Overview

• Now in theaters on September 26, 2025, the middle installment resumes moments after Chapter 1 and centers on survivor Maya’s flight from the masked trio.
• Director Renny Harlin pivots the series toward extended chase sequences and wilderness survival set pieces rather than a traditional home‑invasion structure.
• Madelaine Petsch earns broad praise for a physically committed, emotionally grounded final‑girl turn that anchors the film.
• Critics fault the choice to reveal the killers’ origins, arguing that it weakens the franchise’s hallmark of random, motiveless violence.
• Craft takeaways note sleek cinematography and effective practical gore but cite thin plotting, repetition, and a poorly received CGI animal attack, with reports also pointing to post–Chapter 1 “enhancement” shoots and a setup for a planned 2026 finale.