Review of The Strangers: Prey at Night (2018) by Dugong — 18 Oct 2021

Perfect horror.

I remember when 'The Strangers' came out in 2008. It was such a unique film, I remember feeling like I'd never seen anything like it. It certainly stuck with me long after leaving the theatre. The sequel was announced almost immediately and yet for some reason we had to wait 10 years to finally see it. So was it worth the wait? You better believe it was.

This film is nothing short of incredible. There isn't a single poor scene in the film. Each and every one of them is like a little mini masterpiece. A lot of that stems from the characters. They are perfectly created. They are flawed (thus realistic) and yet likeable and relatable at the same time. This is a crucial element to what makes this film so good, because I desperately wanted these characters to survive.

The same trio of villains are back again and they are even more menacing this time around. They are relentless in their pursuit and it has to be said that the pacing of this film can take your breathe away. There is also a jump-scare (I'm not sure it even used music, simply the visual and a line of dialogue) that is unquestionably one of the most effective I've ever seen.

Don't expect the film to play out the way you expect it to. I know it certainly didn't for me. It went to places that I never foresaw and I loved them all. The music, the camera work, the creation of tension - they all combine to produce a horror masterpiece that is even better than the already brilliant original. Please see this film.