Netflix added a fan-favorite horror movie to their roster that fans can now stream. The film has become quite well-known over the years, especially given that it is actually inspired by true events – making it all the more chilling.
Fans first experienced this entry to the horror genre in 2008. It was an immediate success, having sparked a newfound appreciation for the home invasion subgenre, and grossed as much as $82.4 million worldwide on a $9 million budget.
In more recent years, it has even spawned its own franchise: a stand-alone sequel in 2018 and an upcoming film this year that will actually be the first part of a new trilogy. This is a movie that’s had one successful shelf life, with audiences still afraid even years after its initial debut and several follow-ups to show for it.
The movie is none other than Bryan Bertino’s The Strangers. Bertino also wrote the film and, yes, it was inspired by true events. One such event happened to Bertino himself.
Here’s what Bertino shared in a featurette titled Defining Moments: Writing and Directing The Strangers featured on the Blu-ray from Scream Factory:
“As a kid, I lived in a house on a street in the middle of nowhere. One night, while our parents were out, somebody knocked on the front door and my little sister answered it. At the door were some people asking for somebody who didn’t live there. We later found out that these people were knocking on doors in the area and, if no one was home, breaking into the houses.”
It might not be as violent a scenario as the feature film depicted. But there are still other real-life crimes that fans have theorized inspired the film. Many fans have pointed out similarities with the Keddie cabin murders from 1981, which occurred in Keddie, California.
It’s worth noting that Bertino himself hasn’t cited those particular murders as an inspiration on the film. But it’s clear that these types of real-world crimes have still found their way into the film’s DNA. And it’s that very reason the film has become so popular with viewers. It really does feel as though anyone can experience such a random crime as this home invasion.
As such, and with new follow-ups on the way, now seems like a perfect time to view the horror movie The Strangers on Netflix.