The Strangers: Chapter 1 is a modern retelling of the 2008 cult classic horror movie which sets up a new trilogy. Happy couple Ryan and Maya are moving across the country to start the next chapter in their life together. When their car breaks down in a small town in Oregon, they stay in an isolated cabin while it is repaired. This leads to a nightmarish experience as they are hunted, terrorized, and attacked by a group of masked strangers who target them without warning or explanation.
The Strangers trilogy will delve deeper into these characters than ever before, exploring the immediate impact of such a horrifying trauma on those who survive while also digging into what creates such monsters. Renny Harlin, an acclaimed horror director, helmed the project, bringing his own modernized spin to the story and leading an impressive set as they filmed all three movies in the trilogy simultaneously. Madeline Petsch not only leads the impressive cast of The Strangers: Chapter 1, but took on a leadership role off camera as well as a producer on the trilogy.
Screen Rant caught up with the cast and producers of The Strangers: Chapter 1 on the red carpet while at the premiere. The stars of the movie discussed Harlin’s directing style and how he brings a rhythm to building tension, as well as the trust they put in him when using practical effects. Harlin and writer Alan Freedland tease how this trilogy will expand the world of The Strangers, exploring their motivation, with Courtney Solomon promising countless Easter eggs for eagle-eyed fans.
Building tension is a key factor in crafting stories within the horror genre. The audience needs to be drawn in while the tension builds before a scare sends them reeling, especially with a project like The Strangers. Sarah Freeland and George Young compare Harlin’s directing style to music in how he builds this, with Freeland recalling how Harlin specifically shot certain movement-heavy scenes with the thought of a dance. Young explained why the musicality of building tension in horror excited him both with Harlin and James Wan.
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Brooke Lena Johnson praised Harlin’s eye for detail and how his meticulous approach helped keep the actors’ performances consistent. This was especially important on the set of The Strangers, as they shot all three movies in the upcoming trilogy simultaneously.
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Executive producer Dorothy Canton shared insight into the intense filming process with the cast and crew shooting three movies at once. This included over a month of exhausting night shoots.
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Canton broke down the exploration of trauma teasing quite the journey for Petsch’s character. With The Strangers sequel picking up immediately after The Strangers: Chapter 1, the audience will be able to see the real-time impact that such brutal violence can have on a person as those who survive must grapple with it.
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Co-stars Petsch and Gutierrez discuss the use of practical effects in the movie. Although these experiences may seems scary and dangerous their trust in Harlin to run a safe set and understand what needs to happen to keep his actors safe while still getting the shot shines through.
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Freeland explained how he wanted to expand the story of The Strangers. While randomness and mystery are key elements of what makes these killers so terrifying he also wanted to go deeper into what spurred them to become the monsters that audiences know and fear.
What can you tease about what we learned about the strangers in this film or in the other two films?
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Harlin promises answers to questions that audiences have had for over a decade. He also broke down why this sort of horror movie is even more relevant today with violence in the United States more prevalent than ever adding to the realism of The Strangers story.
Pablo Sandstrom shared insight into his character and hinted at a connection with the Strangers. He also promised that while audiences likely won’t sympathize with the strangers as they learn more there will be a deeper understanding of what caused them to go down such a dark path.
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Solomon broke down why they wanted to remake The Strangers adding their own twist before expanding the story with the trilogy. He also teased Easter eggs for hardcore fans to spot while promising this movie is the perfect entry point for new audiences to enter The Strangers universe “in a terrifying and chilling away.”