Renny Harlin – Exclusive Interview on The Strangers: Chapter 2

Jeff:
Hey Renny, great to speak with you again! Last time we talked it was about The Bricklayer. Now you’re back with The Strangers: Chapter 2. This time it’s not a remake or a random sequel, but a direct continuation of the first film. How did you approach continuing that story—especially since we already know who lived and who didn’t?

Renny:
Good question. And that was our whole idea behind these three movies—that to make a remake of the original Strangers would have been terrible. And then waiting for a couple of years and maybe doing a sequel with new characters, new places—it just didn’t interest us at all.

So we sold the studio with this idea: what if you took the original movie, but the final girl didn’t die? What would happen the next day? That was very much the philosophy of this. We had a 273-page script. We made a four-and-a-half-hour movie. Then we chopped it up into three episodes. So it’s quite different from your usual sequel thinking.

For me, it was a really lucky break to explore these characters for four and a half hours and really dig deep into Maya’s character. In terms of cannon fodder, we don’t need that because there’s so much to explore with Maya as a victim of this kind of senseless violence. What happens to them? How do they cope with it, especially when the chase continues?

And on the other hand, we get to explore the Strangers. The fascination with them has always been the randomness of these crimes. But since the original, people have had questions—who’s Tamara? Who are these killers? Why? What? We’re not going to answer all of those, but we’ll definitely give glimpses of their backstory.

Jeff:
In Chapter 2 we finally learn the identity of one of the Strangers. Fans are wondering—will we eventually see the other two unmasked, or have we already without realizing it?

Renny:
Wow, that’s a good question. I don’t know if I can reveal that. But let’s just put it this way—anybody in that town of Venus could be a Stranger, that’s for sure. So you may have seen more than you realize. And definitely more will be revealed in the third movie. Things will get really crazy. The whole scenario turns upside down and inside out. We’re headed there in the second movie but just giving hints of it.

Jeff:
So the third film will pick up right where this one leaves off?

Renny:
Absolutely. It continues seconds after the second movie ends.

Jeff:
I’ve got my own theory—that maybe the whole town is in on it.

Renny:
That’s a really interesting theory.

Jeff:
Well, I’ve got to say, I really enjoyed Chapter 2. The suspense, the tension—you’ve taken everything from the first film and ramped it up. Should audiences expect you to raise the stakes even higher in the third one?

Renny:
Oh my God, first of all, thank you very much—you’re really one of the first people I’ve spoken to outside our filmmaking group who’s seen the movie. I really appreciate you being kind.

The third movie goes so beyond anything you could imagine. I can’t wait. We’re done editing it—it’ll be finished very soon. Hopefully it comes out next year because I can’t wait for everybody to see where we go. We go deep, and we go weird.

But you’ve got to watch the first two to really know where we are when the third starts. It’s going to get crazy.

Jeff:
I think Chapter 2 is one of the strongest horror sequels in years. It even feels like it could launch a bigger franchise. I heard whispers about chapters four, five, and six. Is that true—and would you want to continue at the helm?

Renny:
Thank you, Jeff. You’re being so kind. I really love what you’re saying. And yes—if the fans, the moviegoers, support the second one and the third one, we have a lot more to tell. We’re ready to dive into four, five, and six for sure.

Jeff:
Amazing! And once all three are out, will we ever see your full four-and-a-half-hour vision released as one cut?

Renny:
We will. After the three movies have come out, then we’ll do a director’s cut that’s four and a half hours long and we’ll show it theatrically—for those who are ready to sit through four and a half hours of horror.

Jeff:
Sign me up! It’s been great talking to you, Renny. Best of luck with Chapter 2—and I’ll be first in line for Chapter 3.

Renny:
Fantastic. Thank you so much, Jeff. Thank you so much.