The Strangers: Chapter 1

"Why are you doing this to us? I'm seriously asking."

"When it comes to messing with genre classics, your answer to “Why remake a near-perfect film?” can’t be “It was here.”"

"For what it is, The Strangers: Chapter 1 isn’t bad. What’s bad is what it is."

"Effectively chilling while treading familiar ground."

"Nothing new to see here, folks."

"A “this will do, right?” shrug of a thing that audiences should instantly reject with a loud “no, it won’t”."

"Liable to induce some serious déjà vu."

"Just functional enough to raise curiosity for where we’re headed next."

"Slashes its own success by forgetting to be strange."

"Lacks not only the surprise factor but the controlled craft."

"Provides a steady helping of jump scares while ending on a note that has us eagerly anticipating the next chapters."

"Where its predecessor was subtle and interesting, Renny Harlin’s reboot chooses to be ridiculous and boring."

"Offers nothing fresh in a tiring 91 minutes."

"A rote rehash that lacks the original film’s creepy suspense."

"Like a faded copy of the first film."

"Its creeping dread mostly moves in a circle."

"Weighed down by its own clichés."

"Somewhat uninspired and par-for-the-course."