Directed by Renny Harlin, The Strangers: Chapter 1 reintroduces us to filmmaker Bryan Bertino’s terrifying 2008 movie about “strangers” who knock on a couple’s door, ask for someone who isn’t there — and proceed to disturb the innocent couple in a murderous fashion. Instead of Liv Tyler and Scott Speedman, as in the original, here we have rising stars Madelaine Petsch (Riverdale) and Froy Gutierrez (Teen Wolf) playing the love birds whose car breaks down during a road trip through the boonies. This leads them to shack up in a makeshift Airbnb cabin in the middle of the woods. What could go wrong?

We recently caught up with Petsch and Gutierrez in-person at a creepy replica of that cabin (now in Los Angeles) to learn more about their real-life appreciation for the horror genre, why it’s important to retell Bertino’s tale with Chapter 1, and what we can expect with the future installments.

Don’t Wait to Binge the Trilogy, It’s Designed for the Theater
The Strangers: Chapter 1 3/5 The Strangers: Chapter 1 is the third film in the horror/slasher franchise directed by Renny Harlin. The film follows a young couple who move to the Pacific Northwest to start a new life. However, their new life gets off to a terrifying start when a broken-down vehicle forces them to stay at a remote vacation home, leaving them to be stalked relentlessly by three masked murderers. Release Date May 17, 2024 Writers Alan R. Cohen , Alan Freedland , Amber Loutfi Studio Fifth Element Productions, Frame Film

This reboot of Bertino’s tale, which was loosely inspired by true events, has a unique game plan, in that the four and a half hour end result has been divided into three parts, with Chapter 1 now in theaters. There will most likely be an extended release down the line, where the entire story plays in its full duration, but Petch urged us not to wait for that. “Go to the theater and watch it!” she said regarding Chapter 1. “But also, because I’m a producer on this, and I got to learn how to mix for the first time… we really put thought into, like, which speaker this sound comes out of.” She continued:

”
It’s so meticulously thought out that I think the best experience would be in the theater
. Ultimately, the plan is to put this out as one large film in some capacity eventually, but that’s long down the road. And I don’t think people should wait for this because it’s worth watching now. You don’t want to miss out.”

Related The Strangers: Chapter 1 Review | Some Genuine Scares Make for an Enjoyable Introduction This terrifying first chunk of Renny Harlin’s 4.5-hour saga reimagines Bryan Bertino’s 2008 hit, setting the stage for an exciting continuation.

Froy Gutierrez on the Problem-Solving of Making 3 Movies Simultaneously

Chapter 1 is filled with pop-out scary moments and intense sequences that will surely instill nightmares, so we were curious what the process was like for the actors behind the scenes and if they were able to keep the mood light between these murderously dark moments.

“It was very hands-on for sure. Like, it was a lot of problem-solving, both in the scenes with the characters figuring out where to go next, and also in between takes, being like, ‘OK, what are we doing here?’ It was very much on the move for pretty much most of the day, really,” says Gutierrez. He adds:

“I’m really grateful that our first day together was the scene out on the porch. And
I’m grateful that we were able to start there and just be like, ‘What are these people like when there’s no stakes involved?
‘ There’s no action, there’s no violence. It’s just this couple being present with each other and knowing which buttons to push and which ones to rejuvenate after a stressful day.”

Related: The Strangers Trilogy Dates Revealed, Could Receive Extended Release as One Chilling Experience

‘My Favorite Horror Film Ever’

Critics weren’t crazy about The Strangers when it first came out, but Bertino’s original has slowly become a cult classic that’s been reappraised over the years. For some, it sets a really high bar for this new endeavor, and the cast and crew are well aware of that. “I’ve probably watched that film, conservatively, 30 times,” said Petch. “That was my favorite horror film ever.”

Horror’s a more recent pleasure for Gutierrez. “I was like 10 when it came out, so I wasn’t super invested in it at the time,” Gutierrez replied to Petsch when thinking about Bertino’s film and other horror classics. “I really enjoyed It when it came out in 2017, and since then, I’ve gotten really into Ari Aster films. And [Alex Garland’s] Annihilation. And yeah, I’ve come around to horror. It’s been an acquired taste for me, though, for sure.”

4:11 Related Director Renny Harlin on Rebooting The Strangers and Why He Didn’t Consult Bryan Bertino The acclaimed filmmaker discussed the challenges of tackling The Strangers reboot as one giant movie, and shares advice for the new Cliffhanger movie.

Chapter 1 Is a ‘Launchpad Into a Much Larger Story’

It’s been 16 years since The Strangers first creeped people out, and while The Strangers: Chapter 1 is a sort of retelling of that film, it’s really a gateway to a much bigger, visionary horror trilogy. After experiencing Chapter 1 and its inevitable cliffhanger of a conclusion, fans will surely be itching to see more to come with the soon-to-be-released Chapter 2 and 3. Petsch explained it like this:

Chapter 1
is a retelling of the original 2008 film, and it is really servicing our story as a launchpad into a much larger story we have to tell. But in order to tell the larger story, we have to go back into the original first, so that’s kind of where that came from.

“But it is really a character study to me,” continued Petsch, “of what happens when a character is pushed past their breaking point. Who are they left with, while also dealing with some mental deterioration? And you find out who ‘Tamara’ is [the person the Strangers ask for, when they knock on the couple’s door], which I think is a really cool little tidbit.”

Those familiar with Petsch’s filmography and online presence might be aware that she has at least 24 million Instagram followers, which is no small feat. “It’s like an ever-evolving relationship that I have with social media,” she told us. “I’m not on many platforms, I’m kind of like exclusively on Instagram, and then I’ll occasionally dabble on TikTok, but it stresses me out.” She elaborated:

“I just want to be able to present
the most authentic version of myself on Instagram while still maintaining a level of privacy with my personal life
. And I think, later into my 20s, I’ve kind of found a better balance for that. I think at the beginning of my career, it was hard to know where the line was and what I should share and what I shouldn’t share. But now, I feel like I’ve got a good relationship with Instagram.”

And hopefully, those 24 million followers all check out her new film. From Lionsgate, The Strangers: Chapter 1 is now available in theaters nationwide.