Is The Strangers: Chapter 1 A Prequel, Remake Or Reboot? It's Complicated (2024)

Warning: Minor spoilers for The Strangers: Chapter 1!

Summary

  • The Strangers trilogy is not a remake or a reboot but a relaunch of the franchise.
  • Chapter 1 explores the same concept as the original film, with future sequels set to reveal the origins of the three masked killers.
  • Despite similarities to the 2008 film, the new trilogy plans to take the franchise in new directions.

The Strangers: Chapter 1 officially expanded The Strangers movie franchise, but whether it's a remake of the original film or a reboot is complicated. The original two Strangers films focus on three masked murderers who go after innocent people who happened to be at the wrong place at the wrong time. Renny Harlin's new The Strangers trilogy will attempt to keep with the same concept as the original, with Chapter 1 following a young couple forced to stay at a remote AirBnB after their car breaks down in Oregon, resulting in a terrifying encounter with Dollface, the Man in the Mask, and the Pin-Up Girl.

The Strangers and Prey at Night were big box office successes when they premiered in 2008 and 2018, making $82 million and $31 million at the box office (via Box Office Mojo) despite mixed reviews from critics. The Strangers' new trilogy will look to make a similar splash at the box office with a risky release format that will result in The Strangers: Chapter 2 and Chapter 3 arriving just months apart. While The Strangers: Chapter 1's cast and characters imply a completely different story, the connection to the past movies has been confusing.

Related

The terrifying home invasion franchise returns in The Strangers: Chapter 1, and fans won't have to wait long to witness Chapter 2 later in 2024.

Is The Strangers: Chapter 1 A Prequel?

The Strangers Trailer Caused Prequel Confusion

Is The Strangers: Chapter 1 A Prequel, Remake Or Reboot? It's Complicated (2)

Considering The Strangers: Chapter 1's trailer highlighted the tagline of "Witness how the strangers became the strangers," there was a belief that Harlin's new installments in The Strangers movie franchise would be prequels. With the implication that Chapter 1 would explain the background of The Strangers' three killers, believing the movie serves as a prequel is understandable. However, the tagline is a bit misleading since The Strangers: Chapter 1 is in no way a prequel since it's set in the modern day. Other than the killers and the overall concept, there are no direct connections made to the past movies.

The Strangers' New Trilogy Isn't A Direct Remake Or Reboot

The Strangers: Chapter 1 is almost a beat-by-beat copy of the 2008 movie

In an interview (via Comicbook.com), director Renny Harlin revealed that the new Strangers trilogy is not considered a direct remake or reboot of the original movies. In the same interview, he promised that the original movies would be referenced with Easter eggs throughout The Strangers trilogy. With Harlin's installments serving as a standalone film series instead of a reboot of the original, Harlin also revealed that he has ensured that the old The Stranger films are honored in every way. Interestingly, The Strangers: Chapter 1 is almost a beat-by-beat copy of the 2008 movie, which is where the remake label gets more confusing.

Though not a direct remake, The Strangers: Chapter 1 should be viewed as a relaunch of the franchise. It follows a similar storyline to the 2008 release and even teases the true stories that inspired The Strangers original movie. Even as the upcoming sequels will go in new and fresh directions compared to past installments, eventually cementing this era of the franchise as a standalone story, for now, it's easy to see why Chapter 1 is incorrectly being considered a direct remake and a reboot.

Does The Strangers: Chapter 1 Take Place In The Same Universe As Past Movies?

Future Installments Will Have To Clarify The Strangers' Movie Universe

The Strangers: Chapter 1 has been confirmed to be set within the same universe as the previous movies, bringing back the same three masked killers from the original film. However, the exact connection gets murky when remembering the fate of the masked killers in Prey at Night. Based on The Strangers: Chapter 1's ending, a lot more surrounding the killers will be explored in the next two movies. The trilogy will also reveal more about the origin story of the three masked intruders and answer questions from the original TheStrangers movies that remain a mystery. In doing so, Harlin's next chapters will hopefully clarify how the story exists in the same universe despite its status as a standalone trilogy.

Source: Comicbook.com

Is The Strangers: Chapter 1 A Prequel, Remake Or Reboot? It's Complicated (3)
The Strangers: Chapter 1

R

Horror

Thriller

Is The Strangers: Chapter 1 A Prequel, Remake Or Reboot? It's Complicated (4)

Director
Renny Harlin

Release Date
May 17, 2024

Cast
Madelaine Petsch , Froy Gutierrez , Rachel Shenton , Gabriel Basso , Ema Horvath

Franchise(s)
The Strangers

Distributor(s)
Lionsgate

Sources: ComicBook.com

  • Movies
  • The Strangers: Chapter 1
  • The Strangers (2008)

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Is The Strangers: Chapter 1 A Prequel, Remake Or Reboot? It's Complicated (2024)

FAQs

Is The Strangers: Chapter 1 A Prequel, Remake Or Reboot? It's Complicated? ›

The Strangers trilogy is not a remake or a reboot but a relaunch of the franchise. Chapter 1 explores the same concept as the original film, with future sequels set to reveal the origins of the three masked killers. Despite similarities to the 2008 film, the new trilogy plans to take the franchise in new directions.

How is The Strangers: Chapter 1 different? ›

In other words, The Strangers: Chapter 1 basically tells the exact same story as the original The Strangers, but there's one big difference. Unlike the couple in that first film, Maya and Ryan didn't break up right before arriving at their vacation spot.

Is The Strangers chapter 2 a prequel? ›

Is The Strangers 2008 a remake? ›

2008's “The Strangers” didn't seem like the kind of film that would produce a series when it was released. But it's about to explode into precisely that with the release of “The Strangers Trilogy,” three films directed by Renny Harlin that serve as sort of a remake but also a prequel to the Bryan Bertino hit.

Is The Strangers chapter one based on a true story? ›

Both films are allegedly based on real life stories, but in the case of “The Strangers,” inspired would probably be a more appropriate word and based is generous if the Manson family's murders are the foundation for the film.

Is Stranger's Chapter 1 a reboot? ›

The Strangers trilogy is not a remake or a reboot but a relaunch of the franchise. Chapter 1 explores the same concept as the original film, with future sequels set to reveal the origins of the three masked killers. Despite similarities to the 2008 film, the new trilogy plans to take the franchise in new directions.

Is The Strangers: Chapter 1 a sequel? ›

Will there be a The Strangers chapter 2? ›

Release. The Strangers: Chapter 2 is expected to be released in the late 2024.

Will The Strangers: Chapter 1 be good? ›

In conclusion, 'The Strangers: Chapter 1 is a reminder that many efforts of success is to revive a franchise that perhaps should have been left undisturbed. It serves as a reminder that not all chapters are worth revisiting, but especially when the story has nothing new to say.

Is The Strangers: Chapter 1 gory? ›

Parents need to know that The Strangers: Chapter 1 is the third movie in a home invasion horror franchise that started in 2008—but it's also the first film in a new standalone trilogy. It's more of the same, with lots of killings, dead bodies, guns and shooting, stabbings, bloody wounds, pools of blood, and threats.

Is The Strangers: Chapter 1 a good movie? ›

SUMMARY: The movie may have a lot of entertainment value, but it still hasn't stuck out as one of the most unique or haunting films. Our band of Strangers has moments, but the movie's first chapter is rather tame, mediocre, and lacking a lot of world-building or engaging design that many might be hoping for.

Who are the killers in The Strangers: Chapter 1? ›

Unfortunately, the scarecrow stranger catches up to them and hits Ryan over the head. Maya and Jeff are now tied up in chairs back in the cabin, with The Strangers: Chapter 1's killers, Pin up girl, Dollface and Scarecrow surrounding them.

Is Strangers really based on a true story? ›

Though the first film was marketed as "based on a true story", this was a slight misdirect as the filmmaker stated that he wrote the concept from a series of break-in burglaries that took place in his neighborhood when he was growing up, as well as borrowing elements from the Manson Family Tate murders.

Is The Strangers 2 a prequel? ›

What year does The Strangers: Chapter 1 take place? ›

The Strangers: Chapter 1 is a 2024 American horror film that is the third film in The Strangers film series and the first installment of an intended relaunch in the form of a standalone trilogy.

Who are the masked people in The Strangers: Chapter 1? ›

The members consist of "Man in the Mask/The Scarecrow", "Dollface" and "Pin-Up Girl". The actors playing the trio are as follows: Man in Mask is played by Kip Weeks (original) and Damian Maffei (Prey at Nightl) Dollface is played by Gemma Ward (original) and Emma Bellomy (Prey at Night)

What happens in Stranger's chapter 1? ›

As they sob together, Ryan is fatally stabbed and his chair is knocked over, causing him to choke on his own blood. Maya asks why they're doing this, to which they simply reply, "Because you're here." She is then stabbed and knocked over as well. Police sirens are heard in the distance and the perpetrators speed away.

How scary is Stranger's chapter 1? ›

Dubious social messages aside, The Strangers: Chapter 1 is a merely serviceable horror film. There are some tense moments and plenty of jump scares, but they're undercut by a frustrating script.

What is The Strangers Part 1 about? ›

The Strangers: Chapter 1 is not a prequel or a sequel, but rather a reimagining of the original story. Here, Maya (Madelaine Petsch) and Ryan (Froy Gutierrez) are driving to Seattle for Maya's big job interview. But on the way, their car breaks down and they're forced to stay overnight in a secluded AirBnB.

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