Summary

• The Strangers: Chapter 1 is the beginning of a new trilogy, with a longer story arc planned over three films.
• Director Renny Harlin wanted to create a case study of victims and perpetrators, not just a remake or sequel.
• Starring Madelaine Petsch and Froy Gutierrez, the film follows a young couple at an AirBnB stalked by masked killers.

The Strangers: Chapter 1 hits theaters in just a few days, and while the 2008 film that starred Liv Tyler and Scott Speedman was a contained story from start to finish, this time around it’s being divided into three parts, with Chapter 1 serving as the “first act.” The Strangers became a runaway hit in 2008, earning $82 million at the box office against a budget of $9 million. Reviews have been mixed over the years, but its financial success paved the way for a sequel in 2018, with Johannes Roberts directing The Strangers: Prey at Night.

Directed by Renny Harlin, The Strangers: Chapter 1 will be the first part in a longer story arc that will take place over its two sequels. Harlin spoke to Comicbook.com about how this new trilogy of films will be laid out, mentioning that this first movie will set the scene for what’s to come.

"We, of course, shot them on top of each other and mixed up, like movies are always made. But we had to keep in mind that this is one story arc. It is one 4.5 hour movie, and the first movie is a first act. It sets up the characters and the terror and the Killers and our main character, who will survive the first movie, but then go on a journey for the next two."

The Strangers: Chapter 1 stars Madelaine Petsch and Froy Gutierrez as Maya and Ryan, the couple that will be the focal point of the new trilogy. While the original film took place in an isolated summer home, this updated version will see the horrific events unfold at an AirBnB. Check out the full synopsis below.

"From master director Renny Harlin (Cliffhanger, Die Hard 2, The Exorcist: The Beginning) comes a new trilogy of terror. In Chapter 1, Madelaine Petsch (TV's Riverdale) stars as a young woman starting a new life with her fiancé. Suddenly, during a road trip stop in a remote vacation rental in the woods, they become the prey of a mysterious gang of masked strangers who attack without warning or reason. What begins as a fight to stay alive becomes one woman's journey of courage and cunning in this horror series bridging three compelling films."

Renny Harlin Didn’t Want to Simply Remake The Strangers

Though Hollywood is not averse to taking existing IPs and giving them a remake, sequel, or prequel, director Renny Harlin says he wasn’t interested in simply doing a straight retelling of the 2008 film. Speaking with Variety earlier this month, he said at this point in his life that making those types of films isn’t something he’s interested in. What appealed to him about the new trilogy was the chance to make “a case study of victims of a violent crime and the perpetrators.”

"If it had been a straight remake or a sequel, I wouldn’t have done it at this point of my life. I have such respect for the original film and am somewhat intimidated by the quality of it. Simply doing a sequel or remake didn’t appeal to me, but this was such an opportunity to have four and a half hours of a case study of victims of a violent crime and the perpetrators and what makes them tick and how it affects a person who goes through this."

The Strangers: Chapter 1 hits theaters on May 17, 2024, with Chapter 2 expected later this fall, and Chapter 3 coming shortly thereafter. The goal is to release all three films within a year, so fans won’t have to wait long to see how the entire storyline plays out.

The Strangers and The Strangers: Prey at Night are both available to stream on MAX. You can watch the trailer for The Strangers: Chapter 1 below.