2008’s The Strangers preyed on the audience’s fear of a creepy home invasion with masked figures. After the popularity of the movie, its sequel, plus the horror films that followed suit, like The Purge, it’s been announced that Renny Harlin, who is a veteran of the horror world with A Nightmare on Elm Street 4: The Dream Master, would helm a remake. That remake turned into a surprise sequel trilogy as the star, Madelaine Petsch, revealed, “It’s within the same universe, I’ll say that. It’s a trilogy. It was very fun to shoot and work with (Renny Harlin), and we shot it in Slovakia. I speak the language, so it was a delight to be in that country and work.“
Fans of the series will be able to get an exclusive conversation with director Renny Harlin and producer Courtney Solomon as they are set to make an appearance to promote the trilogy. The official social media account for the films tweeted teaser pics showcasing a familiar mask with the caption, “Shut your window. Lock your door. They are coming. Get your first look of #TheStrangersTrilogy at NYCC with director Renny Harlin and producer Courtney Solomon on October 12th at 3pm.” And according to ComingSoon.net, the trilogy may already be fully completed and all set to be released in 2024.
The plot of this new story changes things up as it involves 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.
Renny Harlin recently expressed his excitement when he announced the trilogy. The Deep Blue Sea director said in a 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.“