Les inconnus: Proies nocturnes

Ten years ago as an impressionable teenager, I saw "The Strangers" at a midnight showing with one of my best friends. To date, it stands as the most taut moviegoing experience of my life. After nearly a decade of production hell, the sequel-"The Strangers: Prey at Night" has finally come out of the woodwork. This followup has the same trio of villains pursuing victims in cat-and-mouse games, but this time it's an entire family staying at a deserted resort who are the target.

Perhaps I'm biased because I truly love the original film, but I found "Prey at Night" to be a significant letdown as a followup to Bryan Bertino's 2008 film, which was a masterful exercise in tension. I was skeptical of a sequel even being possible given how well Bertino exercised his formula in the first film-what else could really be done? "Prey at Night" essentially takes the formula of the first film, dresses it in de rigeur '80s style (complete with an exclusive '80s soundtrack), and amplifies the gore. It's mostly in good fun-but it's also completely devoid of suspense, tension, and unease.

There are a few sequences that are masterfully-executed-including a protracted sequence in a neon-lit swimming pool, and a mother-daughter attack in a trailer- but the in-between that stitches these better scenes together is repetitive and predictable, and the cinematography often gives the feel of a made-for-TV movie. The characters are also an issue in that they feel too much like stock characters; the lead being a chain-smoking bratty teenage girl running around in a Ramones t-shirt, followed by her likable brother, and two hip parents who are in the process of carting little-miss-trouble off to boarding school. In spite of the contrived characters, the acting is fairly good from all involved, including the actors portraying the three strangers.

There are a few moments of true tragedy and true catharsis in the film which are well-orchestrated, but I cannot help but compare "Prey at Night" to its predecessor. This sequel is a very different film that has its hits, but it frankly has more misses. As a frivolous run-of-the-mill slasher, it's rather enjoyable, but it lacks the emotional gravitas that made the first film so arresting and nerve-shredding. 5/10.

Why do I listen to you, people? You are all wrong about this one and I didn't watch it before because I was stupid enough to believe in reviews and other people's tastes.

It's a completely different film than the first one and the set-up is a bit rough, I will give you that. Now...as soon as the family arrives at that camp, holy moly! I know I am a horror unapologetic fan, so I know that I got lots of references/homage that probably others didn't. However, even forgetting that, have you seen that camera movement? The music? The atmosphere? The fear? The acting? The jump scares? How does it play with darkness and light?

Tense as hell, this film never lets you breathe in the last 40 minutes, always playing with high stakes that make you believe that anyone can die. The pool scene and the police car scene alone are enough to recommend this movie every day of my life.

If you like your horror films to have the main characters do every stupid thing possible then watch this.

FILM: 5.5 As I settled in for my first watch of The Strangers: Prey at Night, I couldn't help but think of its predecessor, a nerve-wracking journey into terror that gripped audiences with its slow-burning intensity. With such a solid foundation, a sequel seemed inevitable, yet it took a decade to materialise-a delay that left me wondering if it would live up to expectations.

Unfortunately, my anticipation was met with disappointment. The film feels like a missed opportunity, failing to recapture the tension and suspense of the original. Instead, it relies on tired horror tropes, with characters devolving into predictable brainless stereotypes once the violence begins.

While Christina Hendricks and Martin Henderson deliver solid performances, they're given little to work with, leaving their potential untapped. Bailee Madison, who receives the most screen time, sees her character's development squandered as the story progresses. However, Lewis Pullman injects some much-needed vitality into his role, offering a glimmer of hope amidst the mediocrity.

The recasting of the psychopaths neither enhances nor detracts from the film, leaving their performances largely forgettable. Additionally, the decision to adopt an 80s aesthetic feels misplaced, especially considering the lack of a period setting. Had the filmmakers fully committed to this theme, ditching modern technology and amplifying the era's cultural elements, it might have provided a fresh angle to an otherwise uninspired narrative.

Overall, The Strangers: Prey at Night falls short of its predecessor's success, delivering a middling horror experience that fails to leave a lasting impression. While it may offer some fleeting moments of tension, they're overshadowed by its inability to break free from genre clichés.

FORMAT: Blu-ray

VIDEO: 8.5 1080/24p presentation Detail level: Good Colour reproduction: Excellent Level accuracy: Good Encode: Excellent Master condition: Excellent

AUDIO: 9.5 DTS-HD MA 5.1 audio Dialogue reproduction: Excellent Soundtrack & effects clarity: Excellent Dynamics: Excellent Surround sound presentation: Good LFE content: Excellent

MOOFIEMETER: 5.0.

Definitely worth a watch. The direction, the soundtrack, the dread and twists all make this a very thrilling watch underrated for sure!