not Its Own Movie
Another Chapter Coming
Summary
Unfortunately, the movie still has a lot of work to catch up to the cult classics we know in the Horror genre. The story is expanded upon, but it's not by much, and what we are given is not the most mind-blowing revelations at all. In fact, if I glean what I have, the story feels very cliché and underwhelming, leading to a predictable course I only hope will not be the case. That predictability diluted the scares, and the mystery is weakened by just as much with the obvious clues that they leave behind for us to follow. And when both of those key elements are gone, so goes some of the edge of the movie. Other factors that I did not enjoy were the simple kills, Strangers again choosing to do most of the dirty work off-screen, or in the most mundane element possible. While I like not being too over-theatrical (e.g., cheesy, ridiculous kills best left in a video game), the realistic elements could have used more planning and strategy than a simple arrow emerging through a body part. I felt disconnected with so many other characters, most of them practically pointless to introduce, and such bland involvement of these other characters cheapened a lot of the spectacle to again a very bland kill-fest. The movie also showed off animal cruelty, some of which was highly unnecessary, and the level of detail I had to handle was not my cup of tea, no matter how relevant it seemed. Something else I didn't like was how much this movie relies on the previous movie; so many elements are tied to the first film, which you need to rewatch for a refresher, and this film feels very much a lead-up to the next film, leaving very little time for the film to stand on its own. That focus on building up to yet another chapter makes this film feel even more wasted for a viewer like me.
The VERDICT:
The second installment in the Strangers saga isn't the worst thing I have seen, but the film has a lot more work to achieve the legendary status of a horror masterpiece. While I applaud some of the camera choices, sound effects, and ingenuity in escaping, the movie's primary strength is the lead actress and her phenomenal work with both verbal and non-verbal acting. Outside of that, the movie's second chapter feels very limited, a film that is too reliant on the first and third chapters to shine on its own. Character utilization is weak and rushed, with too much happening off-screen or to people we barely know. The few grains of story salt are minimal, with very little surprise or unique flavor to make the wait feel worthwhile. And the scares and mystery failed to impress me, nor are some of the story elements they are pursuing when they pull my pet peeve to the forefront. I suggest this one be seen at home, perhaps on Shudder, and wait for some other heavy hitters to arrive in October. My scores for this film are:
Horror/Mystery/Slasher: 5.5
Movie Overall: 4.5.
