In horror, bodies are usually split into parts, not the movies themselves.
Lionsgate‘s “The Strangers” is breaking down the door in an ambitious, three-chapter strategy to give horror fans a never-before-seen horror “odyssey.” This isn’t the first time “The Strangers” has come sneaking into theaters.
They turn away a creepy woman asking “Is Tamara home?” but are soon plagued by masked, knife-wielding home invaders.
Now, billed as an “homage” to the original, “The Strangers: Chapter 1” promises to follow up with not one but two sequels in quick succession over the next several months.
He shot the “Strangers” trilogy interchangeably, starting with the opening of “Chapter 2,” then a scene from “Chapter 3” and so on.
Even though “Chapter 1” follows the traditional “Strangers” home invasion, she teases that the next two movies put Maya through all-new trauma.
“Throughout every step of the next two films it’s just, ‘How is she going to get out of this terrorizing situation?
“And it’s not necessarily all only home invasion, but they continue to invade her life in any way possible.
Body parts, not the films themselves, are typically divided in horror films.
Some horror franchises, regardless of genre, have produced three films in a single year, but few have brought back beloved characters for sequel after sequel (just consider Freddy Krueger, Michael Myers, and Jason Voorhees). In an ambitious three-chapter plan, Lionsgate’s “The Strangers” is aiming to give horror enthusiasts a never-before-seen horror “odyssey.”. “.
“The Strangers” has sneaked into theaters before. In the first (2008) movie, which was based on actual break-ins and the Charles Manson killings, Scott Speedman and Liv Tyler played an unhappy couple who receive an unexpected knock on their door in the middle of the night. When they refuse to answer a strange woman who asks, “Is Tamara home?” they are attacked by masked, armed home invaders. After a decade, the film became a sleeper hit, grossing $82 million on a $9 million budget. A different cast was used in the sequel, “The Strangers: Prey at Night.”.
Now, “The Strangers: Chapter 1,” which is being marketed as a “homage” to the original, has announced that it will release not one, but two sequels in less than a month. It opens on May 17 in theaters.
Courtney Solomon, a producer who was a fan of the 2008 film, knew he had a much bigger story to tell but was opposed to doing a remake once he obtained the rights to “The Strangers.”.
“You will have to go back to the great original in order to tell it,” he says. The original concept’s primordial quality—three random individuals and mysterious, senseless acts of violence—is what makes it so real and terrifying. I’m not sure if you can do better, but how about we take that basic idea and expand it to create a larger narrative that develops into a legitimate, character-driven horror film? You have to spend time developing both protagonists and antagonists, so I started writing and eventually produced a 285-page script. “.
That massive script became three films, which Lionsgate will distribute over the course of nine to twelve months. While the multi-part film strategy is not new, a turnaround time this short is nearly unheard of. Horror director Ti West released “X” and “Pearl” half a year apart in 2022; three films based on Stieg Larsson’s “Millennium” novels (starting with “The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo”) were released in Sweden within 2009; these releases coincided with the release of “The Matrix Reloaded” and “The Matrix Revolutions” in 2003. Zack Snyder concluded his sci-fi duology “Rebel Moon” four months after “Part One,” and Kevin Costner will release the first two chapters of his western epic “Horizon” in less than two months this summer. “.
“What was interesting about the way audiences are consuming content is that three movies can be made simultaneously and distributed quickly. Many people don’t have to wait, according to Geobert Abboud, executive vice president of global distribution at Lionsgate. “We’re not necessarily trying to create a theater experience that people can binge on, but the plan was to release a movie that we knew would do well in theaters, along with numbers two and three that can follow up pretty quickly with more content rather than waiting a year or two to get that sequel.”. “.
Under the skillful direction of seasoned filmmaker Renny Harlin, that audacious rollout culminated in a 52-day shoot in the Slovakian wilderness. With a 40-year career directing action thrillers like Die Hard 2 and Cliffhanger, in addition to horror films like Nightmare on Elm Street and The Exorcist, Harlin is no stranger to the genre. He shot the opening of “Chapter 2,” a scene from “Chapter 3,” and so on, using a switcher-upper method for the “Strangers” trilogy. He believes the two sequels will be released in “September or October” and conclude in “the beginning of next year,” even though the premiere dates have not yet been announced. “.
At this point in his life, he says, “I wouldn’t have done it if it had been a straight remake or a sequel.”. I am a little intimidated by the original film’s quality, but I still have a lot of respect for it. I didn’t think it would be interesting to just do a sequel or remake, but this was a great chance to spend four and a half hours studying the motivations of violent crime perpetrators and victims, as well as how their experiences impact those who witness it. “.
Filming the CW drama’s climax and the photo shoot for her first significant role since “Riverdale” concluded was accommodated by Madelaine Petsch. She portrays Maya, the most recent arrival at the “Strangers” welcome party, who is staying at a remote Airbnb in Oregon with her boyfriend Ryan (Froy Gutierrez). She implies that although “Chapter 1” continues the story of the classic “Strangers” home invasion, Maya will experience brand-new trauma in the next two films.
“It’s just like, ‘How is she going to get out of this terrifying situation?'” she says at every turn in the next two movies. They keep invading her life in every manner they can, so it’s not just a matter of them invading her home. They’re acting improperly in ways that seem impossible to you. It’s entertaining that we really bend the rules a lot. “.
The identity of Tamara, the person the killers always ask for when they knock on the front door in the middle of the night, will finally be revealed to “Strangers” fans in the follow-ups.
According to Harlin, “We wanted to take the audience on a journey.”. The films grow increasingly epic as they progress, but they never lose their realistic tone, sense of claustrophobia, or sense of dread. As a director, you naturally assume that larger is preferable when creating an action film. My role in this one was to control myself and always ensure that it was genuine. In many cases, smaller truly was preferable. Preserving the sense of realism is paramount, but the audience will be surprised by the surprising turns the second and third films take. “.
Additionally, there’s a very good chance that after the trilogy is over, fans who desire the four and a half-hour director’s cut will get their wish. “Some version of that we’ve discussed at a high level that we’d like to see at some point,” affirms Abboud. “.
It’s in our heads, says Harlin. We most certainly want to carry out this task. We intend to piece the entire arc together. We’ll make a movie and see who the devoted followers are that will sit through four and a half hours of film in a theater—we know exactly how to do that. I’m not sure if we should have a break for people to eat and use the restroom, but I do want to hold that event and observe if people can endure four and a half hours of terror, dread, and despair. “.
