Exclusive: Behind the Scenes of 'The Strangers' Villains with Froy Gutierrez
Get an inside look as Froy Gutierrez reveals how the actors portraying 'The Strangers' villains maintained their menacing personas throughout filming, even between takes.
Why The Strangers Villains Would Leave Their Masks On Between Takes
Lionsgate
The actors who portrayed the spooky villains in The Strangers were dedicated to their roles. Froy Gutierrez, known for his role as Ryan in the upcoming horror trilogy, shared with us how he engaged with the actors behind Dollface, Man in the Mask, and Pin-Up Girl offscreen.
"They were incredibly dedicated to their roles," Gutierrez, 26, shared about filming the upcoming movie set to hit theaters on Friday, May 17. "Even during breaks, they would stay in character by keeping their masks on and staying focused. It was a different atmosphere during lunch breaks, but when we were filming, they were fully immersed in their roles."
Gutierrez commended his fellow actors for their dedication to the film.
The characters in the movie are desperate and scared as they try to understand the motives of the people attacking them. They wonder what the attackers want - their belongings, their home, or something else. But instead of answers, they are met with violence, which makes the situation even more horrifying and terrifying.
During the filming, Gutierrez also shared how the actors' silence between takes added to the intensity of the scenes. He mentioned a particular sequence in the movie trailer where he confronts Pin-Up Girl with a shotgun, and she dances and screams in front of it. This improvised moment serves to unsettle the audience even more, adding to the overall fear and tension of the movie.
Why The Strangers Villains Would Leave Their Masks On Between Takes
Lionsgate
In The Strangers: Chapter 1, Gutierrez stars alongside Madelaine Petsch, who plays Maya. The movie is based on a 2008 home invasion horror film where a couple is attacked by masked criminals while staying at a vacation home. The trilogy was filmed in Slovakia over a 52-day shoot. Despite the intense storyline, Gutierrez shared with Us that filming out of order was not too daunting for him.
Shooting a season of a TV show on a block schedule can be a bit unconventional, with scenes filmed out of order. This was the experience of the actor, known for his roles in Teen Wolf and Cruel Summer. "We had 290 pages of a trilogy. So you just take your notes, you figure out where you are on the page and you just dive into it."
The main challenges arose from the demanding shooting schedules. Gutierrez mentioned, "It was just how long the days could be at times and how adrenaline-filled they could be as well." After a hectic day on set, there was little time to unwind before the next call time. "So you get back to the hotel room and you might have eight hours before they’re picking you up again and you can’t really sleep for four of them. You have to come down from the day a little bit."
Madelaine Petsch and Froy Gutierrez Headline The Strangers Trilogy Remake Everything to Know 282
Froy Gutierrez, Madelaine Petsch. https://thestrangers.movie/
Petsch, who is 29 years old, has shared her thoughts on taking on the challenge. In July 2023, she told Us that initially, she felt overwhelmed by the task. She thought it was too big for anyone to handle and felt like she was in over her head. However, once she started working on all three films in a short amount of time, she realized that approaching it as one long movie made everything click for her.
She went on to explain that fitting the pieces of the puzzle together became easier when she viewed it as creating one cohesive story, whether it be a movie, television show, or anything else. Understanding the timeframe in which the story unfolds helped her wrap her head around the project effortlessly.
The Strangers: Chapter 1 is out in theaters nationwide Friday, May 17.
Editor's P/S:
The upcoming horror trilogy, The Strangers, promises to be a chilling and suspenseful experience. The actors portraying the masked villains have dedicated themselves to their roles, maintaining their personas even during breaks, creating an eerie and unsettling atmosphere on set. The actors' silence between takes adds to the intensity, as exemplified by a scene in the trailer where the protagonist confronts Pin-Up Girl with a shotgun, only to be met with a disturbing dance and screams.
Despite the demanding shooting schedule, the cast has embraced the challenge. Froy Gutierrez highlights the unconventional filming process, where scenes were shot out of order, requiring the actors to meticulously prepare and adjust their performances. Madelaine Petsch initially felt overwhelmed by the task but found her footing by viewing the trilogy as one cohesive story, allowing her to connect the pieces and deliver a nuanced performance. The dedication and passion of the cast are evident in their performances, promising to deliver a thrilling and unforgettable cinematic experience.
