The Strangers: Chapter 2 Made Big Changes After the First Movie’s Mixed Reviews

Title One of “The Strangers” didn’t exactly impress critics or viewers. In reality, its opening chapter currently boasts a mere 21% approval rating from critics on Rotten Tomatoes – significantly lower than the original film’s 49%. To put it mildly, this isn’t an ideal beginning for what was intended to be a three-part series of films.

The narrative focuses on characters Maya, portrayed by Madelaine Petsch, and Ryan, played by Froy Gutierrez. They endure torment at the hands of three masked intruders who disrupt their lives in a chilling manner. The tale concludes with Ryan’s demise in Chapter 1. However, the subsequent chapters delve into Maya’s journey post-trauma as she navigates its aftermath.

At San Diego Comic-Con, representatives from the cast and crew of “The Strangers: Chapter 2” discussed with Russ Milheim from TopMob. They shared insights about how they improved and upgraded the next installments in the trilogy compared to their initial film, based on audience feedback.

Actress Madelaine Petsch from “The Strangers” revealed that production studio generously funded chapters 2 and 3 of the trilogy to further improve them, a privilege seldom granted.

Director Renny Harlin pointed out that since the initial film was a hit, Lionsgate studio was quite receptive to implementing modifications. He clarified that they had taken audience suggestions and considered feedback, leading them to believe it was necessary to cater to the audience by making adjustments to both Chapter 2 and Chapter 3.

Courtney Solomon, the producer, clarified that they needed to “reverse all changes made in ‘Chapter 2,’ insert improved footage, and remake everything from scratch,” which ultimately “delayed our progress and pushed the project into this year.

Here’s another way of saying it: “He hinted that the movie provides an unyielding experience, making it exceptionally engaging and intensely enjoyable.

The entire conversation can be read below.

The Stranger: Chapter 2 hits theaters on September 26, 2025.

The Filmmakers Behind The Strangers: Chapter 2 Get Candid About Changes

Lionsgate Believed In ‘Chapter 2’ Enough for Them to Make Extensive, Big Changes

At San Diego Comic-Con, the lead actor and film creators of “The Strangers: Chapter 2” opened up to TopMob about revisiting and significantly altering the second and third installments in their trilogy due to the relatively poor reception from fans and viewers following the release of the first movie last year.

Star Madelaine Petsch clarified that the production of the film happens in three distinct locations, and she was fortunate enough to work with a studio that supported them financially to revisit and improve movies two and three.

Madelaine Petsch shares her perspective as a producer: For me, it’s quite special to be involved in the film production process. I’ve come to understand that a movie is actually created in three different stages. It starts when it’s written, continues during filming, but it truly comes together during editing. In fact, editing can transform the entire film into something new.

We’re fortunate to work with a studio that trusts us enough to provide funds for improving movies two and three post-editing – an uncommon scenario. Reflecting on the first movie’s release, many aspects we initially thought were overlooked have surprisingly resonated with audiences, as Renny [Harlin] often mentions. Conversely, there were elements that didn’t seem to interest viewers as much as expected.

In other words, it’s essential for us to adapt flexibly while preserving our artistic values, and we’re not shying away from the things that matter to us. It’s quite an appealing equilibrium, one that not many productions manage to achieve.

Renny Harlin, director of “The Strangers – Chapter 2,” commended Lionsgate, the studio responsible for the film, for being receptive to adjustments following audience feedback. Harlin emphasized that he felt a sense of obligation towards the viewers: “[They] owed it to the audience.

As a dedicated cinephile, I’m thrilled to share that the initial film resonated strongly with audiences, making the studio eager for more. When we proposed our ideas, based on audience feedback and our understanding of what they crave, they were receptive. It was essential for us to stay true to the original vision set by Bryan Bertino’s masterpiece, which serves as the foundation for this trilogy. We felt it was our duty to deliver a sequel that would honor the audience’s expectations and the spirit of the original movie.

We aimed for something beyond a simple replica. We wanted to enrich the storyline. It’s our duty to both the loyal fans of the original film and those joining us now to deliver what they desire. As a director, this was an exceptional chance. Fortunately, the studio was supportive, allowing us to pursue our vision and do what we truly believe is right.

Absolutely, not everyone can be satisfied, and that’s not the aim, but when discussing a cherished series and characters, we believed there were opportunities for expansion without undermining their essence. For instance, by revealing a touch more about The Strangers’ backgrounds to give insights into their motivations, without resorting to trivial details such as names, addresses, or daily habits. Instead, maintaining the enigma and randomness that make them intriguing, I am confident that viewers will appreciate peeking into their past.

Courtney Solomon, producer of The Strangers Trilogy, explained the significant delay between Chapter 1 and Chapter 2. This prolonged wait was mainly due to the extensive modifications made following the audience’s response to the first installment, which Solomon acknowledged as being “slightly misunderstood.”

Courtney Solomon: Well, I believe there might have been a slight misinterpretation about ‘Chapter 1’, right? Given this misunderstanding, we had already been working on ‘Chapter 2’ at that point. We then went back to the executives and said, “Despite some initial financial success with ‘Chapter 1,’ we could use additional funds to further develop our ideas.” These ideas were ones we initially wanted to implement in ‘Chapter 1’, but due to budget constraints, we couldn’t. Essentially, having completed ‘Chapter 2’ post the release of ‘Chapter 1,’ we undertook an enhancement shoot to improve upon our original work.

The manufacturer elaborated on the amount of effort required to rework Chapter 2, which was largely finalized, and later reassemble everything after the improved sections were integrated.

Solomon: In ‘Chapter 2’, we needed to make significant changes. This included adding the enhancement footage, revising the edits, adjusting the music, fine-tuning the colors, applying new visual effects, and more, to improve the overall quality.

First, the delays held us back and ultimately resulted in our release being moved to this current year. As a result, we found ourselves struggling to meet the same deadline as last year. However, Lionsgate proposed a different placement for us, which is why things took longer. The upside is that this movie offers an unyielding experience, making it quite intense in a positive manner.

He additionally verified that Chapter 3 also included retakes for improvements, emphasizing that in difficult times, “out of hardship comes goodness.

Solomon: However, there’s more positive news! Since the release is about a month away, we’ll have completed “Chapter 3” by then, right? As we’ve also done additional filming for that chapter. And I’d like to add, “in challenging times, good things can bloom“. We received many valuable comments from the audience regarding ‘Chapter 1‘, which motivated us to return to the studio and work hard, putting in all this extra effort to redo ‘Chapter 2‘ and make enhancements. So that’s the story behind it.

Solomon openly stated that the choice to tackle Chapter 1 was deliberate, as audiences wouldn’t fully grasp it until they had watched Chapters 2 and 3 first.

Solomon explained that their decision was thoughtfully made, but its full comprehension requires viewing ‘Chapter 2’ and ‘3’. He pointed out from the start that it’s all part of one continuous movie, one storyline. Therefore, evaluating ‘Chapter 1’ is like appraising the opening scene of a film, which doesn’t fully represent the entire movie. Essentially, they were judged on the first act without having the full context, and there might have been other choices that could have been handled differently or not so well.

The creator elaborated that people who watched the initial “The Strangers” movie tended to dislike “Chapter 1,” but those unfamiliar with it generally showed a strong preference for it.

Solomon: Wasn’t it deliberate that we told a similar story in ‘Chapter 1’, more like a conscious decision, correct? And when the audience watched it, they were puzzled, thinking, “This is just a repetition, there’s nothing new here.

In essence, it’s not nearly as enjoyable for them, given their prior affection for the other film. You could compare it to experiencing something for the first time – like losing one’s virginity, metaphorically speaking. Consequently, they were already familiar with the surprises and twists that might have been present, even though there were new elements as well.

The group who watched the film found it appealing, despite not having seen the initial version. That’s one reason we chose to proceed with our decision regardless.

Solomon emphasized that it’s alright if you don’t care for “The Stranger” trilogy and want to express your dislike, but he advises waiting to make a definitive judgment until after you’ve watched all three installments. Furthermore, he hinted that only one individual has accurately predicted the overall direction of the trilogy so far.

As a great admirer of ‘The Stranger’ trilogy, let me share my thoughts: If you find yourself inclined to criticize the series after watching the three parts, by all means, go ahead – your opinion is valid. However, before passing judgment, I strongly encourage you to give it a proper chance. Many reviews I’ve read about its direction have missed the mark, and I can confidently say that I haven’t seen it play out as they describe. In fact, I’ve read extensively on the subject matter, and so far, there’s only one person who seems to truly grasp what it’s all about. Therefore, I wholeheartedly recommend giving it a chance before making any definitive statements.

Renny Harlin Addresses Halloween 2 Comparisons and Teases a Very Dark Chapter 3

“The Hospital Setting Is a Very Interesting and Exciting Place.”

Title 1 of The Strangers concluded with Maya being admitted to the hospital, a circumstance that drew several parallels to Laurie Strode’s state in Halloween 2.

TopMob: “I wanted to address the hospital setting, because even before Chapter 2 came out, a lot of people were very quick to be like, Okay, so we’re gonna do a Halloween II kind of situation. I’m wondering, are those assumptions or thought processes anywhere close to what Chapter 2 is going to offer audiences, or should people not expect that at all?”

Renny Harlin: I hope, in a positive sense, for fans of ‘Halloween II,’ they’ll find something enjoyable. However, honestly speaking, while I did watch ‘Halloween II,’ I must admit that I didn’t recall it being heavily set in a hospital.

It took me by surprise when people started drawing comparisons between these scenes and something else. To begin with, I hadn’t even considered that connection myself. However, I must admit that the hospital setting is quite intriguing and thrilling for me. Hospitals can already be intimidating, but when you add a vulnerable individual to the mix, and then turn off the lights, it becomes downright terrifying.

In my opinion, I’m confident that our work in depicting the hospital scenes and overall experience was unique. To put it another way, the movie significantly broadens the scope of the home invasion genre to encompass a town invasion, making it quite grandiose.

The Strangers – Chapter 2 Producer on Taking Over Saw 11’s Release Date

“Being In the Footsteps of ‘Saw’ Is a Big Expectation In the Horror World.”

TopMob: “Chapter 2 actually overtook the release stage of Saw 11, which is a big, big horror film, and so that’s a big hole to [take over] this, and [be like] we’re gonna own it, and we’re gonna blow everyone out of the water. What was that like? Is there any extra pressure there? Expectations?”

Courtney Solomon expressed that it’s quite a significant responsibility to follow in the footsteps of ‘Saw’ within the horror genre. In simpler terms, I would say yes, it was indeed exciting news and a great honor for them to have trusted us with such a prestigious position.

Essentially, their approval feels like a positive endorsement, a thumbs up for ‘Chapter 2’. They’re on board with it, and that’s reassuring. However, it’s also a bit nerve-wracking because we’re in the heart of the Halloween movie season. Given my experience working primarily in horror, I understand well the challenges that come with this time slot.

The full interviews can be watched here:

2025-08-06 01:10