Exclusive Interview: Director Jeff Fisher on Balancing Drama, Thriller, and Horror in ‘The Stranger in My Home’

There’s something undeniably thrilling about a story that keeps you guessing—and The Stranger in My Home does just that. Seamlessly weaving together elements of family drama, psychological thriller, and horror, the film invites viewers into a world where nothing is quite as it seems. Under the direction of Jeff Fisher, the story unfolds with mounting unease, each scene carefully calibrated with emotional stakes and subtle clues that lead to a chilling payoff.

Based on the bestselling novel by Adele Parks, The Stranger in My Home follows Ali and her daughter Katie, who appear to have a perfect life—until a stranger shows up, claiming to be Katie’s father. As long-buried secrets begin to unravel, his presence turns obsessive and dangerous, pulling them into a web of lies and fear. This marks Jeff’s second adaptation of Adele’s work, following The Image of You, and once again, he teams up with screenwriter Chris Sivertson to bring her gripping story to life—elevating the suspense while keeping the emotional core intact.

Pop Culturalist caught up with Jeff Fisher to talk about navigating tonal shifts, the art of casting, and the collaboration that helped shape The Stranger in My Home. He spoke candidly about building trust on set, the thrill of planting narrative breadcrumbs, and what makes Adele Parks’ stories such a natural fit for the screen.

PC: I love how this film effortlessly moves through genres. It starts as a family drama, then transitions into a thriller, and eventually leans into horror. How did you find the right balance? It feels like if you lean too far in any one direction, it could pull you out of the escapism—but this always feels so grounded.
Jeff: First of all, thank you for that. Chris Sivertson wrote the script and adapted it from Adele Parks’ book. In our early conversations, we talked about how the story naturally shifts—our goal was to bring to life a thriller that subtly builds into horror by the final act. The actors gave such grounded performances that we were able to move between genres seamlessly. Sophia [Bush], Chris Johnson, and Amiah Miller approached the aftermath of the inciting incident with such honesty that you really feel for them. And when you’re emotionally connected to the characters, you’re more invested in the obstacles they’re up against. That made all the difference.

PC: This isn’t the first time you’ve brought one of Adele’s beloved books to the screen. What is it about her stories that make them such a natural fit for film? And how has that collaboration evolved from The Image of You to The Stranger in My Home?
Jeff: The Image of You had its own share of twists and turns—it was inspired by late ’90s erotic thrillers like Basic Instinct and Fatal Attraction. This one leans more into the family thriller space.

With The Stranger in My Home, Chris and I really wanted to put our foot on the gas when it came to the thriller elements. Adele’s books are very internal—they’re often omniscient and spend a lot of time in the characters’ heads, exploring their relationships. For the film, we took those emotional layers and all the great twists from the book and restructured them to heighten the tension and suspense. We tried to crank up the volume on the thriller while staying true to the emotional core of her storytelling.

PC: There’s so much trust involved in filmmaking—especially when you’re working with characters as vulnerable as these. How did you go about building that trust with your ensemble, who were incredible across the board? And how does that process differ when you’re working with emerging talent versus more seasoned actors?
Jeff: Both the newer and more experienced actors were sensational. Casting is 90% of it—having the right people in the right roles makes all the difference. Sophia and Chris had amazing chemistry with the younger cast members and made sure they felt supported. Since they were playing family, it really helped that they genuinely liked each other off-screen. It was just a great group of people who all came together in such a natural way. I think the younger actors felt like they had true teammates, which hopefully made the set feel more welcoming. And they were all incredibly talented—it made my job a lot easier.

PC: Between the script and the direction, there are so many twists and turns that audiences won’t see coming. I love how the film plants subtle hints early on and then calls back to them in such satisfying ways. How did you and Chris decide which moments to lean into, and how to plant those clues in a way that feels natural and understated? For audiences watching it for the first time, is there something you hope they pick up on?
Jeff: That’s a great question. I hope we’re lucky enough that people will want to watch the film more than once. Chris and the younger actors layered in little moments that take on a whole new meaning once you know the full story. I’ve seen the film probably a hundred times by now, and every time I’m grateful for the choices the actors made—those small, intentional moments they brought to life. Like you said, it’s really satisfying when you go back and catch those details you may have missed the first time around.

To keep up with Jeff, follow him on Instagram. The Stranger in My Home is available to buy wherever you stream movies.

Photo Credit: Darrell Thomas