{"id":98392,"date":"2024-05-18T14:00:18","date_gmt":"2024-05-18T14:00:18","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/entertainment.runfyers.com\/index.php\/2024\/05\/18\/how-the-strangers-compares-to-og-horror-film-similarities-differences\/"},"modified":"2024-05-18T14:00:18","modified_gmt":"2024-05-18T14:00:18","slug":"how-the-strangers-compares-to-og-horror-film-similarities-differences","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/entertainment.runfyers.com\/index.php\/2024\/05\/18\/how-the-strangers-compares-to-og-horror-film-similarities-differences\/","title":{"rendered":"How The Strangers Compares to OG Horror Film: Similarities, Differences"},"content":{"rendered":"


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\n Froy Gutierrez as \u201cRyan\u201d and Madelaine Petsch as \u201cMaya\u201d in THE STRANGERS.<\/span> John Armour for Lionsgate<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Fans of The Strangers<\/em> will experience some deja vu while watching the new trilogy \u2014 but that doesn\u2019t mean the upcoming movie directly mirrors the original.<\/p>\n

The 2008 home invasion horror film starred Liv Tyler<\/strong> and Scott Speedman<\/strong> as a couple staying in an isolated home that get attacked<\/a> by three masked criminals. The screenplay was inspired by the infamous Manson family Tate murders from 1969 and a series of break-ins that occurred<\/a> at director and writer Bryan Bertino<\/strong>\u2018s home when he was a child.<\/p>\n

A sequel was released in 2018 starring Bailee Madison, Lewis Pullman, Christina Hendricks, Martin Henderson <\/strong>and Damian Maffei.<\/strong> The new trilogy is a series of standalone films, with The Strangers: Chapter 1<\/em> following a similar premise to the OG film before expanding in the next two installments.<\/p>\n

Director Renny Harlin<\/strong>\u2018s take on the franchise is also expected to be in the same continuity<\/a> as the 2008\u2019s The Strangers<\/em> and 2018\u2019s The Strangers: Prey at Night<\/em>, while acting as a prequel to the original film.<\/p>\n

Harlin previously said he prioritized not leaving \u201cunanswered questions\u201d with his version of the trilogy.<\/p>\n

\u201cIn the beginning of the [original] movie, you find that Liv Tyler and Scott Speedman are fighting, you never find out what they\u2019re fighting about,\u201d he told Entertainment Weekly<\/em> in October 2023. \u201cWe can answer questions here. We spent a lot of our time fine tuning how to answer those questions for original fans, how to make sure that there are a lot of pieces of homage to the original fans and that they are excited and feel like they\u2019re along for the same ride that they\u2019ve loved forever while making it more modern, making it longer, and answering questions.\u201d<\/p>\n

Keep scrolling for a full breakdown of the similarities \u2014 and differences \u2014 in The Strangers: Chapter 1<\/em> compared to The Strangers<\/em>:<\/p>\n

Similarity: Boys With Pamphlets<\/h3>\n

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Cover Images<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/p>\n

In the original movie, two young boys distributing Mormon religious pamphlets found Kristen (Tyler) and James (Speedman) the morning after their attack. The boys actually interacted with Dollface, Man in the Mask<\/a> and Pin-Up Girl as they drove away from the home. Once they stumbled upon Kristen \u2014 who presumably survived \u2014 and James, one of the kids called the police.<\/p>\n

The 2024 version centered around Maya (Madelaine Petsch<\/strong>) and Ryan (Froy Gutierrez<\/strong>) also featured the boys but in a smaller role. After the couple\u2019s car broke down in the middle of a small town, they had to leave the vehicle at a repair shop, which is where they got offered pamphlets. Ryan later returned to town to grab dinner \u2014 and was once again given the religious paper by a person running the food truck.<\/p>\n

Difference: The Dynamic Between the Leading Couple<\/h3>\n
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\"Why<\/div>
Lionsgate<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The Strangers: Chapter 1<\/em> picked up with Maya and Ryan traveling cross country while planning their future together. The pair later discussed the idea of marriage when Maya mentioned she was ready to take the next step with Ryan<\/a>. Throughout the movie, Maya and Ryan\u2019s bond only grew stronger as they fought to stay alive and together.<\/p>\n

Meanwhile, the 2008 version introduced viewers to Kristen and James as they were driving home from a wedding. Context clues confirmed that James was planning to propose until Kristen turned him down. Their relationship was at a crossroads<\/a> when they returned to the house where the masked strangers would subsequently attack them.<\/p>\n

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\n\t\t\tRelated: <\/span>Complete Guide to Every Horror Franchise Coming Back in 2024<\/span><\/a>
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\n\t\t\tThe only thing better than a good scary movie is a new installment to a beloved franchise. Fans of the original hostage film The Strangers are in for a fun surprise with a new iteration starring Madelaine Petsch and Froy Gutierrez. The 2024 slasher follows a couple on the road who are forced to face [\u2026]\t\t<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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Similarity: Is Tamara Home?<\/strong><\/h3>\n

There is something so chilling about the iconic line from The Strangers<\/em>, \u2018Is Tamara home?\u2019 That question allowed the assailants to figure out whether anyone was home before they commenced their attacks. That setup remained the same in both versions.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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Difference: The Home Where It All Happens <\/strong><\/h3>\n
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\n Madelaine Petsch as Maya in The Strangers.<\/span> John Armour<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

James and Kristen were at his isolated childhood summer home while Maya and Ryan were more detached from their location. After their car was taken in for repairs, the suspicious locals took Maya and Ryan to a cabin in the woods that served as an AirBnB for a resident who wasn\u2019t around.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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Similarity: The Sequence of Events That Isolated the Woman\u00a0<\/strong><\/h3>\n

In the 2008 version, James left to go buy cigarettes for Kristen, which is when the spooky girl came back<\/a> to ask about Tamara again. Kristen started to realize there was someone else in the home with her right before James returned \u2014 and all hell broke loose.<\/p>\n

The same setup was introduced in The Strangers: Chapter 1<\/em> when Ryan left to get his inhaler and some food. Maya started to grow uneasy but by the time Ryan got back he reassured her it was all fine \u2014 until it wasn\u2019t.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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Difference: Enhancing the Story<\/strong><\/h3>\n

The Strangers: Chapter 1<\/em> appeared to do a lot more world building as viewers learned about Ryan and Maya before their attacks started. Their relationship drove the story more while The Strangers<\/em> relied on less backstory for Kristen and James.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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Similarity: Accidentally Killing the Wrong Person<\/strong><\/h3>\n
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\n Froy Gutierrez as Ryan in The Strangers \u2013 Chapter 1.<\/span> John Armour<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

It wouldn\u2019t be a horror movie if the main characters didn\u2019t ruin their chance at survival. In The Strangers<\/em>, James asked a friend to pick him up in the morning after his proposal didn\u2019t work out. James expected the friend to come the following day, which is why he didn\u2019t realize when he was shooting at the masked villains that he could actually murder someone he knew<\/a>.<\/p>\n

In The Strangers: Chapter 1<\/em>, Maya called a repairman who actually came in the knick of time as they were being terrorized. Ryan, however, didn\u2019t know that help was coming when he shot and killed the repairman while thinking he was one of the masked people.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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Difference: More Communication\u00a0<\/strong><\/h3>\n
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\"Why<\/div>
Lionsgate<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The Strangers<\/em> allowed the characters \u2014 and Us<\/em> \u2014 to learn more about the murderers committing these horrific crimes<\/a>. There was more communication across the board, which still managed to leave an air of mystery. The Strangers: Chapter 1<\/em> held back a bit more when it came to the interactions once the attacks began.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

Similarity: Separating Them Before Their Reunion<\/strong><\/h3>\n<\/p>\n
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In both versions, the couples ended up separated while trying to find ways to escape. The Strangers: Chapter 1<\/em> introduced an interesting story line with Ryan \u2014 who has asthma. While being chased into the woods, Ryan made himself a makeshift inhaler from a water bottle. The scary part was him trying to use it without being overheard.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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Difference: The Morning Attack\u00a0<\/strong><\/h3>\n
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\n Liv Tyler in THE STRANGERS (2008)<\/span> Cover Images<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The Strangers largely took place at night but after Kristen and James were knocked out, they woke up in the morning. That is when their kidnappers ultimately took turns stabbing them to death. That didn\u2019t remain the same in The Strangers: Chapter 1<\/em> where Maya and Ryan were attacked at night. (Spoiler alert: Maya was seen in the hospital after the fact also at night.)<\/p>\n

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