The final Strangers installment is, to no surprise at all, much like the previous two. While Chapter 3’s infusions of lore and general franchise sentiment do at least try to push the envelope a little further this time around, the result is not only equally as drab as the previous two but, somehow, slower and less focused. The Strangers: Chapter 3 is, once more, an early-year dud in a genre that would be far better off without it.
Director Renny Harlin, who helmed the fourth Nightmare on Elm Street way back when, continues to do an at least manageable job fusing soft lights and colors, as well as abnormally long takes, into a fair identity for this franchise. And this third entry, while still mostly about Madelaine Petsch’s Maya being on the run for an hour and a half, moves around enough to at least make you feel like you’re watching something more than an overlong Survivor episode.
On top of Maya’s ongoing chase, Chapter 3 introduces a troupe of young friends who, without spoilers, find themselves getting involved in the titular masked trio’s shenanigans. Again, this addition works to break up the pace to a thankful extent, but this late in the series, it feels both out of place and awfully suffocated in this short runtime.
To boot, in a clear attempt to employ more character-specific details regarding the series’ killers, their presence becomes far less damning than it even had been. In the first movie, at least, their knives and cleavers were the only surefire things about their characters.
Now, they’re dropping weapons for needles of ink and, at times… kissing each other? It’s unclear what Harlin and company were attempting with the “fleshing out” of their stranger murderers, but what results in each subsequent film is almost a caricature of the last.
The horror genre can always use a bump, especially in an era defined by mid-budget nonsense from big studios looking to capitalize on a franchise or superstar lead. The Strangers: Chapter 3, especially with a Scream movie just weeks away, has absolutely no signature pull for any moviegoer looking for a fright.
Unless you’re a massive fan of the first two movies – if such a person exists – you can safely avoid this one and hope that, if this property is rebooted again in the future, it sticks to what made it scary and worth doing in the first place. The killers are strangers. Keep them that way.
The Strangers: Chapter 3 is currently playing in theaters courtesy of Lionsgate.
Unless you’re a massive fan of the first two movies - if such a person exists - you can safely avoid this one and hope that, if this property is rebooted again in the future, it sticks to what made it scary and worth doing in the first place. The killers are strangers. Keep them that way.
Movies, long drives, and mint chocolate chip ice cream.
