Madelaine Petsch recollects terrifying “Strangers” scene with actual ax swung proper in opposition to her head: ‘Simply do not transfer’

Madelaine Petsch remains to be two Strangers movies shy of rounding out her trilogy with director Renny Harlin, however she almost departed – for good – attributable to one explicit Strangers: Chapter 1 stunt.

"In film 1, when the ax goes by the door, that's not results, that's sensible," Petsch tells Leisure Weekly Government Editor Samantha Highfill on the EW Studio at 2025 San Diego Comedian-Con.

Petsch visited the annual celebration of all issues fan tradition to advertise the The Strangers: Chapter 2, which picks up the place Chapter 1 left off — with Petsch's Maya seemingly saved from the titular Strangers' demented assault, however with the menacing Scarecrow nonetheless searching her down. She guarantees much more slashing, slaying, blood-splattered goodness within the sequel, however can't fairly get Chapter 1's ax swing out of her head.

"Watching them digest watching me digest, like, 'Your head's going to be right here, simply don't transfer it, and the ax goes to undergo the door," Petsch says, smiling broad with survivor's aid.

Petsch credit one crew member with the stunt being executed flawlessly. "I had a lot religion in [Vladimir Orlov], our stunt coordinator," she says. "I in all probability ought to have been like, 'No,' however I used to be like, 'Yeah, for certain! thats completely tremendous!'"

'The Strangers' director Renny Harlin recalls his own home invasion experience How to watch the EW's 2025 San Diego Comic-Con livestream

The 30-year-old Port Orchard, Wash., native is finest recognized for her time on Riverdale. Petsch performed Cheryl "Bombshell" Blossom, a spoiled, mercurial, ultra-fashionable, manipulative, but enterprising and good-hearted cheerleader for the total seven-season run. On Riverdale, Petsch endured sufficient hardship, adversity, and murder makes an attempt to final a number of lifetimes. Her character survived a bunch seizure, being despatched to a homosexual conversion camp, blackmail from one in all her finest associates (Lili Reinhart's Betty Cooper), and a full season during which she was trapped in a cult.

Nonetheless, she counts the Strangers: Chapter 1 ax swing amongst her scariest on-set experiences. "I in all probability ought to have thought more durable to save lots of my very own life," she jokes. "That truly tells you what my survival abilities can be like as a human being, like, 'Hit me within the head with an ax, no matter!'"

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Petsch additionally teases what followers can count on from the brand new Strangers trilogy's bloody second chapter.

"I believe it's thrilling for followers that cherished the unique 2008 Bryan Bertino model," she says. "We needed to make the primary film much like that movie simply to create a launchpad into the craziness that may ensue for motion pictures 2 and three."

Watch Petsch's full interview within the livestream above.

Try extra of EW's protection from San Diego Comedian-Con 2025 right here

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