Q: Jeff welcome to OLC! It’s a pleasure to have you here. So tell us what inspired you to adapt Adele Parks’ bestselling novel into a film, and what drew you to this particular story?
A: Thank you for having me! I was actually lucky enough to adapt another of Adele’s novels, “The Image of You,” last year, so I had some practice working with her material. When I read “The Stranger in My Home,” I saw an incredible opportunity to create a thriller that could pay homage to – or maybe I should say rip off! – masters like Hitchcock and Pedro Almodóvar. Hitchcock’s films are often about classy people in challenging situations, and that’s exactly where Ali, Jeff, and Katie find themselves. Meanwhile, Almodóvar brings such intimacy to his characters, even when they’re facing completely crazy circumstances. I knew Chris Sivertson’s adaptation of Adele’s story would give me the perfect chance to blend those influences.
Q: How did you approach balancing the suspenseful elements with emotional depth in the film?
A: I was lucky enough to work with actors who could make these characters feel so dimensional and authentic that audiences would think, “That’s exactly how I’d react in this situation.” Sophia Bush, Amiah Miller, Chris Carmack, Chris Johnson and our entire cast brought such depth to their roles that viewers can genuinely see themselves in these characters’ shoes. When you have that level of relatability and emotional connection, it actually makes the thriller elements even more harrowing. The suspense becomes personal because you’re not just watching characters go through something – you’re imagining yourself in that same terrifying position.
Q: Can you discuss any challenges you faced in translating the novel’s complex secrets and twists to the screen?
A: Chris Sivertson and I really wanted to lean into the thriller aspects of Adele’s novel. The challenge was finding ways to shine a light on different characters while keeping the audience guessing about who the real villain is right up until the end. In a book, you can live inside a character’s head and slowly reveal information, but in film, you have to be more strategic about what you show and when. We had to rethink how to deliver those same emotional punches in a more visual way, making sure each twist landed with maximum impact on screen.
Q: What themes or messages did you aim to highlight through the story of Ali, Katie, and “the stranger”?
A: Honestly, our primary goal was simple: make this movie a fun ride! While there are certainly deeper themes about trust, safety, and how well we really know the people in our lives, we didn’t want to get bogged down in heavy messaging. This story has so many twists and turns that we focused on creating an entertaining experience that keeps people on the edge of their seats. Sometimes the best way to explore serious themes is through pure, engaging storytelling.
Q: How did you work with the cast, especially Sophia Bush and Amiah Miller, to bring authenticity to their characters’ emotional journeys?
A: Sophia and Amiah were a freakin’ dream to work with – honestly, the whole cast was terrific. What impressed me most was how they brought such natural depth and authenticity to their roles. I think Sophia, the two Chrises, Amiah, and the rest of the cast made these characters feel so real and dimensional that audiences will immediately connect with them. They understood that the more genuine and relatable these people feel, the more impactful every twist becomes.
Q: Given the thriller genre and the intense subject matter, what strategies did you employ to keep audiences engaged and on edge?
A: We aimed to constantly keep shifting the audience’s suspicions. By highlighting different characters throughout the film and what information we reveal when, we hope to keep people guessing about the true villain’s identity.
Q: Were there any particular scenes or moments during filming that stood out to you as especially impactful or memorable?
A: Chris Carmack really surprised me with his approach to Tom. Chris is such a naturally likable guy – both on screen and in real life – so we had fun playing around with how to give Tom more colors and complexity. He came with some great ideas about making the character more interesting, and those collaborative moments where an actor brings something unexpected to the table are pure gold.
But honestly, the last 20 minutes of filming were absolutely wild. That’s when the movie gets pretty crazy, and I think we all just looked at each other and said, “Let’s strap in and take this thing a bit off the rails.” There’s something liberating about those moments when you’re deep into a thriller and you just commit to going full throttle. Everyone – cast and crew was game for pushing it. I’m really happy with how it turned out. Sometimes you just have to trust the material and go for it.
Q: In what ways did adapting a novel allow you to explore visual storytelling differently than original screenplays?
A: Having Adele’s source material as a foundation allowed us to focus more on the cinematic language – how to tell this story through images, pacing, and visual cues rather than exposition. We could take the emotional core that Adele had already crafted and then ask ourselves, “How do we show this rather than tell it?” It’s like having a master class in character development handed to you, which then frees you up to experiment with the visual and structural elements that make cinema unique.
Q: How did you collaborate with the screenplay writer, Chris Sivertson, to stay true to the source material while also making necessary cinematic adjustments?
A: Chris and I were aligned on amplifying the thriller aspects of Adele’s novel. Our collaboration was really about finding ways to honor the emotional truth of her characters while restructuring the reveals and twists for maximum cinematic impact. We’d constantly ask ourselves, “How do we keep audiences guessing about the villain’s identity?” and “What’s the most visually compelling way to deliver this information?” Chris understood both the source material and the demands of film storytelling, which made our partnership seamless.
Q: With the film dealing with sensitive themes like obsession and fear, how did you ensure that these elements were handled responsibly and effectively on screen?
A: By keeping the focus on authentic human reactions and relatable characters. When you ground even the most intense situations in genuine human behavior, it prevents the material from feeling exploitative or gratuitous. Our cast’s commitment to bringing real depth to these roles meant that even in the most suspenseful moments, we never lost sight of the emotional truth. The thriller elements serve the characters, not the other way around.
Q: What do you hope viewers will take away from the film after experiencing its twists and turns?
A: I hope they leave the theater feeling like they just had a fantastic time – that they got their money’s worth for those 90 minutes. We wanted to create something that’s pure entertainment, full of surprises that keep you guessing. If people walk out talking about the twists, debating who they suspected when, and feeling genuinely satisfied with the ride they just took, then we’ve succeeded. Sometimes the best takeaway from a movie is simply that it was a really fun experience.
Q: Are there any insights or behind-the-scenes stories you’d like to share about the making of “The Stranger in My Home”?
A: What I’ll remember most is how collaborative the entire process was. From Chris Sivertson’s screenplay adaptation to working with our incredible cast, everyone shared the same vision: let’s make this a thrilling, entertaining ride that audiences will love. There’s something special about having a whole team united around that simple but ambitious goal. We all knew we were working with great source material, and everyone brought their A-game to make sure we honored that while creating something uniquely cinematic.
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Robert Wentworth
June 23, 2025 at 3:27 pm
Really good movie!