Madelaine Petsch Faces Down Critics for The Strangers: Chapter 2 and Prepares for Chapter 3's Arrival

Sometimes a movie comes out and critics just don't get it. Or maybe, just maybe, they do. For The Strangers: Chapter 2, it looks like critics are pretty much in agreement. The latest installment in the horror franchise, which dropped on September 26, hasn't exactly won over reviewers. But don't tell Madelaine Petsch, the star of the film, that it's a problem. She's got a pretty clear head about the whole thing.

Petsch, known for her role in Riverdale, is no stranger to online feedback. She recently spoke out about the overwhelmingly negative reviews for The Strangers — Chapter 2. The film is part of an ongoing horror trilogy, and it's getting some truly harsh reactions from critics.

Madelaine Petsch's Approach to Handling Negative Reviews for Her Horror Films

Speaking to People, Petsch shared her thoughts on the critical reception of The Strangers — Chapter 2. She mentioned how hard it is to miss these reviews these days. "You kind of can't avoid them on social media. It’s going to show up on my 'For You' page on TikTok, or my producer's going to send it to me. It is what it is." That's a very honest take, you know? In this digital age, getting away from chatter about your work is almost impossible.

But here's the kicker: Petsch doesn't let those reviews define her work or her feelings about it. She put it simply. "At the end of the day, what's most important is that I'm proud of my performance. That's literally the only thing I can control." That's a solid mindset for anyone in the public eye. You pour your heart into something, and you have to be able to stand by it, regardless of what others say.

Petsch also pointed out a larger idea about movies and art. She feels that these types of films are often "polarizing." She says, "I think the films are polarizing. That's what makes film and art so cool." This suggests she sees value in works that spark strong, differing opinions, which is a pretty cool way to look at it. She believes the best films often stir up strong feelings on both sides.

It's not just The Strangers that have faced this. Petsch mentioned that later seasons of Riverdale also got a lot of negative reactions online. She's certainly built up some thick skin when it comes to criticism. Her attitude shows a real sense of self-worth that isn't tied to external validation.

The Strangers: Chapter 2 Gets a Rough Start with Critics

Let's talk numbers, because critics have been vocal. As of now, The Strangers — Chapter 2 holds a pretty low 17% "rotten" rating on Rotten Tomatoes. This average comes from 30 verified critical reviews. To give some context, The Strangers: Chapter 1, which came out earlier in 2024, sits at 21% "rotten" with over 100 reviews. So, Chapter 2 is doing even worse than its direct predecessor, at least from critics.

The audience perspective for Chapter 1 is a bit different, though. It has a 45% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes' "Popcornmeter," based on more than 500 user reviews. Chapter 2 doesn't have an audience score yet, so we'll have to wait and see if fans are more forgiving than critics for this installment.

Ross Bonaime, a critic for Collider, was among the many who reviewed the second film. He wasn't a fan of the first one, but Chapter 2 seemed to push him even further away. He did mention Petsch's work as a bright spot. "At the very very least, Madelaine Petsch is doing the best she can with an extremely weak script and a director who can’t handle horror. She gives an effective performance that plays into the tension of the scene and shows us the emotion that we should be feeling while watching the film," Bonaime wrote. It sounds like she's really putting in the work, even when the overall movie might not be hitting the mark.

Bonaime pulled no punches, calling the film "an exhausting bastardization of where this story began in 2008." He criticized the pacing, the attempts at villain origins, and what he saw as "extremely stupid choices made at every turn." His review didn't hold back, saying it would be hard to imagine Chapter 3 fixing things. He called Chapter 2 "a true disaster, one of the worst horror films of the year." Ouch.

Madelaine Petsch's Connection to Maya and Her Producer Role

Petsch also spoke to CBR about her character, Maya, for the Unscripted segment. She sees some definite similarities between herself and Maya. "Maya is a f— fighter and Madelaine is known as a little fighter." It's cool when an actor can connect with their character on that level.

She continued to draw parallels, mentioning Maya's qualities. "So I'd say probably her tenacity, her stubbornness, and her love. I think I'm a big lover, and Maya is a big lover as well. So I think starting at the core of this very strong, undeterrable woman is very similar to who I am. So, I was able to build her around that." This deep connection to Maya's spirit likely helps her deliver a strong performance, even in a film getting tough reviews.

Beyond acting, Petsch took on an executive producer role for the trilogy. This wasn't just a title either. She says it gave her a lot of "creative control." She found herself involved in the editing room, which she admitted brought its own challenges. Seeing her face on a big screen during editing made her reflect on her appearance. Despite that, she found the producer role to be natural and "additive."

Petsch even got involved in rewriting the scripts with producer Courtney Solomon while on set. She feels she has a knack for rewriting scripts from a character's viewpoint, which is how she approaches all her work. This behind-the-scenes involvement means she had a significant hand in shaping Maya's journey and the overall story.

The Terrifying Plot of The Strangers: Chapter 2 and Its Shocking Ending

The Strangers: Chapter 2 picks up right after the events of Chapter 1. Maya, wounded, wakes up in a hospital, mourning her fiancé's death. But she can't catch a break. The three masked killers—Scarecrow, Pin-Up Girl, and Dollface—are immediately after her again. Instead of running forever, Maya eventually decides to fight back. She told Variety about surviving the intense shoot and taking control as a producer.

The film sees Maya escape the hospital, only to be chased through the woods. She battles a wild boar (yes, a boar!) and tries to find refuge. After a tense series of close calls, she eventually takes on one of the Strangers. In a brutal fight, Maya stabs Pin-Up Girl with scissors and drives the car over the side of the road, seemingly killing her attacker. This is a big moment because for the first time, one of the Strangers is defeated.

The ending of Chapter 2 delivers a major reveal. As Maya watches from a hiding spot, Scarecrow and Dollface mourn Pin-Up Girl. They unmask her, and it's revealed to be Shelly (Ema Horvath), the kind waitress who helped Maya and Ryan in the first film. This twist shows the killers aren't complete strangers after all. Scarecrow and Dollface's identities, however, remain unknown as the film ends.

There's also a mid-credits teaser for Chapter 3. It shows quick flashes: Maya in a church, Maya telling a police officer she "knows where they are," and some flashbacks to Pin-Up Girl's early life. We see Scarecrow with an axe, and even Maya wearing the Pin-Up Girl mask herself. This hints at some truly wild things to come.

Director Renny Harlin Discusses Production Challenges and Changes

Director Renny Harlin had quite the undertaking. He shot all three films in the reboot trilogy back-to-back in a single 52-day stretch in 2022. This approach meant the entire story would be finished, no matter how the first film performed. The Strangers: Chapter 1, despite negative reviews, did quite well financially, grossing $47.4 million on an $8.5 million budget.

However, audiences had a big complaint about Chapter 1: it too closely mimicked Bryan Bertino’s 2008 original. Harlin and his team heard the feedback. They went back for 28 days of additional photography to fine-tune Chapter 2 and Chapter 3. Harlin told The Hollywood Reporter, "We listened to the audience. There were a lot of hardcore fans that were unhappy with the first movie." He admitted remaking a classic is tough. He also stated, "However, we had to do the first one that way in order to set up the scenario for the continuation of the story. So we knew that it was going to be tough, but we listened and read the commentary."

Harlin explained that the main changes came from audiences wanting to know more about the Strangers themselves. While the killers' random nature is part of their appeal, viewers still wanted some background. "These sociopaths have no rhyme or reason, and that’s part of the fascination of these films. But at the same time, the audience wanted to know more," Harlin shared. This desire for more background shaped much of the additional filming for Chapter 2 and Chapter 3, with flashbacks exploring the childhoods of Scarecrow and Pin-Up Girl without "making it trivial."

Interestingly, Harlin also revealed that an initial subplot involving a present-day investigation into the Strangers' identities was scrapped. He felt it didn't fit the franchise's style. "In retrospect, I think we mistakenly took a path of emphasizing the investigation into these killers. We realized that’s not at all what this series of movies should be about," Harlin said. He quickly understood that "investigating clues and figuring it out like a kind of whodunnit was completely the wrong path." So, parts involving an investigator, played by Joplin Sibtain, were likely cut back.

Harlin made a conscious choice to limit dialogue in The Strangers: Chapter 2, aiming for a visual story. He wanted the second movie to be a pure survival movie, much like First Blood. "I wanted to challenge ourselves to get out of the cabin and into the world of the town and its surrounding areas. I wanted to create visual dread and terror and suspense without the typical fast-cutting and jump scares and dialogue. So it was intentional." Watching the film with an audience, Harlin noticed they seemed to appreciate the longer shots and takes, a different approach for a slasher film.

What's Next for The Strangers Trilogy? Chapter 3 Details and Release Window

Even with poor reviews for Chapter 2 and possibly modest box office returns, the trilogy is still happening. All three films were shot at once, so Chapter 3 is a certainty. Madelaine Petsch has confirmed the third film is "basically done." She told The Hollywood Reporter it's up to Lionsgate to figure out the release schedule. "If it [goes] our way, then hopefully it'll be sooner. That would be the goal."

The original plan seemed to be releasing the three films within a year, with Chapter 2 in Fall 2024 and Chapter 3 perhaps by Summer 2025. However, Lionsgate might be spreading them out to have an annual horror release. Chapter 1 came out in May 2024, and Chapter 2 in September 2024. This was a sixteen-month gap.

Harlin previously shared with CBR that Chapter 3 will give some "definitive answers" about the killers' motives. He explained his vision: "answer the question, if one of these people survived, what happens the next day? And, in this case, what happens in the next five days if a survivor is trying to get on with their life, and get away from the situation, but they can't? What do they go through physically and psychologically? And what makes the killers tick?"

Petsch also offered a hint, saying Chapter 3 "takes a turn into territory I never thought a horror movie could go." She added it "plays with a magnetism that you wouldn't expect" and makes you question "who really is the antagonist of this film?" Harlin described the conclusion as "shocking." He believes the psychological progression of both Maya and the Strangers in the third film is "rooted in reality" but "really, really unexpected." He thinks it will truly surprise the audience.

The ending of Chapter 2, with the unmasking of Pin-Up Girl as Shelly, definitely sets up a path for Chapter 3 to delve deeper into who these masked attackers are. It turns the narrative from random acts of violence into something more personal. This change might just be what the franchise needs to win over audiences who wanted more than just a rehash of the original film.

Lionsgate's schedule has a big gap from April to November 2026. This gives them space to slot in The Strangers: Chapter 3. We could see it as early as May 2026 or during a quieter August. Much will depend on how Chapter 2 performs at the box office.

A Director's Personal Thoughts on Legacy and New Challenges

Harlin, who famously directed Cliffhanger in 1993, also shared his feelings about his own film being rebooted. Jaume Collet-Serra and Lily James are taking on a new version of his Sylvester Stallone actioner. He's got mixed feelings, but he's supportive.

"In a way, I am flattered that I made a movie that was successful enough and well-liked enough that someone thinks that it’s worth spending a lot of money to do it again for a new generation," Harlin noted. But there's also a personal attachment: "But then there’s a little bit of a feeling like somebody is messing with your baby." Still, he wishes them luck. Having rebooted The Strangers himself, he knows "it’s a super big challenge."

Harlin also spoke about his renewed work ethic after meeting his wife and starting a family. "They’ve given me a whole new lease on life and a purpose in life and an inspiration in life, as well as a responsibility to build a legacy and do something good and meaningful." He shared that his family travels with him on set. He feels productive and capable of anything, even expecting four movies next year, with at least three theatrical releases. That's a lot of creative energy! It sounds like he's ready to bring some wild new stuff to the screen. And The Strangers: Chapter 3 is definitely a part of that journey.

So, while critics might not be loving The Strangers: Chapter 2, Madelaine Petsch and Renny Harlin have a clear vision for this trilogy. They've listened to feedback, made changes, and are ready to deliver a conclusion that sounds pretty wild. Whether audiences will agree is another question, but it's clear they're committed to telling Maya's story and giving us some answers about those terrifying masks.