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What draws you to the darkness?

When I was three years old, Beetlejuice came out on VHS. I made my parents rent it so many times that they eventually just bought it from the video store outright. I’ve lived in a haunted house, practiced witchcraft, and been told that I discuss horror movies with the same conviction others use when talking about abortion laws.

Tell us why you would make it to the end of a horror movie.

In 2022’s Scream, a character suggests the killer could be a fan who saw the original movie with their parents at age ten, forming a lasting bond. That was me—I was ten in 1996 when I watched Scream with my parents. It was the last film to keep me up all night in terror, the first being Halloween at age three. I grew up watching shows like Buffy the Vampire and analyzed horror movie tropes, not just to understand the characters' actions, but to explore the societal impact and commentary within.

What would you do with the unlucky $13,000?

I’d honestly spend most it on my parents, who’ve given me everything, including my love of all things horror. Now in their 70s, they live on a fixed income and rarely get to enjoy the luxuries they deserve. I’ve already planned a luxury Halloween vacation for us in Orlando, but I’d love to give them a special trip of their own. You never know how much time you have left with your parents, so I’ll take every opportunity I can to show them how much I love and appreciate all they’ve done for me.