Name a Horror character you relate to on a spiritual/personal level?

I gotta say Carrie! Cause Carrie’s not a monster, she just has anger deep down that’ll come out if somebody makes it. I figure I’m one of the nicest people you’ll ever meet, but damnit, cut me off in traffic why don’t ya!

You’ve gotta go through some bad ideas to get to the good ones. Tell us one of your bad ideas. How do you get past the bad ones to find your spark?

Bad movie ideas typically come from wanting “one really good scene.” More times than not, I’m trying to create a story around a really good scene. The way you get around that is eventually putting it away and starting an idea where your characters may get to a rendition of that setup.

Do you consider yourself part of a horror community?

Absolutely. And not just masterpieces either, I love trash. I love to watch a horror movie with no expectations and be wowed by all the things they do right. I have a serious admiration for production design and special effects in horror movies.

When you’re building the world of your film, where do you look for inspiration?

My films typically take place in a satire version of the society we live in. So typically, my inspiration comes from the front cover of NPR or CNN. Its the stuff that truly scares me that makes me want to tell a story. Gun violence, racist cops, sexism, and so much more. There’s just so much horror in that.

What would you do if you woke up inside of your film?

I live in my movies. I make horror films about America, and I wake up to the news on US soil every day.

Who would be on your ultimate horror villain squad?

Alien (James Cameron’s version), Krueger, and that baby on the ceiling in Trainspotting.

Lightning round: Freddy or Jason? Stephen King or H.P. Lovecraft? Practical or CGI? Post Apocalypse or Pre Apocalypse?

Freddy hands down. I mean, you can’t sleep around this guy! Dude!! Stephen King hands down. He has the power to create characters you care so much about from the first 100 pages, that by the time anything happens to the characters you’re so attached that you feel like you’re in their shoes. Practical hands down. I’ll never use CGI in my films. It dates itself. Everybody’s taken out of your movie when you bring this fantastical element in your film made by a computer. Pre- Apocalypse. I’d love to see the plight of the civilized man going downhill before the days of destruction. More drama!

How do you go about creating the props and sets for your film? How do you create objects that are relatable but unfamiliar?

I started my career in Hollywood as a Prop Master, so props and set dressing is extremely important to me. I think the more relatable the environment, the more likely the audience is to sit in the character’s shoes without distraction. The unfamiliarity comes in the middle of the film when our character has to leave her/his/their comfort zone. That’s when the horror begins.

What scares you, and does it inspire your storytelling?

Life in America terrifies me. It inspires me to tell stories that open the eyes of the audience to what’s happening in America.

And finally, Ghostface would like to know ​‘What’s your favourite scary movie?’

And finally, Ghostface would like to know ​‘What’s your favourite scary movie?’ Hands down, ​Possession (1981).​ I own the super-duper special edition, and it’s a film that floored me the first time I saw it. You’ll notice pieces of it in my work. 2nd place: Miracle Mile (1988) 3rd place : Carrie (1976)