The Strangers: Chapter 2, the next installment of the new trilogy by director Renny Harlin (The Strangers: Chapter 1, Devil’s Pass), had its world premiere at Fantastic Fest. Written by writing duo Alan R. Cohen and Alan Freedland (The Strangers: Chapter 1, Due Date), this next chapter continues following Maya in the aftermath of the deadly attack by three masked strangers. Desperate to get out of this small town and away from the killers, Maya must grapple with still-healing wounds, new threats, and increasing paranoia.

The Strangers is such a beloved film by horror fans. Because of this, Harlin had quite a difficult task in adapting a new trilogy that would appease the fans while also creating something new. The Strangers: Chapter 1 was not well received by critics or fans. This was in large part because the first chapter was in many ways a recreation of the original film. With The Strangers: Chapter 2, the filmmakers finally had some room to expand the story into unknown territory. The film begins with Maya in the hospital recovering after the vicious attack that killed her fiance and almost killed her. She’s healing, dealing with the trauma and loss of that horrific night, and she knows the killers are still out there. From there, the cat and mouse game continues as the killers learn Maya survived and relentlessly come for her. It leads to plenty of white-knuckle tension and a few good scares.

This installment of the trilogy is definitely an improvement over the first, but it still has its flaws. A highlight of the story being told in The Strangers: Chapter 2 is how it shows Maya’s building paranoia. She can’t escape the small town where the killers live, and she has no idea who they could be. It makes her suspicious of everyone, even going to dangerous, extreme lengths to get away from people who might be trying to help her, but it might also be a trick. For the most part, Maya makes much smarter decisions than in the first film, but there are still moments when the audience will likely be yelling at her through the screen. At the same time, the audience is getting an expansion of the lore surrounding the titular “strangers.” There are some big reveals, while other moments hint at things to come in the third chapter. This aspect of the plot is sure to polarize audiences. Many prefer the complete anonymity of the killers, because not knowing who they are or why they kill makes them that much more terrifying. This is certainly true, but the mythos being established in this trilogy is a great way to separate itself from the source material. I, for one, am intrigued by the groundwork laid in this film, but we won’t know if the filmmakers can bring it all together until the final film is released.

The main reason The Strangers: Chapter 2, and the first chapter, is at least worth a watch is because of Madelaine Petsch (Riverdale, Sightless) as Maya. She already gave a great performance in the first film, but this time she really ramps it up. Maya goes through so much physical and emotional torture, and Petsch gives a visceral performance that makes it seem all too real. It’s clear Petsch put her all into this role, and it definitely pays off. When it comes to the other performances in the film, their performances are based on Maya’s perception. Whether trying to be helpful or being antagonistic, there is a mistrustful edge to everyone, keeping the audience as nervous as Maya herself. Some of the standouts are Gabriel Basso (Super 8), Brooke Lena Johnson (You), and Richard Brake (31).

There was plenty of blood and gore in the first film, but The Strangers: Chapter 2 certainly ups the ante. For one, there is a lot more violence. This means a lot of practical effects wounds to make the audience squirm. There is also a bit of CGI for one exciting sequence of the film. It’s fairly well done and helps bring to life one of the most memorable and unexpected scenes of the entire film. It might not work for all audiences, but many will be practically jumping out of their seats. Another significant change from the first chapter to The Strangers: Chapter 2 is that it goes from being primarily in a single location to sprawling throughout the town. The set pieces are great, including a barren hospital, the woods, and a fancy lake house.

The Strangers: Chapter 2 is a welcome improvement over the first film, upping the intensity as it adds to the lore in unexpected ways, but will certainly polarize audiences. The filmmakers do a great job of taking the film to new places as it continues to separate itself as something completely different from the original film. It has way more gore, truly shocking moments, and shows the audience more of this small town filled with dark secrets. Whether these elements work for everyone or not, Petsch’s performance alone makes the film a compelling viewing experience. You can see The Strangers: Chapter 2 in theaters Friday, September 26th.

OVERALL RATING: 6/10