NEW YORK (OSV News) – “I need a Xanax!” declares a victim-in-waiting in the bloodsoaked slasher flick “The Strangers – Chapter 3” (Lionsgate). Moviegoers unwise enough to patronize the film may end up echoing that sentiment.
By turns sadistic and stupid, this wrap-up concludes the story of Maya (Madelaine Petsch), the protagonist of the series, and the masked killers who have been chasing her since the 2024 reboot of a horror franchise that dates back to 2008. Although her face may not be hidden, Maya’s identity is as sketchily established as those of her seemingly motiveless stalkers.
Having slain one of her pursuers at the end of the last installment, Maya is eventually recruited by the group’s leader as a potential replacement for her would-be murderer. The notion underlying this plot development seems to be that anyone is capable of becoming a dab hand at disemboweling. Call it the Bob Ross approach to grisly slaughter.
Toward the beginning of the movie, a church with a scary crucifix is used as a neutral setting, a sort of sanctuary, and there are vague ruminations on religion. These are too inconsequential, however, to do more than irk Christian believers.
At the other end of the running time, the returning filmmakers — director Renny Harlin and screenwriters Alan R. Cohen and Alan Freedland — dabble in ridiculously unrealistic psychology amid the predation.
They somehow end up mixing absurdly ill-motivated momentary eroticism with the ongoing mayhem, all to the tune of the Moody Blues’ classic song “Nights in White Satin.” Rest assured, your eyes won’t be missing any beauty at all if you prudently choose to steer clear of this senseless dud.
The film contains excessive gory violence, at least one mild oath and several rough terms. The OSV News classification is O — morally offensive. The Motion Picture Association rating is R — restricted. Under 17 requires accompanying parent or adult guardian.
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