I’m excited for this week's #BTLRadioShow thanks to director RENNY HARLIN and THE STRANGERS: CHAPTER 2, and writer/director MATTHEW BISSONNETTE, who brings us DEATH OF A LADIES' MAN.

THE STRANGERS began back in 2008 with the tale of a couple who visit an isolated vacation home to enjoy some time together. However, three masked assailants make their stay a nightmare. In 2018, director Johannes Roberts rebooted the franchise with THE STRANGERS PREY AT NIGHT. Then director Renny Harlin stepped into the franchise in 2024 with what has become a three-chapter series. All three films were shot at the same time over 53 days of principal photography, with a cast led by Madelaine Petsch.

In THE STRANGERS: CHAPTER 1 - we met Maya and Rory, whose car breaks down in a creepy and eerie small town, forcing them to spend the night in a remote cabin where they are terrorized by three masked strangers. Now we have THE STRANGERS: CHAPTER 2, again directed by Renny Harlin and written by Alan R. Cohen & Alan Freedland.

We now find Maya in a hospital as the sole survivor of The Strangers’ murderous spree of the previous night. But the night’s events aren’t over as she must now do everything in her power to survive the continued, relentless attacks from the masked killers while reckoning with the ways that these events are transforming her into someone else.

With CHAPTER 2, we go from one home to an entire town, expanding the terror and violence AND letting Renny embrace the environment of the town and fuel the character development of Maya as she fights to survive. An insightful and enlightening conversation, we dive headfirst into not only the evolution of the franchise but the challenges, along with Renny’s creative freedom in the second chapter as he develops and broadens not only the characters of Maya and The Strangers themselves, but the visual tonal bandwidth and visual grammar; emphasizing the importance of real environs, adding a tonally different - and beautiful - backstory, developing cinematographer Jose David Montero’s more challenging gorgeous and textured lighting and lensing, carreful planning to maintain tension without dialogue, the complexity of the editing with Michelle Harrison’s rapier edge-of-your-seat seamless integration of new and original material, and Justin Caine Burnett’s impeccable score that adds tonal elements that connect it to Chapter 1, but are enhanced and expanded to musically embrace the wider scope of the story.

THE STRANGERS: CHAPTER 2 is currently in theatres.

Then we turn to DEATH OF A LADIES' MAN with writer/director MATTHEW BISSONNETTE. Described as a “lyrical dramedy”, DEATH OF A LADIES' MAN is poetic and emotionally charged, infused with the music and spirit of Leonard Cohen, tackling multiple themes that evoke heartbreak, absurdity, and hope.

Gabriel Byrne stars as the hard-drinking, twice-divorced professor Samuel O’Shea whose life seems to be going into the toilet. First, he starts seeing things - Frankenstein at the bar, strangers breaking into Leonard Cohen songs, and conversations with his long-dead father, Ben O'Shea. He chalks it up to stress. But a terminal brain tumor diagnosis sends him reeling into a surreal, darkly funny odyssey through memory, regret, and an unexpected romance in Ireland. Retreating to his family’s remote Irish cottage, Samuel tries to write the novel he’s always avoided—and instead begins rewriting his own story.

In terms of thematic elements, we see father-son, father-daughter, husband and ex-wife, husband and ex-wife number two relationships, punctuated by self-doubt, the refusal to grow up or age. And part of that refusing to grow up or grow old often involves drinking copious amounts of alcohol daily, making Samuel a functioning alcoholic, destroying all of the relationships in his life. But as he navigates all of that, it brings forth such light and realization so that by the time we get to the third act, the film takes on a lightness of self that is beautiful and welcoming. Peppered throughout this tale is a brilliant performance by Gabriel Byrne, Leonard Cohen's music, and spectacular, surreal musical numbers. And yes, you will really see an ice hockey team skate ballet on ice.

In this exclusive conversation, Matt highlights themes of father-son and father-daughter relationships, self-doubt, and addiction. Surreal musical numbers depict internal struggles. Leonard Cohen songs, including "Bird on the Wire" and "Hallelujah," were carefully selected to enhance the narrative. The film's visual grammar, particularly the use of close-ups and wide shots, captures the emotional depth of the characters. And we talk casting, especially Gabriel Byrne and Brian Gleeson, which adds authenticity to the portrayal of complex family dynamics. A bonus in this conversation is the depth Matt goes into on developing the character of Samuel through costume and Gabriel Byrne’s work with costume designer Odette Gadoury.

DEATH OF A LADIES' MAN is currently available on VOD and digital platforms including Amazon, Apple TV, and more.

Enjoy!