The Strangers: Chapter 1
The Strangers: Chapter 1 is a 2024 American horror film directed by Renny Harlin, serving as the first installment in a trilogy rebooting the 2008 home invasion thriller The Strangers.[1] The film stars Madelaine Petsch and Froy Gutierrez as a young couple whose cross-country road trip is interrupted when their car breaks down in a remote Oregon town, forcing them to spend the night at an isolated Airbnb where they are terrorized by three masked strangers with no apparent motive.[2] Written by Alan R. Cohen and Alan Freedland from a story by Bryan Bertino—the writer and director of the original film—it emphasizes themes of vulnerability and random violence in a modern setting.[3] The project originated from plans announced in August 2022 by producer Roy Lee to create a consecutively shot trilogy expanding the Strangers franchise, with principal photography for all three films completed back-to-back over 52 days in Slovakia starting in November 2023.[4] Despite being set in the United States, the production utilized Eastern European locations for their isolated rural landscapes, which Harlin praised for enhancing the film's tense atmosphere of isolation.[5] Lionsgate Films acquired the rights and positioned Chapter 1 as a soft reboot, retelling the core premise of the original while introducing new characters and subtle updates to the masked killers' lore to set up future entries.[4] Released theatrically in the United States on May 17, 2024, the film grossed $35.1 million at the domestic box office against a modest budget, marking a commercial success for Lionsgate's horror slate.[1] Critically, it received mixed to negative reviews, with a 21% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes based on 106 critics' assessments, often criticized for relying on familiar jump scares and lacking the original's subtlety, though some praised its efficient pacing and Petsch's performance.[1] On IMDb, it holds a 4.7/10 rating from over 26,000 user votes, reflecting audience divisions on its effectiveness as a franchise revival.[2] The film's availability expanded to digital platforms in June 2024 and streaming on Hulu later that year.[1]Synopsis and characters
Plot
The film opens in 2017 in the small town of Venus, Oregon, where businessman Jeff Morell is ambushed and killed by three masked assailants—Scarecrow, Dollface, and Pin-Up Girl—highlighting their random acts of violence.[6] In the present, Maya and Ryan, a couple celebrating their fifth anniversary, drive cross-country toward Portland, Oregon, where Maya has a job interview as an architect.[7] Their trip takes a turn when their car breaks down outside the remote town of Venus, forcing them to rent an isolated Airbnb cabin for the night while awaiting repairs.[6] Tensions simmer in their relationship, with Ryan expressing reluctance about the move and the unfamiliar surroundings, highlighting Maya's optimism against his growing unease.[7] The ordeal begins when a knock echoes at the cabin door late at night. A female figure in a porcelain doll mask, known as Dollface, stands outside and eerily asks, "Is Tamara home?"—a phrase that recurs throughout the night without explanation.[6] As the night escalates, Ryan returns from town, where he encountered suspicious locals distributing religious pamphlets warning of sin.[6] The couple arms themselves with a shotgun found in the cabin, but paranoia leads to tragedy when Ryan accidentally shoots and kills the Airbnb owner, Joe, mistaking him for an intruder. The strangers capitalize on the chaos, breaking in through windows and doors, their attacks methodical and unrelenting—slashing at Ryan with a knife and stabbing Maya multiple times. Amid the violence, Maya experiences flashes of reflection on her past vulnerabilities, including her aspirations for a stable future now shattered by the invasion, deepening her sense of isolation and fear.[8] In a desperate bid for survival, Ryan proposes to Maya with a ring he had been carrying, and she accepts just before the strangers overpower them, tying the couple to chairs in a ritualistic display. Pin-Up Girl fatally stabs Ryan in the stomach while Maya watches in horror, her screams echoing the strangers' chilling rationale: "Because you were home."[6] Maya, stabbed multiple times herself, manages a weak call to 911 using a hidden phone, alerting authorities as police sirens approach and forcing the killers to flee into the night.[7] Maya survives her injuries and awakens in a hospital bed, bandaged but alive, though the film ends on a cliffhanger with Scarecrow lurking nearby, implying the terror is far from over.[6] The masked strangers' behaviors and signature query serve as direct callbacks to the franchise's established lore of motiveless home invasions.[7]Cast
The principal cast of The Strangers: Chapter 1 features Madelaine Petsch in the lead role of Maya, a young woman grappling with psychological trauma from her past, drawing on Petsch's established recognition from portraying Cheryl Blossom in the CW series Riverdale.[9] Froy Gutierrez portrays Ryan, Maya's supportive boyfriend who offers initial protection amid escalating threats, with Gutierrez bringing experience from his role as Noah in the Netflix series Elite.[9] Rachel Shenton plays Debbie, Maya's sister; Shenton is an Academy Award-winning actress for writing and starring in the short film The Silent Child, and she is known for her role as Helen Alderson in All Creatures Great and Small.[9][10] Ema Horvath appears as Shelly, the friendly waitress at the local diner who assists the couple after their car breaks down, with Horvath previously recognized for her role as Valandil in The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power.[9] The iconic masked antagonists—recurring elements from the broader Strangers franchise—are portrayed by new performers: Olivia Kreutzova as Dollface, whose eerie, doll-like mask emphasizes psychological terror; Letizia Fabbri as Pin-Up Girl; and Matúš Lajčák as Scarecrow, the most physically imposing of the trio.[9][11] These characters tie into the franchise lore as the same enigmatic killers who target victims "because you were home," but with fresh casting to revitalize the series.[9] Supporting roles include Gabriel Basso as Gregory, one of the suspicious locals encountered by the protagonists, known from films like Super 8 and The Kings of Summer; and Richard Brake as Sheriff Rotter, the town sheriff investigating disturbances, with Brake's prior work in Game of Thrones and Thor: The Dark World.[9]| Actor | Role | Notes on Character or Prior Work |
|---|---|---|
| Madelaine Petsch | Maya | Lead facing psychological trauma; known for Riverdale. |
| Froy Gutierrez | Ryan | Boyfriend providing protection; known for Elite. |
| [Rachel Shenton](/page/Rachel_Shen ton) | Debbie | Maya's sister; Oscar winner for The Silent Child. |
| Ema Horvath | Shelly | Diner waitress who assists the couple; known for The Rings of Power. |
| Olivia Kreutzova | Dollface | Masked stranger with eerie presence; franchise recast. |
| Letizia Fabbri | Pin-Up Girl | Masked stranger; franchise recast. |
| Matúš Lajčák | Scarecrow | Physically imposing masked stranger; franchise recast. |
| Gabriel Basso | Gregory | Suspicious local; known for Super 8. |
| Richard Brake | Sheriff Rotter | Local sheriff; known for Game of Thrones. |