User reviews

The film opens with strong suspense that pulls you in quickly, and the atmosphere stays tense throughout. Madelaine's character is easily the standout, bringing depth and emotion that the story sometimes struggles to provide. The pacing, however, slows down in the middle and leans too much on predictable jump scares, which may divide viewers. Still, it feels like a step up from the first chapter and shows potential for where the series could go next.

Truly an abysmal film, full of logic holes, the worst CGI animals since either CGI or animals themselves were invented. The script plods along, somehow managing to be all-chase and all-dull at the same time, a feat never before achieved in cinematic history. The backstory elements are nonsensical and simply diminish (again) the original 2008 movie. Renny Harlin was a talented director but this goes to show there's only so much a once-talented creator can do when hamstrung by a stupid script and a flimsy excuse to flog a dead horse yet again for money. This is a cynical and joyless slog of a film that I would advise people to avoid.

I never hand out 1/10 ratings, but The Strangers: Chapter 2 honestly earns it. This was one of the worst horror movie experiences I've ever had - not because it scared me, but because it tested my patience. The storyline is flat-out imbecile, dragging through scenes that go nowhere and characters that make zero sense. It feels like the writers stretched what could've been a single, short film into two painfully slow chapters just to fill time.

Nothing about this movie clicks. The pacing is awful - long, silent shots that are supposed to build tension just end up feeling empty and pointless. The dialogue is laughably bad, and the characters have no depth or reason for anything they do. Even the horror elements feel recycled and lazy, like the film is trying to remind you that something scary might happen soon, but it never really does.

Visually, it's not terrible - there are a few moments where the lighting and camera work show some effort - but that's about the only thing I can compliment. The rest feels like a checklist of horror clichés glued together without any sense of flow or purpose.

I've sat through plenty of l movies, but this is the first time I actually wanted to walk out before it ended. It's not scary, it's not smart, and it's definitely not worth your time. Splitting it into two movies just made the mess even worse - if anything, it doubled the frustration.

If you're a horror fan looking for something tense or clever, The Strangers: Chapter 2 is the exact opposite. It's dull, senseless, and a total waste of what could've been a good franchise.

Honestly, I found this more enjoyable than the first one. The tension and suspense worked really well, and that long take in the hospital was just fantastic. What I loved most is that they finally gave the killer some backstory! You can feel the film pushing to become a franchise and I'm here for it.

I have absoutely no idea what the director was thinking when making this film. It takes everything that made the original strangers and even the "part 1" film terrifying and engaging and stripped it completely.

The concept of having killers with little or no motivation for their actions is scary in itself and didn't need to change, so why on earth is half of this film showing me one of the killers flashbacks as a little girl and where her violent motivations came from.. Then theres the plot or should i say lack of. There is only so many times you can watch a character hide, run, fight and repeat before it comes repetitive and loses any hope of being thrilling I'm on board with upping the ante for the sequel and that comes with a much upgraded body count that the first but this only creates more problems. Are there only two police in this town? Does no one apart from one unfortunate cleaner work in this town hospital? Can any character introduced survive longer than five minutes before being killed off with no consequence to this action?

Then theres the infamous animal scene. I'm all up for introducing a new element to the thrills but laughable CGI and no explanation at all for its purpose just makes it (again) pointless.

Contender for one of the worst films of the year and as much as madaline puts herself through the wars and attempts to make the most out of a lacklustre script, she cannot save the plot holes, lack of horror and utter nonsense that the majority of this film is.

A lot of negative reviews from folks with their opinions. I've got mine as do others and I like reading what folks have to say. I'll still check out things for myself.

This really isn't as bad as folks say it is. I mean, it's no masterpiece but it doesn't pretend to be. This is a popcorn flick in time for the spooky movie season and it found it to be decent.

The set up is clear from the trailers. From there we are introduced to our protagonist and a mixed group of weirdo characters. Then the killer trio shows up to well, kill people, but they're also a vulnerable group.

The suspense is fair and tension pretty decent for a horror movie. I'll just say this, it's a pretty decent little follow up horror movie. Just see for yourself and don't let others make up your mind for you.

The Strangers: Chapter 2 is, without a doubt, one of the worst films I've ever had the misfortune of watching. I wouldn't recommend this trash even to my worst enemy. It's unbelievable that Madelaine Petsch agreed to take part in such a pathetic script, forced to carry an absolute cinematic disaster on her back.

The entire plot is basically Maya running from so-called villains who feel more like grotesque caricatures of immortals than actual threats. The script insults the audience's intelligence with one absurdity after another: the villains literally "teleport" from one place to another without explanation, while Maya survives impossible situations as if she were invincible. The result is a parade of nonsense that makes viewers laugh out of sheer frustration.

The height of ridiculousness comes when the villains take fatal blows and still walk away as if nothing happened. One gets stabbed in the head with scissors, another is impaled with a pitchfork and yet they remain completely unharmed. It's grotesque at such an extreme level that it goes from laughable to downright offensive to anyone expecting even a minimum of realism in a horror film.

This movie clearly wants to set up a franchise, but it's nothing more than a visual and auditory disaster. The first chapter was already terrible, but this sequel proves beyond doubt that the director had nothing to say only the intention to churn out a cheap, lazy cliché with zero creativity or soul.

The ending is a horror show of its own, with villains so badly acted they destroy any remaining immersion. The only tolerable aspect of the film is Madelaine Petsch herself, who somehow delivers a decent performance despite being shackled to a rotten script.

And then there's the police or rather, the lack of them. Why even pretend there's law enforcement in this universe? The story plays out in some parallel world where absolutely nothing makes sense. The suspension of disbelief isn't just stretched; it's completely obliterated.

In the end, The Strangers: Chapter 2 isn't just a bad movie. It's a disservice to the genre, a tasteless joke that wastes talent, time, and patience. A film with no logic, no sense, and absolutely no value.

I absolutely loved it. To think I nearly didn't go to see this after seeing some bad reviews. The first chapter was okay but that was just a retelling of the original. This was much better and it never let up for a second and you are always suspecting somebody or waiting for the next shocking moment, of which there are many. I also really liked the snippets of back story of the Strangers. There are some really cool scenes of them as kids, without giving away who they actually are as adults. I also really liked the back story of who Tamara actually was. Bring on Chapter 3.

No, I'm not ashamed about enjoying this movie. It was entertaining and nonsensical in a fun way that harkens back to og slasher films.

It's exactly what you wish for. If your wish is watching a super resilient and hot AF final girl survive "for the plot". I think this whole trilogy is just going to get more and more popular for its fun rewatch value.

Unfortunately this part 2 is really bad starting from the protagonist who is unable to convey any emotion she is just a beautiful girl who walks without any kind of expression such as anxiety, fear or anything else nothing at all, perhaps she is too busy writing disgusting songs against women together with her boyfriend to concentrate on this screenplay, the protagonist chapter closed, the film is really bad there are some really ridiculous circumstances, like the protagonist who manages to throw herself from the car into a second managing in that second to take the knife, open the door and throw himself into the woods he looked like Spider-Man, or the fight with the wild boar which I didn't quite understand what it was for other than to further ridicule this film, then again the protagonist who ends up in her escape? In the cabin where her boyfriend was murdered, not even with the GPS would she have found that cabin in the woods, same coincidence when she hides in the hospital in the mortuary always by coincidence she ends up in the same drawer where they kept the boy's body, you have to be really strong in not feeling ashamed after having written this screenplay!

The Strangers: Chapter 2 (2025) - is painfully slow and utterly uninspired.

Where the first installment had tension and at least a hint of innovation, this sequel trudges along with predictable scares and recycled ideas.

Nothing feels fresh, nothing surprises, and the pacing drags relentlessly, making it a tedious experience. It's a disappointing, almost insulting waste of time-one star is generous.

The first chapter wasn't really original, but this one shows much more. The hour and a half at the cinema went by so quickly, I hardly even noticed.

I liked that the main character's inner world was portrayed so well in this part, and also that she didn't only have to fight against the masked ones.

Worst movie and it was very messed up & it was going nowhere. My god. It was not convincing. Disaster movie.in what base this moie is been made: seriously its a joke. Worst and super worst. It was going underground. Not worth the movie. Need better scrip. Zero star. Worst than chapter 1. Won't recommend.

I don't know why this movie has been panned so aggressively. I don't believe it was anything exceptional, but it was a pretty effective hide-and-seek survival film. There isn't much more to say than that, it was most definitely entertaining; will it go down as anything more than that? No, but that's ok. Movies aren't all supposed to be Oscar worthy. This one did what it was supposed to do: capture your attention, elicit a chuckle at the handful of continuity errors, and allow you to walk away from the theater satisfied.

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.

In spite of the negative reviews, I went to see it on 09/29/25 because I got bored in the office. I used my Regal Unlimited subscription, so I figured I could just walk out if the movie turned out to be as bad as critics say. In the end - I daresay that I actually had a decent 90-minutes watching this movie. It's not nearly as bad as the critics say

I'll note, firstly, I had watched the original 2008 movie with Liv Tyler many years ago, but I don't think I watched any of the other movies in this franchise (at least, if I ever saw them, then I forgot). I therefore went into this movie with a somewhat blank slate. Regardless, I had no issue with following along with the core of this movie.

Anyways - the movie's heroine Maya (Mdelaine Petsch) is one of the highlights of the movie. Though she doesn't get a lot to do besides run, scream, or display anguish and fear, I still found her to be a likable protagonist; and her acting is good. Throughout the whole movie, her character's actions are reasonable and even clever at some points. She doesn't do anything especially dumb or laughable in the movie

A huge portion of the movie consists of survalist chase sequences, devoid of dialogue. And fortunately, they're well-done. The camera-work is splendid and smooth.

The film is Chapter 2, and there is a Chapter 3 coming (the film ends outright with a "To Be Continued"). Therefore, a lot of the plot details ends in a cliffhanger manner, which might turn some people off. But I found the ending of this movie, while not conclusive, is still good enough to satisfy

There are some flashback scenes that offer some insight into the background of the villains. Some critics have targeted these flashback scenes for scraping away the anonymity that made the villains so scary. But I feel the backstory was alright, and there is only so far the franchise could go with anonymous masked villains (also - the little girl who plays the younger female villain is so adorable).

The movie, of course, has many flaws ... There are a ton of plotholes. There are a few cliches. Some of the chase sequences get a bit repetitive. There is an embarassingly bad scene involving a boar, which involves some awful CGI work. This boar scene is so bad that it wouldn't have felt out of place in a comedy flick.

5.5/10.

This film was mostly filler with a small amount of substance, zero of that substance contributed well to the story. The cinematography and sound was pretty good, but the writing and direction was terrible.

The entire movie seems to run on the same cadence: Maya finds herself in a dangerous situation and is cornered by the strangers, she inexplicably escapes, only to find herself again in a dangerous situation and in need of some implausible escape. I found the movie to be a tedious money grab and there is zero reason why we need 3 movies where the original got the job done in 1.

Perfect watch for a Sunday afternoon nap. Chased in a dark hospital, (with apparently no employees) then chased in the woods, rescued, then chased in a home. That's it. Oh and a little backstory about a couple of the masked freaks but no explanation whatsoever. So lame. No creativity no real suspense just stupidity cat n mouse scenes with weapons. Ch1 and ch2 absolutely should have never been created. It's a shame as the 2008 movie was creepy good and suspenseful fun. Don't waste your money and effort seeing this at the theater.