Is The Strangers: Prey at Night Worth Watching?
Answer: Maybe not, The Strangers: Prey at Night is likely a skip if you enjoy Horror movies.
It features a runtime of 86 minutes and offers a standard storyline that appeals to mature audiences.
The Strangers: Prey at Night Review
Last updated: January 18, 2026
Detailed Premise & Narrative Foundations
Released in the dynamic cinematic landscape of 2018, The Strangers: Prey at Night emerges as a significant entry in the Horror, Thriller domain. The narrative core of the film focuses on a sophisticated exploration of A family's road trip takes a dangerous turn when they arrive at a secluded mobile home park to stay with some relatives and find it mysteriously deserted. Unlike standard genre fare, The Strangers: Prey at Night attempts to deconstruct traditional tropes, offering a conventional take on its central themes.
Cast Performances: A Masterclass
The success of any Horror is often anchored by its ensemble, and The Strangers: Prey at Night features a noteworthy lineup led by Bailee Madison . Supported by the likes of Christina Hendricks and Martin Henderson , the performances bring a palpable realism to the scripted words.
Performance Analysis: While the cast delivers competent and professional performances, they are occasionally hampered by a script that leans into familiar archetypes.
Final Verdict: Is it Worth Watching?
In summary, our editorial assessment of The Strangers: Prey at Night (2018) is mixed. With an audience rating of 5.7/10, it stands as a highly recommended experience for genre enthusiasts.
The Strangers: Prey at Night Plot Summary & Detailed Storyline
Quick Plot Summary: The Strangers: Prey at Night is a Horror, Thriller film that crafts an atmosphere of dread and suspense, using psychological terror and visual scares. This summary provides a scannable look at the movie's central conflict and narrative structure.
Story Breakdown
The horror unfolds through carefully crafted atmosphere and escalating dread. A family's road trip takes a dangerous turn when they arrive at a secluded mobile home park to stay with some relatives and find it mysteriously deserted. Under the cover of darkness, three masked killers pay them a visit to test the family's every limit as they struggle to survive. The film uses both psychological terror and visceral scares, building tension through what's unseen as much as what's shown. The pacing allows for breathing room between scares, making each frightening moment more effective.
Narrative Structure
- Opening Hook: An unsettling prologue sets the ominous tone, hinting at the terror to come while establishing the rules of this world.
- Character Arc: Character development is present but somewhat formulaic, following familiar patterns without adding fresh perspectives to the genre.
- Climax & Resolution: The final act escalates the terror to its peak, forcing characters to confront the source of horror directly.
The Strangers: Prey at Night Ending Explained & Final Analysis
Ending Breakdown: The Strangers: Prey at Night attempts to tie together its various plot elements. The finale presents its approach to horror resolution.
The final reveal recontextualizes earlier scenes, offering viewers material for post-viewing discussion.
Ending Analysis:
- Narrative Resolution: The story concludes by addressing its primary narrative threads, providing closure while maintaining some ambiguity.
- Character Arcs: Character journeys reach their narrative endpoints, reflecting the film's thematic priorities.
- Thematic Payoff: The ending reinforces the horror themes established throughout the runtime.
The final moments of The Strangers: Prey at Night reflect the filmmakers' creative choices, offering an ending that aligns with the film's tone and style.
Who Should Watch The Strangers: Prey at Night?
Consider Watching If:
- You're a completist for Horror films
- You're curious despite mixed reviews
- You have low expectations and want casual entertainment
The Strangers: Prey at Night Box Office Collection
| Metric / Region | Collection (Approx) |
|---|---|
| Production Budget | $12.5M |
| Worldwide Gross | $32.1M |
| Trade Verdict | FINANCIAL DISAPPOINTMENT |
The Strangers: Prey at Night Budget
The estimated production budget for The Strangers: Prey at Night is $12.5M. This figure covers principal photography, talent acquisitions, and visual effects. When accounting for global marketing and distribution, the break-even point is typically 2x the base production cost.
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Full Cast & Crew of The Strangers: Prey at Night
- Bailee Madison – Kinsey
- Christina Hendricks – Cindy
- Martin Henderson – Mike
- Lewis Pullman – Luke
- Damian Maffei – Man in the Mask
Top Highlights
Bailee MadisonKinsey
Christina HendricksCindy
Martin HendersonMike
Lewis PullmanLuke
Damian MaffeiMan in the Mask
Emma BellomyDollface
Lea EnslinPin-Up Girl
Mary Louise CasantaAunt Sheryl
Ken StrunkUncle Marv
Rachel KuhnWaitress
Where to Watch The Strangers: Prey at Night Online?
Streaming Hub📺 Stream on
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Apple TV
Google Play Movies
YouTube🏷️ Buy on
Apple TVGoogle Play MoviesYouTubeParents Guide & Age Rating
The Strangers: Prey at Night is rated R. Parents should be aware that it contains frightening scenes, intense suspense, mature themes, violence. It is intended for mature audiences only.
Final Verdict
Analyzing the audience sentiment, IMDb rating of 5.7/10, and global collection metrics, The Strangers: Prey at Night stands as a challenging project for the creators. It remains an essential piece of the 2018 cinematic year.
Official Trailer
Frequently Asked Questions
Is The Strangers: Prey at Night movie hit or flop?
The Strangers: Prey at Night has received mixed reviews with a 5.7/10 rating, making it a moderate success with the audience.
Is The Strangers: Prey at Night worth watching?
The Strangers: Prey at Night is a mixed bag. It might be worth watching if you're a fan of Horror, Thriller movies, but read reviews first.
Where can I watch The Strangers: Prey at Night online?
The Strangers: Prey at Night is currently available for streaming on Amazon Prime Video. You can also check for it on platforms like Amazon Prime Video, Amazon Prime Video with Ads depending on your region.
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Critic Reviews for The Strangers: Prey at Night
I liked a lot of things in this movie that I didn't expect to, and I disliked a lot of the things I thought I'd be on board with, averaging out for a pretty midling experience. I didn't love _The Strangers: Prey at Night_ but I was into it enough that I'd watch it again some day. _Final rating:★★½ - Had a lot that appealed to me, didn’t quite work as a whole._
Now that's what I call a surprise. After the first "The Strangers" being quite good in my opinion, I didn't put too much hope on the sequel. The first one at least had Liv Tyler, right? "The Strangers: Prey At Night" features no bigger actors, aside from Martin Henderson maybe, but therefore the director of "47 Meters Down" and "The Other Side Of The Door", movies I really enjoyed. And after seeing, he took on the second part here, I was very curious. And he really nailed it. I liked the entire family and with each one being in trouble, I felt the tension rising. The killers were basically doing what they did in the first one, so that stays true to the source material, and then we get this amazing 80s soundtrack throughout the movie. Heck, we can almost enjoy Bonnie Tyler's 'Total Eclipse Of The Heart' in its entire length, while at the same time sitting there with the eyes glued to the screen, because you don't want to miss a single detail. That is some really great directing here and as a result, I like this sequel even much more than the first one. And that is a very great compliment towards the entire cast and crew. Keep up that good work!
This is a waste of time, don't watch it.
movieMx Verified
This analysis is compiled by our editorial experts using multi-source verification and audience sentiment data for maximum accuracy.
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