The Strangers left a chilling impression during THE STRANGERS - CHAPTER 2 Ballroom 20 panel at San Diego Comic-Con International, which featured actor Madelaine Petsch (Riverdale), director Renny Harlin (Die Hard 2, Exorcist: The Beginning), producer Courtney Solomon (After), and moderator Perri Nemiroff from Collider. Without risking too many potential spoilers, Petsch and Harlin teased attendees with tantalizing behind-the-scenes stories from the upcoming sequel to last year’s “The Strangers: Chapter 1.” They didn’t give away major story details, but as part of their deep dive into the series’ history, they did hint at some surprises and familiar faces fans can look forward to in a film they promise will be even more frightful, suspenseful, and thrilling than the first one.
The Strangers brought an exclusive promo item for everyone in attendance and, in addition to talking about the franchise legacy that began back in 2008 with Bryan Bertino’s original feature starring Liv Tyler and Scott Speedman, the panel provided first-look clips of the terror in store, one of which can now be watched right here:
In addition to the panel, THE STRANGERS made their menacing presence felt all along the West Coast through the STRANGERS ROADTRIP. Traveling in the film’s signature red-and-white truck, the three masked figures made their way from Oregon to San Diego, making unsettling appearances along the way in “caught” moments across social media. Embedding that media is a little bit tricky, but it’s worth tracking down on Instagram and other sources for a peek inside the immersive frights bringing the movie to life in the real world.
Coming to theaters on September 26th, THE STRANGERS - CHAPTER 2 is directed by Renny Harlin (Die Hard 2, Cliffhanger, Exorcist: The Beginning) and written by Alan R. Cohen (“The Freak Brothers,” Due Date) and Alan Freedland (“King of the Hill,” Due Date). The film stars Madelaine Petsch (“Riverdale,” Polaroid), Gabriel Basso (“The Night Agent,” Super 8) and Ema Horvath (What Lies Below, “Don’t Look Deeper”).
SYNOPSIS: The Strangers are back – more brutal and relentless than ever. When they learn that one of their victims, Maya (Madelaine Petsch), is still alive, they return to finish what they’ve started. With nowhere to run and no one to trust, Maya must survive another horrific chapter of terror as The Strangers – driven by a senseless, unceasing purpose – pursue her, more than willing to kill anyone who stands in their way.
Where “Night of the Reaper” hits a hard snag with its comparatively calmer tone is in not establishing the same sense of dread that “Halloween” does.