Madelaine Petsch on being a movie adrenaline junkie and the hack of filming horror

If you’re planning a road trip anytime soon, treat The Strangers: Chapter 1 as a primer of everything you shouldn’t do. A reboot of the iconic 2008 film of the same name, this iteration stars everyone’s fave red-head Madelaine Petsch and Froy Gutierrez as a couple who become the target of three mysterious, masked killers. As the first instalment of an upcoming trilogy, the movie masterfully sets the scene of a horror-thriller that stays with you long after you leave the cinema.

And that’s exactly what Petsch intended. “I want them to go and be like, ‘I can’t sleep, I’m so terrified. Oh I can’t take a shower, what if he comes out?!’ That’s what I want,” the actor jokes with woo. She also shares that the cast and crew danced to Mamma Mia on set everyday to keep the mood calm and fun — imagine an Abba-coded horror movie?!

Whether that’s your dream or nightmare, Petsch seems to have had a great time filming. We found out all about it – and the actor’s weird phobias, her emergency call list, the axe that flew very close to her head – and more in a super fun conversation below. Grab that popcorn and hit play!