"Knock, knock!" "Who's there?" "Abject terror." "Abject terror who?" No, not actually the start of a joke, but the basic premise for The Strangers: Chapter 1, which here launches a fresh take on the home invasion horror concept first launched by Bryan Bertino in 2008's The Strangers. With Renny Harlin in the director's chair of what is planned as the kick-off for a trilogy, the trailer has stalked online:
Written by Alan R. Cohen and Alan Freedland, The Strangers: Chapter 1 is focused on young couple Maya (Madelaine Petsch) and Ryan (Froy Gutierrez), who are taking a road trip as part of their move to the West Coast. When they break down in a small town that redefines the word "eerie" (cue townsfolk doing the stop-and-stare in the local diner and beyond), they have to make the best of it in a remote cabin.
Their night becomes increasingly scare-shaped when three masked strangers – who fans of the earlier movie and follow-up The Strangers: Prey At Night will recognise as Dollface, the Man in the Mask, and the Pin-Up Girl – start to terrorize them.
These three new Strangers outings, which Harlin has said isn't a reboot of the original but will be full of easter eggs nodding to it, have been shot back to back. The first will be in UK cinemas on 17 May.