15 Insights from The Strangers: Chapter 1 Commentary Track

Lionsgate’s horror movie The Strangers: Chapter 1, directed by Renny Harlin, was recently made available on 4K, Blu-ray, and DVD. Fans of the movie and physical media collectors will find this release to be a worthy addition to their collections.

Based on Bryan Bertino’s 2008 film, The Strangers: Chapter 1 introduces a new couple, Maya (Madelaine Petsch) and Ryan (Froy Gutierrez). During their journey through a small town in Oregon, their car breaks down, forcing them to spend the night in a cabin in the woods. Here, they are tormented by three mysterious strangers.

The Blu-ray edition comes with several special features, including behind-the-scenes featurettes and an audio commentary with Madelaine Petsch and producer Courtney Solomon. Petsch also holds an executive producer credit for the trilogy. The commentary includes some interesting insights and teasers about the sequels.

The opening scene introduces Jeff Morrell, portrayed by Ryan Bown, who is running from the "strangers" — Scarecrow, Pin-Up Girl, and Dollface. Scarecrow seemingly kills him, but Jeff’s role is hinted to be significant in the overall storyline.

Chapter 1 serves as the initial part of a trilogy, with all three films shot back-to-back over 52 days. These films are not standalone but are designed to be viewed as a continuous narrative, with events spanning roughly four days. Hence, the first chapter feels like a 90-minute opening act for a much longer story.

An intriguing character in the early scenes is Eden, a waitress at the local diner, portrayed by one of the movie’s co-producers, Rafaella Biscayn.

Madelaine Petsch reveals she was deeply scared by the original 2008 film. So enthusiastic was she about her role that she brought extensive notes to her first meeting with the producers. Petsch and Solomon commend co-star Froy Gutierrez for his performance, though they sometimes asked him to appear even grumpier in certain scenes.

The filmmakers ensured continuity and subtle callbacks throughout the trilogy, making it rewarding for eagle-eyed viewers. Petsch particularly added character depth by choosing unique elements like Maya’s gold nail polish, intended to give her character personality and flair.

Maya’s sister Debbie (Rachel Shenton) appears briefly in a scene, hinting at a deeper role in the subsequent films.

Petsch’s dedication is evident in scenes like the one where she plays Beethoven’s "Moonlight Sonata" at the cabin. To prepare, Petsch took piano lessons while filming in Slovakia.

One of the film’s tense moments features Maya being watched by Scarecrow while showering, embodying one of Petsch’s real-life fears. Petsch also genuinely cries in many of the emotional scenes, a talent she naturally possesses without the aid of tear sticks.

Animal lovers can rest easy knowing no real chickens were harmed; a prop was used for the movie’s disturbing scenes. Petsch also had enjoyable interactions with real rats during the under-house crawling scenes.

The trilogy was mostly shot in Bratislava, Slovakia. The cabin’s interior was built on a soundstage, with its exterior shots filmed elsewhere. Petsch’s hand prosthetic for the nail scene highlights the efficiency of the special effects team.

One of the scariest parts for Petsch was an unscripted moment when the Scarecrow actor burst through a window, eliciting a genuine reaction from her.

In the intense final scene, when Maya is tied to a chair and forced to watch Ryan’s death, Scarecrow’s tender gesture of wiping her tear was improvised, although an earlier version where the tear was used in another way was cut.

Source: 1428 Elm