iWorld
Strangers still knocking as Chapter 2 creeps onto Indian screens
MUMBAI: Just when you thought the door was finally bolted shut, the knocking starts again. The Strangers: Chapter 2 has arrived on Indian screens, slipping quietly onto TVOD platforms on 8 December 2025 and bringing its brand of relentless, mask-wearing terror straight into living rooms across the country.
Available to rent for ₹149 on Amazon, Apple TV and Google Youtube, the sequel marks the next chapter in one of horror cinema’s most unnerving franchises. Directed by Renny Harlin, the film leans into a darker, more brutal register, pushing the series’ signature tension further into psychological and visceral territory.
This time, the fear escalates when the masked killers discover that Maya, played by Madelaine Petsch, survived their earlier attack. What follows is not a chase so much as a siege. With nowhere left to hide and no one she can trust, Maya is forced into another nightmarish confrontation as the Strangers return with a singular purpose: to finish what they started. Their pursuit is cold, methodical and chillingly indiscriminate, leaving no illusion of safety for anyone who crosses their path.
Starring Petsch alongside Gabriel Basso and Richard Brake, Chapter 2 stays faithful to the franchise’s stripped-back horror language. There are no elaborate explanations or comforting backstories, just sustained dread, long silences and sudden eruptions of violence. It is horror that relies less on spectacle and more on the creeping sense that escape is always one step out of reach.
For fans of the series, the sequel reinforces why The Strangers has remained a cult favourite worldwide. For newcomers, it offers a tightly wound, edge-of-the-seat experience that wastes little time getting under the skin. The TVOD release now gives Indian audiences the option to engage with the film on their own terms, though comfort may still be in short supply.
The masks are back, the tension is sharper, and the silence between knocks is as terrifying as ever. The Strangers: Chapter 2 is now available to rent on Amazon, Apple TV and Google YouTube, proving once again that in this franchise, survival is never guaranteed.
iWorld
Samay Raina returns with Still Alive, confronts 2025 controversy in bold comeback special
Comeback set tackles controversy, blending humour with raw storytelling
MUMBAI: Samay Raina is set to release his new stand-up comedy special, Still Alive, on YouTube on April 7, 2026, marking a high-profile return following a turbulent year.
The trailer for the special dropped on April 5, offering a glimpse into what Raina describes as a raw and unfiltered set that leans as much on honesty as it does on humour.
Positioned as a comeback of sorts, Still Alive draws heavily from the controversy surrounding his show India’s Got Latent in early 2025. The episode led to legal trouble, multiple FIRs, and a lengthy six-hour interrogation by the Maharashtra Cyber Cell, placing the comedian at the centre of intense public scrutiny.
Rather than sidestep the episode, Raina leans into it. The special reflects on the fallout and his personal journey through it, blending observational comedy with moments of emotional candour. Early audience feedback from live performances suggests the tone is less about rapid-fire punchlines and more about storytelling with bite.
The special was filmed during his global Still Alive & Unfiltered tour, which ran from August 2025 to early 2026. The tour saw Raina perform across major international venues, including the Madison Square Garden Theatre in New York, a milestone that places him among the youngest Indian comedians to take that stage.
The title itself signals resilience. “Still Alive” is a nod to navigating both legal and public backlash while choosing to remain unapologetically authentic, a theme that appears to anchor the set.
With the special set to premiere online, all eyes are now on how audiences respond to a performance that promises equal parts reflection and wit. For Raina, the message is clear. He is not just back, he is ready to be heard on his own terms.
