We’re painfully aware that The Strangers – the Liv Tyler horror film which was a sleeper hit in the States this summer – opens in the UK this weekend. So please, if you don’t want to know any spoilers, DO NOT READ PAST THIS POINT.
Have you stopped reading? Are you sure you haven’t snuck a crafty peek past the point above? No? So the people who are still reading this have either seen The Strangers or don’t give a crap (which begs the question, why are you reading this at all?)? Good. Then we’ll begin.
Rogue Pictures have responded to the surprise success of The Strangers – in which Tyler and her boyfriend are tormented by a group of psychotic masked teenagers – by greenlighting a sequel.
The Strangers 2 (we’re guessing) will see writer-director Bryan Bertino return, although he might not direct. There’s also a strong possibility that he may be joined by Tyler (told you there were spoilers; Scott Speedman will not be back) and some of the original villains.
It’ll be interesting to see where Bertino takes the material this time around, as The Strangers is a dark and gruelling little piece that has more in common with the likes of Funny Games and the French horror, Them, than it does your typical stalk’n’slash flick. Will he maintain the dark tone, or will Tyler become an ass-kicking heroine?
Rogue is hoping that the picture might see The Strangers develop into a Saw-like franchise. With the best will in the world, we hope not, for very few horror franchises have suffered from the law of diminishing returns like the Saw series. Isn’t it best to burn out with a couple of really good, strong efforts, than to fade away with increasingly awful sequels?
Production is scheduled for early 2009.