‘The Strangers: Chapter 1’ Trailer: Madelaine Petsch Hides from Masked Intruders in Franchise Prequel

Samantha Bergeson
·2 min read

What do you do when they come for you? Beloved horror franchise “The Strangers” is getting a revamp, courtesy of prequel “The Strangers: Chapter 1” starring “Riverdale” alum Madelaine Petsch. Two more sequels (“Chapter 2” and “Chapter 3,” respectively) are due later this year, all from “Die Hard 2” and “Cliffhanger” director Renny Harlin.

In this first film, Petsch stars as a young woman who is trying to start a new life with her fiancé. Yet, during a road trip stop in a remote vacation rental in the woods, the couple become the prey of a mysterious gang of masked strangers who attack without warning or reason. Froy Gutierrez, Gabriel Basso, and Ema Horvath co-star.

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Sure, it may sound like a run-of-the-mill slasher, but “The Strangers” franchise has a haunting allure, thanks to its creation by filmmaker Bryan Bertino. The director has a “story by” credit for “Chapter 1,” which is helmed by Harlin and written by Alan R. Cohen and Alan Freedland.

Liv Tyler and Scott Speedman led the 2008 original film, which was directed by Bertino. The horror movie, also set around a couple at a vacation home, earned a staggering $82 million against a budget of just $9 million.

“The Strangers” spurred sequel “Prey at Night,” which was released in 2018, with Johannes Robert directing. Bertino returned to co-write the script with Ben Ketai. For the follow-up, a family played by Christina Hendricks, Martin Henderson, Lewis Pullman, and Bailee Madison were stalked in their home by a group of masked … well, strangers.

“The Strangers: Chapter 1” is produced by Courtney Solomon, Mark Canton, Christopher Milburn, Gary Raskin, Alastair Burlingham, and Charlie Dombek.

“Chapter 1” actress Petsch is just one of the many “Riverdale” alums on the big screen this year. “May December” breakout actor Charles Melton racked up awards for his turn in the Oscar-nominated Todd Haynes feature alongside Julianne Moore and Natalie Portman, while Cole Sprouse had a wordless role in “Lisa Frankenstein,” written by Diablo Cody.

In addition to the new “The Strangers” franchise film, horror lovers can look forward to indie thriller “Cuckoo” starring Hunter Schafer and “The Watchers,” written and directed by M. Night Shymalan’s daughter Ishana Night Shymalan. M. Night Shymalan himself also has “Trap” coming out this summer as well.

Dakota Fanning, who will lead Shymalan’s “The Watchers,” will also star in “The Strangers” creator Bertino’s upcoming horror project “Vicious” about a woman who is forced to spend the night fighting for her existence as she slips down a disturbing rabbit hole contained inside a mysterious gift from a late-night visitor, per the official logline.

“The Strangers: Chapter 1” premieres May 17 in theaters. Check out the trailer below.

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