Despite playing tough characters in Heroes and Scream 4, Hayden Panettiere admits she’s no match for scares on set—or in real life. The actress revealed how director Wes Craven, assistant prop master Skip Crank, and stunt double Dane Farwell kept the Scream 4 atmosphere genuinely terrifying with practical jokes and surprise scares.
“They liked to occasionally make us scream. We’d be sitting there, and Ghostface wasn’t supposed to be in the closet, but then it jumps out at you. One of the prop guys did it and then disappeared that night. He came back later and was like, ‘I’m so sorry, I couldn’t face you. You were so scared.’ So apparently I was genuinely scared half to death,” Panettiere told Seventeen Magazine.
Craven, known for his practical jokes, ensured Roger L. Jackson—the iconic voice of Ghostface—remained an enigma on set:
“He was actually on set. He was there, but they kept him hidden, and Wes didn’t want anyone to see him, to be able to put a face to the voice because he wanted that unknown element,” she explained.
In addition to sharing her favorite scary movie (The Exorcism of Emily Rose), Hayden opened up about a real-life horror story:
“Somebody tried to break into my house once, and that was an absolutely terrifying experience. I was at home by myself, and there was a power outage only at my house. All of a sudden, the power came back on, and 10 minutes later, I heard this rattling—like somebody trying to unlock the door.”
“So I just went into flight mode and grabbed this little taser I had on my bed and ran into the bathroom because it had a window. I was sitting there, scared, and I was like, ‘Forget this! I’m not waiting for somebody to come barging in the bathroom,’ so I shimmied out the window. The cops were outside with their guns pointed by the time I ran out, which was terrifying because I was running around the corner with a taser in my hand saying, ‘Don’t shoot me, please!’”
Whether on-screen or off, Panettiere’s experiences prove that true terror often blurs the line between fiction and reality.
Follow HelloSidney.com: Don’t miss a scream-worthy second! Get exclusive updates, killer behind-the-scenes content, epic giveaways, and everything Ghostface!
We’ve read the original draft of ‘Scream VI’ and reveal all about Neve Campbell’s part, that hint possible details of ‘Scream 7’.
Dive into a master class of production design, exploring the art, locations, decoration, and coolest props of Scream VI.
Liana Liberato talks about her pivotal role, scary movies, and photography. She also answered fun and tricky questions from the fandom.
Radio Silence talks Scream VI: Behind-the-scenes, Stu Macher’s spirit, and the infamous shrine.
Bloody Ghost Face: Handmade by Robots and HelloSidney.com launch exclusive collectibles.
Jasmin Savoy Brown proudly wears many badges of honor: Woman, Black, Queer—and now, Scream Queen.
Radio Silence on Scream 5: Legacy cast, new faces, and filming challenges.
HelloSidney.com interviews Chad Villella, Matt Bettinelli-Olpin and Tyler Gillett, the team behind Scream 5.
🔪 Join our sponsors and showcase your brand to a passionate global community of horror fans! Partner with us today.
