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Nods and Callbacks in 'The Strangers: Chapter 1' Trailer

Published by: IsTamaraHome.net
Date Published: 2 March 2024

The newest trailer for ‘The Strangers: Chapter 1‘ was riddled with nods and callbacks to the original 2008 film. Let’s see what they were.

The trailer was riddled with nods and callbacks to the original 2008 film, and so it should as the film is intended to be a soft remake/reboot of the original film in order to setup the story again so it can be told whilst exploring the origins of our favourite three masked psychos. Any diehard fan can easily spot where Renny Harlin has shown his love and appreciation for Bryan Bertino’s work.

An Axe through the Door

One of the iconic moments from the first film was when The Man in the Mask comes smashing through the front door using his axe — to which Kristen and James push a piano into the way of the door and he peers in like Jack Nicholson’s “Here’s Johnny” in The Shining. Well, Renny Harlin had no issue taking that scene and making it his own as a callback to the original film. Based on the trailer, Maya and Ryan are desperately trying to lock the doors after discovering a mutilated animal carcass in the house. As Maya slams the front door shut, The Man, or Scarecrow as he is called in the trilogy, starts breaking through the door and peering inside at them.

Is Tamara Here?

To my luck that my site’s title is still on-brand, the new trilogy has also adopted the “Is Tamara Home” or “Here” phrase. In the original film, it started when a blonde girl came to the front door and asked for Tamara, before leaving after being told she wasn’t there. The woman’s face was obscured into the darkness — but still almost noticeable — due to the front porch lights being out. In the new film, the scene is a whole lot more menacing as the figure is completely covered in darkness and walks off slowly and terrifyingly. Based on the trailer and recent promotional material, it could actually be Pin-Up Girl who is doing the talking this time around.

The Mormon Boys

At the end of the first film, as The Strangers depart after killing James and Kristen, they come upon two mormon boys who are out delivering flyers about Christian Living. The Strangers stop the boys and ask them for a flyer before leaving. In the trailer for the new film, the two mormon boys catch Maya and Ryan off guard as they leave Carol’s Diner. They stare at the couple menacingly, who knows what they’ll say.

Cigarettes and Vinyl Records

In the original film, Kristen was prone to smoking cigarettes and listening to old records on the vinyl player. In this film, it looks like Maya is exactly the same as we see shots of her enjoying a cigarette and putting vinyls on the player as she settles in for the night.

Protecting Measures

As The Strangers converged on James and Kristen, the pair were able to arm themselves with a shotgun belonging to James and Kristen. In the new film, it looks like Maya and Ryan will do the exact same thing, presumably with a gun that’s hidden in their Airbnb somewhere. Will they end up shooting an innocent victim? Who knows.

Because You Were Home

Perhaps the most iconic scene in the original film is the ending where James and Kristen are tied up and when Kristen asks why The Strangers are doing what they’re doing, Dollface responds: “because you were home”. In the new film, it looks like we’ll be getting that iconic moment once more as we see Maya and Ryan tied up begging for their lives at the end of their ordeal. As Maya asks why, Pin-Up gets in real close and tells her “because you were here”. From there we can only assume Chapter 1 will end similarly to the 2008 film. Whether Maya and Ryan both live or he dies and Maya’s story continues solo is something we’ll have to wait and see.

Comparison between The Strangers: Chapter 1 and The Strangers (2008) - An axe through the front door — Scarecrow breaks through the front door using his axe

Comparison between The Strangers: Chapter 1 and The Strangers (2008) - A shadowed figure asking for Tamara — A shadowed figure asks for Tamara

Comparison between The Strangers: Chapter 1 and The Strangers (2008) - Two mormon boys — Two mormon boys circle the town

Comparison between The Strangers: Chapter 1 and The Strangers (2008) - Records and Cigarettes — Cigarettes and Vinyl Records

Comparison between The Strangers: Chapter 1 and The Strangers (2008) - Shotgun — A shotgun for protection

Comparison between The Strangers: Chapter 1 and The Strangers (2008) - The three masked Strangers stand over their restrained victims — Because you were home

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