15 things we learned from listening to The Strangers: Chapter 1 audio commentary track
I’ve always been a huge fan of horror films, but none have ever truly terrified me like “The Strangers: Prey at Night.” The original 2008 film left me petrified, and I still think about it to this day. When I got the opportunity to audition for the role of Maya in this sequel, I was beyond excited and determined to bring her character to life.
Lionsgate’s horror film “The Strangers: Chapter 1,” helmed by Renny Harlin, has just been released in high definition 4K, Blu-ray, and DVD formats. If you’re a fan of this movie and enjoy collecting physical media, this is definitely worth adding to your collection.
According to Bryan Bertino’s 2008 film, “The Strangers,” the initial chapter introduces a fresh couple, Maya (played by Madelaine Petsch) and Ryan (Froy Gutierrez). While traveling through a secluded town in Oregon, their car suddenly malfunctions, leaving them stranded. As they have no other choice but to spend the night, they seek refuge in a cabin deep within the woods. However, their peaceful stay is soon disrupted as they become victims of unwelcome intrusions by three unfamiliar individuals.
The Blu-ray edition comes packed with additional content: behind-the-scenes footage, an audio commentary by Petsch and producer Solomon, and both a DVD and digital copy. Petsch played a key role in the trilogy’s production as an executive producer. Two out of the three films have already been shot and are now being edited; the second installment is predicted to hit theaters later in this year.
While listening to the audio commentary, Petsch and Solomon shared intriguing behind-the-scenes information about the film and gave hints of what fans can anticipate in the upcoming sequels. (Spoiler alert: Continue reading at your own risk.)
15. Jeff Morrell is an important character
In the beginning, a man named Jeff Morrell, portrayed by Ryan Bown, is pursued relentlessly by three enigmatic figures – Scarecrow, Pin-Up Girl, and Dollface. The scene ends tragically as Scarecrow allegedly takes Jeff’s life with an ax. Though Jeff’s character seems to vanish from the narrative afterward, save for a glimpse of his missing poster, directors Petsch and Solomon hint that his role is crucial to the plot’s development.
14. The Strangers is really one big movie broken up into three chapters
As a film enthusiast who has followed the production of some complex movie projects, I can attest that what I’m about to share is quite extraordinary. It’s no secret that in my experience with trilogies, each installment is usually produced and released separately, often with long breaks between films. However, the case of this particular trilogy is far from ordinary.
In simpler terms, the first film sets the stage for the following two, and together they span approximately four days. Individually, the first film covers just one night. Therefore, you could consider Chapter 1 as the initial 90-minute act of a longer 4.5-hour movie.
It’s not three separate films but “one giant movie, broken up into three chapters.”
13. One of the Carol’s diner waitresses co-produced the film
In the opening moments of the film, Ryan and Maya visit Carol’s diner, where they encounter Eden, who is portrayed by the film’s co-producer Rafaella Biscayn. Eden is depicted as a waitress in the story.
12. Part of why Madelaine Petsch signed onto this movie is because of her love for the original
Petsch admitted to being truly frightened by the 2008 horror film. This movie is among a select few that left an indelible mark on her, instilling long-lasting fear that continues to resonate within her even today.
I couldn’t contain my excitement and determination when I went for the audition for the role of Maya in that movie. So, I prepared thoroughly by bringing along around twenty pages of the script and comprehensive notes about the character to the initial meeting with the producers.
11. Froy Gutierrez sometimes had to be told to play ‘grumpier’
As a gamer, I’ve had the pleasure of observing Froy Gutierrez, our co-lead who brings Ryan to life on screen. In real life, he’s an incredibly cheerful and radiant person, which is truly impressive given the demanding aspects of this film project that he manages to tackle with ease. Petsch and Solomon spoke highly of him, acknowledging his exceptional acting skills.
Instead, Solomon mentions that on occasion, Gutierrez was requested to appear more grouchy. For instance, when Maya and Ryan discovered their vehicle required additional repairs and were forced to spend the night in a stranger’s cabin.
10. Many elements from the first film will show up in the next two
Petsch and Solomon remained tight-lipped about what fans should look forward to, but Petsch pointed out an intriguing detail: Since they simultaneously wrote and shot all three films, they managed to maintain consistency and inserted subtle references in the later installments for observant viewers to notice.
9. Maya’s gold nail polish
If I were you, the captivating golden hue of Maya’s nail polish in the film might have frequently drawn your attention and made you appreciate its beauty. Petsch points out an interesting observation – in several horror films, women’s nails are rarely shown with polish.
I was determined to bring some life and individuality to Maya on screen, as she spent most of her screentime in sweatpants. I decided to experiment with nail polish and opted for a radiant golden hue. It’s amazing how the gel polish held up throughout filming, not a single chip! We considered silver as an alternative but ultimately fell in love with the richness of gold. (By the way, could we please name this shade “Mads’ Magic Gold”?)
8. We will meet Debbie in one of the next films
In a single short appearance on-screen, Maya’s sibling Debbie (performed by Rachel Shenton) interacts with Maya through a video call. The narrative hints that Debbie will be introduced more fully in the future. This is suggested towards the end when we observe a “get well” present from Debbie being delivered to Maya at the hospital.
7. That was really Madelaine Petsch playing the piano
During the filming of the scene where Maya plays Beethoven’s “Moonlight Sonata” at the cabin, Petsch personally performed on the piano. This piece was among several options mentioned in the script. Fortunately, she had prior knowledge of it due to her mother’s influence. While shooting in Slovakia, Petsch received piano lessons anew to enhance her recollection and improve her execution.
6. Madelaine Petsch helped come up with the shower scene
Petsch initially proposed introducing an additional frightening scene in the film when her character is taking a shower. In reality, the actress has admitted that she frequently harbors apprehensions about a potential intruder surprising her while she’s shampooing her hair, causing soap to get into her eyes – a fear many women share after watching “Psycho.” Given her personal experience, she believed it was authentic to include this element in the movie, which is why Scarecrow menacingly gazes at Maya during those moments.
5. No tear sticks necessary
Maya invests a considerable portion of her time weeping or in deep distress. It was actually Petsch who shed those tears. In the past, she had an adverse reaction to a tear stick – a wax impregnated with menthol that some actors use to trigger genuine tears – and doesn’t require them as she can cry convincingly on command.
An intriguing aspect is that the script didn’t include those emotional lows with tears. Petsch spontaneously brought those authentic reactions to life during filming the difficult scenes.
4. No real chickens, but cute rat co-stars
Maya and Ryan become alarmed when they discover a dead chicken hanging on their kitchen table. Rest assured, no real chickens were harmed during filming. Petsch, who is an ardent animal lover and follows a vegan diet, expressed her disapproval of using a live chicken for the scene.
As a veterinarian who has spent years working with various animal species, I can confidently say that the rats portrayed in the scene where Maya and Ryan are exploring under the house were absolutely real. And let me tell you, they were quite endearing in their own furry little way. Working with these creatures brought back fond memories of my time spent handling rodents during my studies and research projects. It was a delight to see Petsch’s enthusiasm for working alongside them too.
3. Extra filming details
The majority of filming for The Strangers trilogy took place in Bratislava, Slovakia. However, the set for the cabin’s interior was constructed in a studio, whereas the exterior scenes were filmed at a different location.
I helped construct a separate, though modest, setup to film the scene in which the camera smoothly transitions from the crawl space to the cabin’s living room, revealing Pin-Up Girl standing above where Maya and Ryan hide.
An intriguing detail is that Petsch obtains a prosthetic hand when Maya inadvertently presses her hand onto a nail. The skilled special effects team managed to add the prosthetic in a short amount of time between takes, enabling them to continue filming without disrupting the production by having Petsch leave the set.
2. The window grab was a surprise
As I stepped out of Maya’s cabin for a moment, little did I know that my peaceful gaming session was about to be disrupted. The shed outside, my usual hideout, became the stage for an unexpected and violent encounter. Suddenly, the window shattered, and in bursted the Scarecrow actor, catching me off guard. His actions took me by surprise, leaving me with a genuine reaction.
1. Scarecrow was going to have a disturbing moment in the end
When I watched the thrilling finale unfold on screen, my heart raced as Maya sat helplessly tied to a chair, witnessing Ryan’s tragic demise and bracing herself for her own impending fate. In that tense moment, Scarecrow unexpectedly reached out and gently cradled my face with his hands. With tender concern, he wiped away the tears streaming down my cheeks.
Read More
- TOMI PREDICTION. TOMI cryptocurrency
- BLD PREDICTION. BLD cryptocurrency
- CANTO PREDICTION. CANTO cryptocurrency
- OPUL PREDICTION. OPUL cryptocurrency
- SHI PREDICTION. SHI cryptocurrency
- Kit Harington admits he feels ‘lucky’ to have kicked his alcohol addiction before having children as he recalls ‘hating himself’ when he was drinking
- Colleen Hoover’s Regretting You getting movie adaptation after It Ends With Us success
- A fourth season of Ted Lasso depends on this one important thing
- POLIS PREDICTION. POLIS cryptocurrency
- Jessica Biel almost gets HIT by costar Corey Stoll’s car as she films thriller series The Better Sister in NYC
2024-07-25 04:25