'The Strangers: Chapter 1' Ending Explained: Maya and Ryan face-off with killers in a thrilling chase
Contains spoilers for 'The Strangers: Chapter 1'
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA: Bryan Bertino's 2008 film 'The Strangers' is revived with a trilogy of prequel films. The long-awaited moment for horror genre aficionados came to fruition with the theatrical release of 'The Strangers: Chapter 1' on Friday, May 17, 2024.
The film revolves around Maya (Madelaine Petsch) and Ryan (Froy Gutierrez), who embark on a road trip to celebrate their fifth anniversary.
Along their journey, when their car breaks down in a small town called Venus, they are compelled to rent an isolated Airbnb for the night.
However, their romantic getaway takes a horrifying turn when they are attacked by three masked strangers.
Maya and Ryan are finally captured in 'The Strangers: Chapter 1'
After a seemingly endless game of cat and mouse, Ryan and Maya are ultimately captured by the assailants. Upon regaining consciousness, Ryan finds himself and Maya bound to separate chairs, placed next to each other.
Amid the life-threatening situation, Ryan and Maya share a heartfelt moment. Ryan reassures Maya that everything will be alright, and then he surprises her with a marriage proposal, which she emotionally accepts.
Maya and Ryan's romantic moment abruptly ends when Ryan starts bleeding from the knife wound inflicted by Scarecrow's stabbing. Shortly after, Ryan is kicked onto the floor.
Aghast at the cruelty, Maya asks why they are being attacked. The Dollface comes closer and whispers, "Because you're here."
From Maya's reaction, it seems apparent that the attackers have no specific motive for targeting the couple. Their attack appears to be driven by a sense of sadistic pleasure or a feeling of intrusion rather than any particular reason.
'The Strangers: Chapter 1's mid-credit scene explains Maya's fate
In the final moments of the film, Maya is attacked in the abdomen by the Scarecrow before being forcefully pushed onto the floor.
Earlier, Maya successfully manages to call the police, but the call abruptly ends. Despite the authorities arriving to rescue her, their efforts come too late—the attackers have already fled the scene.
The mid-credit scene reveals Maya's fate as she wakes up in a hospital. However, the final scene chillingly reveals that the Masked Man is also present in the hospital room, stalking her.
This suggests that the danger is far from over, hinting at the continuation of Maya's story in 'The Strangers: Chapter 2.'
Is Ryan dead in 'The Strangers: Chapter 1'?
While the mid-credit scene suggests that Maya survived the attack, Ryan’s fate remains uncertain. He was last seen lying unconscious on the floor of the Airbnb.
He suffered a deadly wound and was unresponsive to the events that followed after he was kicked onto the floor. Did he survive the attack? The chances appear bleak.
Ryan's eventual fate and Maya's upcoming ordeals will be explored in the second installment of the film.
'The Strangers: Chapter 1' trailer