Emily Browning, a 20-year-old Australian actress, was hired to portray the lead Anna Ivers. She had originally auditioned for the role of Alex. The film is rated PG-13, and is going to be less visually gory and bloody than the original film.[6] Elizabeth Banks plays a new character, Rachael.[7] Banks based her character Rachel on Rebecca De Mornay in The Hand That Rocks the Cradle.[8] "It was very important to me that every line reading I gave could be interpreted two ways," says Banks of her role, "So that when you go back through the movie you can see that."[9] David Strathairn plays the concerned father of the two girls.[10] Arielle Kebbel plays Alex Ivers, the older sister of Anna.[11]

Emily Browning as Anna Ivers
Arielle Kebbel as Alex Ivers
Elizabeth Banks as Rachel Summers (Stepmother)
David Strathairn as Steven Ivers (Father)
Maya Massar as Lilian Ivers (Mother)
Kevin McNulty as Sheriff Emery
Jesse Moss as Matt
Lex Burnham as Iris Wright
Danny Bristol as Samuel Wright
Mathhew Bristol as David Wright
Don S. Davis as Mr. Henson
Heather Doerksen as Mildred
Dean Paul Gibson as Dr. Silberman