The Strangers remake trilogy star Madelaine Petsch promises more mystery, more scares

Director Renny Harlin (A Nightmare on Elm Street 4: The Dream Master) recently wrapped production on not only a remake of the 2008 film The Strangers (watch it HERE), but an entire remake trilogy. While we’re still waiting to hear what sort of release strategy Lionsgate has in mind for these three new Strangers movies, Collider was able to talk to star Madelaine Petsch (Riverdale) about the trilogy – and Petsch promised that these Strangers movies will deliver more answers, more mystery, and more scares.

When asked what she would tell The Strangers fans who are skeptical about the remake trilogy, Petsch answered, “I’d like to first tell that person that I too feel that way about the original Strangers. When I got sent the trilogy of scripts, I said, ‘This feels like a behemoth that maybe shouldn’t be touched.’ I really felt that way as well and I was very resistant to the idea. And then I clicked on the first script and it all made sense to me. You’re getting so much more backstory. You’re getting so much more character development. I think my biggest pet peeve with the old one now is that you’re not really emotionally invested in those characters. So, yes, it’s terrifying, but you don’t know why they’re fighting originally. You don’t know what their relationship is. They’re kind of already at odds with each other, and so there’s not a lot of investment into Liv Tyler and Scott Speedman. You’re just terrified for them and with them, and so I think we built a world that delves into it more. It’s not exactly a remake because it’s different characters, but it’s the same concept and idea, and I think people will feel like it’s an homage. They’re gonna feel like we handled the material with care and I think [they’re gonna feel] like we’ve dove deeper into it. So if anything, it should make Strangers OG fans really excited because you get more answers, you get more mystery and you get more scares, which is why we watch them.“

The Strangers remake trilogy was filmed in Slovakia. Petsch was joined in the cast by Froy Gutierrez (Cruel Summer), Rachel Shenton (All Creatures Great and Small), Gabriel Basso (Hillbilly Elegy), and Ema Horvath (The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power) are also in the cast. The first entry in the remake trilogy centers on

Petsch’s character as she drives cross-country with her longtime boyfriend (Gutierrez) to begin a new life in the Pacific Northwest. When their car breaks down in Venus, Oregon, they’re forced to spend the night in a secluded Airbnb, where they are terrorized from dusk till dawn by three masked strangers. Lionsgate plans from there to expanding the story in new and unexpected ways with its sequels.

Rachel Shenton plays Debbie, the sister of Petsch’s character.

The Strangers remake trilogy is being produced by Courtney Solomon, Mark Canton, Christopher Milburn, Gary Raskin, Charlie Dombeck, and Alastair Birlingham. Andrei Boncea, Dorothy Canton, and Roy Lee serve as executive producers. Rafaella Biscayn, Frame Film SK, Johanna Harlin, Juan Garcia Peredo, and Alberto Burgueno are co-producing.  Alan R. Cohen and Alan Freedland (Due Date) wrote the screenplays.

Harlin previously provided the following statement: “My mother instilled the love of movies in me through the world of Hitchcock and other masters of suspense and horror. My breakthrough to Hollywood happened with the success of A Nightmare on Elm Street 4. It is only fitting that I get to return to my favorite genre with the incredibly well written trilogy of The Strangers. The characters and the storyline are all grounded in reality and offer me an endless tapestry of haunting visuals in bringing these movies alive.“

Are you looking forward to the Strangers remake trilogy? What do you think of what Petsch said about the new movies? Let us know by leaving a comment below. I’m very curious to see how these have turned out.