The Strangers director’s favorite horror is one of the most haunting movies ever made

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Renny Harlin, who directed The Strangers trilogy, recently shared his pick for the best horror movie – and he says it’s one of the most chilling films of all time.

The Strangers – Chapter 2 premiered in theaters on Friday (September 26), picking up the story of the three-movie series. The film follows Maya (Madelaine Petsch) as she struggles to survive against the three masked killers.

The three films were filmed consecutively, and the third one will be released next year. The villains originally appeared in Bryan Bertino’s 2008 debut film, which we’ve included in our ranking of the greatest horror movies ever made.

Harlin is well-known for directing horror films, including Exorcist: The Beginning and A Nightmare on Elm Street 4 (and, as he jokes, the name ‘Harlin’ sounds a bit like ‘horrifying’!). When TopMob spoke with the director before the release of The Strangers – Chapter 2, we asked him what his favorite horror subgenre was.

The Strangers – Chapter 2 director Renny Harlin reveals top horror pick 

It was tough to name just one, but director John Harlin really recommended that horror fans give Don’t Look Now, Nicolas Roeg’s classic from 1973, a watch. Seriously, he seemed pretty passionate about it!

“It’s always difficult to pick just one, as there are countless great films. You could choose a classic, or point to Hitchcock’s Psycho and call it the greatest horror movie ever made,” the filmmaker explained to us.

I don’t know exactly why, but I remember being really affected by Don’t Look Now, directed by Nicolas Roeg and starring Donald Sutherland and Julie Christie. Perhaps it was because I was a young teenager when I first saw it, and it just made a strong impression on me.

The story is set in Venice, Italy, and it has always remained with me as a truly remarkable and immersive look into grief, relationships, and the concept that unresolved past issues will eventually resurface to haunt you. It’s a deeply psychological exploration of those themes.

Don’t Look Now is a haunting adaptation of Daphne du Maurier’s short story of the same name. 

As Harlin pointed out, the story centers around a couple mourning the loss of their little girl. They go to Venice to cope with their grief, and while there, they meet two older sisters. One of the sisters says she’s a psychic and claims to receive messages from the spirit world, offering them warnings from beyond.

Harlin mentioned he consistently suggests it to others, particularly to younger people who may not be familiar with it. He believes it’s something people should definitely take a look at.”

This film isn’t just considered one of the greatest horror movies ever made; it’s widely regarded as one of the best films period. This is due to its incredibly unsettling atmosphere, flawless visuals, and a genuinely surprising and impactful twist at the end.

If you’d like to see it again or watch for the first time, Don’t Look Now is available to rent or purchase from most streaming and on-demand services. And, The Strangers – Chapter 2 is currently playing in movie theaters.

I’ve also been looking around at what new movies are streaming this month, and I stumbled upon a list of the creepiest horror films that are actually based on true stories. Definitely checking those out!

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2025-09-30 18:49