In Patrick Brice‘s latest film, THERE’S SOMEONE INSIDE YOUR HOUSE, based on the novel by the same name from author Stephanie Perkins, Makani Young (Sydney Park) has moved from Hawaii to a quiet, small-town Nebraska to live with her grandmother and finish high school, but as the countdown to graduation begins, her classmates are stalked by a killer intent on exposing their darkest secrets to the entire town, terrorizing victims while wearing a life-like mask of their own face. With a mysterious past of her own, Makani and her friends must discover the killer’s identity before they become victims themselves.

Recently, Nightmarish Conjurings attended the press junket for THERE’S SOMEONE INSIDE YOUR HOUSE and chatted with actor Sydney Park where they discussed everything from exploring the multiple layers of Makani to working with Director Patrick Brice and wrapping with what she hopes people take away from her character and the film.

It’s such a pleasure to speak with you today, Sydney! To kick things off, how excited were you when you found out you would be playing the lead role of Makani?

Sydney Park: I was honored. This was such an amazing role. It was a complete departure from any other role I’ve done and [Makani] had so many layers which I love. So, I have this opportunity to really play and be attached to a script that I felt passionately about, the story I felt passionately about.

What was most exciting for you in terms of exploring the multiple layers of Makani?

Sydney Park: I really love her darkness. I love her silence. Those were all challenges for me, just kind of identifying the parts of her that aren’t so pretty, the parts that she thinks are ugly, her insecurities. Like all of these things that I can relate to, not only just me once being a teenage girl, but also being a biracial girl trying to navigate being an outcast. [Makani] has a group of friends, but she’s in Nebraska. She misses her home, so it was really, really fun for me to find all of these nooks and crannies of her.

The term scream queen gets thrown around a lot, but you really embody that saying with this role. How does it feel to be considered a scream queen?

Sydney Park: It’s so, so cool. It makes sense. I’m a Halloween baby. My birthday is on the 31st, so I feel like I was kind of born into it, but the fact that my life went this way and this is my path, it’s so cool.

Would it be safe to say that you are also a fan of the horror genre?

Sydney Park: I am now. I used to be so terrified when I would trick or treat and my mom would make these incredible homemade costumes for me and I wouldn’t last more than an hour. I was just so terrified. I remember the Scream mask would just…I would almost pee my pants. It was horrible [Laughs]. But now, as I’ve gotten older and, of course, the more I’m actually doing horror, it’s really changed my mind and so I have a lot of respect for it.

You and Director Patrick Bryce worked very closely on this film. What was that experience like?

Sydney Park: Patrick is a gem. He’s so amazing and he makes the set experience super fun. But at the same time, he’s assertive. He knows what he wants. He doesn’t overshoot. He’s efficient, but he’s so fun. He’s a big kid and we were like, you are 6’7″ big brother. He’s huge! But like, he hugs everybody and he’s so fun and his laugh is infectious. I consider him a dear friend and I loved getting to know him and working with him. It’s been a dream.

What do you hope people take away from your character after watching this? 

Sydney Park: I hope that people know that they’re not alone and you don’t have to carry shame. We all make mistakes and some are considered bigger than others, but there’s always a chance to apologize. As long as you have this redeemable quality of knowing when you’re wrong or knowing when it’s not your fault, you don’t have to carry that guilt and that shame, you can live a good life. You don’t have to suffer.

THERE’S SOMEONE INSIDE YOUR HOUSE is now streaming on Netflix.