The Strangers director reveals unexpected inspiration behind Chapter 2

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The characters like Man in the Mask, Dollface, and Pin-up Girl immediately signal that *The Strangers – Chapter 2* is a true horror film. However, director Renny Harlin surprisingly drew inspiration from a different kind of movie.

The Strangers horror series began with Bryan Bertino’s 2008 film, considered by many to be a standout horror movie. A sequel, Prey at Night, followed a decade later, but it proved to be quite controversial among fans.

Last year, the first film in a new trilogy, *The Strangers – Chapter 1*, was released. Now, *Chapter 2* is coming soon. The trilogy, all connected in one storyline, is directed by Renny Harlin, known for the movie *Cliffhanger*.

The movies follow Maya Lucas (played by Madelaine Petsch), and the second film continues the story from where the first one ended, revealing more about the history of the people behind the masks.

The Strangers – Chapter 2 inspired by action movie classic

Director Harlin told TopMob that while ‘The Strangers – Chapter 2’ is a slasher film, the main focus is on Maya’s intense struggle to survive. He drew significant inspiration from the classic film ‘First Blood,’ starring Rambo.

I wanted the second film to be much bigger in scope than the first, shifting from a contained setting to a true survival story,” he explained. “I often referenced movies like ‘First Blood’ and ‘The Revenant’ as inspiration for the feel I was going for.

Harlin explained that he envisioned the story as a battle between the main female character and everything working against her – the villains, the town itself, and even the natural world. He also wanted those same environments to eventually become resources she could use to help her survive and ultimately triumph.

The goal was to create a powerful female character who isn’t simply someone who needs rescuing, but remains strong and capable despite experiencing extreme mental and physical hardship.

The filmmaker explained they aimed to create a character the audience could connect with, someone whose pain felt authentic and deeply emotional.

Chapter 3 will be “twisty and twisted”

Harlin hinted at the surprises in store for the final movie in his trilogy, describing it as incredibly unexpected and full of twists. He believes audiences will be thrilled, saying they took the story in a direction no one anticipated.

If you’re not familiar, all three “Strangers” movies were filmed at the same time. That means the final movie should be released next year.

Harlin is already thinking about what’s next and hopes to create chapters four, five, and six if the project is successful. He wants to delve deeper into Maya’s story and also explore the world of the Strangers.

It might be possible to make a prequel movie showing the Strangers and their history, which could explain more about who they are and what motivates them.

However, I don’t rule out the chance that there might be even more people hiding secrets in this town – more hidden identities we haven’t discovered yet.

You can see *The Strangers – Chapter 2* in theaters starting September 26, 2025. While you wait, explore new movies available to stream this month and some truly terrifying horror films based on real events.

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2025-09-23 18:22