‘Why not?’
The Strangers was a wild success and one of the most effective horror films of the 2000s. There were a number of inspired decisions along the way that led to that film being so successful. We open with a couple who are in the middle of a seemingly devastating fight. Director Bryan Bertino does a great job in creating a home invasion movie shot through with tension and suspense. When the attackers are questioned as to why they are doing this terrible thing, one of them memorably replies ‘Because you were home’. A chilling moment. In many ways, The Strangers absolutely did not require a sequel and yet here we are…
Rather than a bickering couple, director Johannes Roberts begins this sequel with a whole family at war. Kinsey (Bailee Madison) a troubled and rebellious teenager, is on the verge of being sent away to boarding school by her beleaguered parents Cindy (Christina Hendricks) and Mike (Martin Henderson). Meanwhile, Kinsey’s more wholesome brother Luke (Lewis Pullman) tries his best to keep the family unit together. Upon arrival at an out-of-season caravan park, the family soon come across Dollface, Pinup and Man in the Mask – the three villains from the first movie (albeit played by different actors).
I will begin by saying that obviously Prey at Night is inferior to the source material but in many ways that was inevitable. One thing it does do well is to make us care about this family. While the characters are broadly written, particularly Kinsey, the talented cast does a great job of portraying an authentic family unit. I cared about this family. I wanted them to survive the night.
Prey at Night is a considerable step down from its predecessor, often succumbing to more traditional slasher tropes, but as horror sequels go, this one is competently shot, genuinely creepy in places and just different enough from the first film to justify its existence. A modest success.