There is something especially fun about catching an actor at a crossroads moment in their career, when they are stretching into new genres and seeing how far they can push themselves. That is exactly where Victoria Konefal finds herself with Scared to Death, a horror comedy that lets her lean into fear, humor, vulnerability, and a little bit of meta madness. Sitting down to talk with her felt less like a traditional press interview and more like two horror fans geeking out. And as someone who grew up around a devoted Days of Our Lives viewer, this one hit a little closer to home.
In Scared to Death, Konefal plays Lena, an actress preparing for a horror film who suddenly finds herself in very real danger. The movie operates on a film-within-a-film structure, something Konefal admitted took a minute to fully wrap her head around. She described it as “kind of inceptiony,” explaining that she was essentially playing an actress filming a horror movie about an actress filming a horror movie about a séance. Once she stopped overthinking it, however, the performance clicked into place. As she put it, by the time she walked out of hair and makeup, she was no longer Victoria but Lena, ready for her next project. That mental shift made translating the layered reality on camera feel natural, almost like turning herself up a few notches.
What makes Scared to Death particularly engaging is how it walks a tightrope between scares and laughs. Horror comedy can be a difficult balance, but Konefal credits the ensemble for finding the rhythm together rather than forcing it on the page. The humor was not heavily telegraphed in the script. Instead, it emerged organically through camaraderie and collaboration, something she says the cast discovered collectively. According to her, much of that tone came from simply bouncing off each other and having genuine fun on set, and that energy carried through to the final film.
When the conversation shifted to the emotional core of the movie, Konefal offered one of the most thoughtful answers I have heard from anyone involved with Scared to Death. Rather than pointing to a moment of technical difficulty, she talked about how the film affected her on a personal level. Watching the child characters and learning about their stories weighed heavily on her. She explained that monsters are not born; they are created, and seeing pain inflicted on others is something she deeply feels as an empathetic person. It was less about struggling to perform those moments and more about how hard they hit her mentally as a human being.
That sensitivity might surprise some viewers, especially considering Konefal proudly identifies as a full-on horror fan. She described herself as a Scream Queen who has loved horror since childhood, recalling that Paranormal Activity was the first horror movie she ever watched and that it absolutely terrified her. Scared to Death marks her third horror film, so she is no stranger to the genre’s rhythms. While filming rarely scares her because she knows how everything works behind the scenes, she admitted she still gets genuinely frightened when watching horror movies, which makes her appreciation for the genre all the more authentic.
One of the major draws of Scared to Death is its cast, which includes horror icons Lin Shaye and Bill Moseley. For Konefal, working alongside them was not just exciting; it was a career highlight. She shared that Insidious is one of her favorite horror films, so learning she would be working with Shaye felt like a giant cherry on top of an already bloody horror cake. Beyond the fandom aspect, she talked about how valuable it was to observe their professionalism up close. Watching how quick-witted, confident, and present they are on set reinforced why they have endured as icons in the genre.
Of course, many fans know Konefal best from her work on Days of Our Lives, and transitioning from daytime television to a horror comedy feature comes with some stark differences. She broke it down plainly. Soap operas move at lightning speed, often shooting upward of 80 pages a day with little room for error. Film, by comparison, allows time to breathe, adjust, and explore multiple takes. According to Konefal, movies tend to be more technical in terms of camera work and direction, while soaps operate like a finely tuned rinse-and-repeat machine. Both demand skill, but they flex very different creative muscles.
When asked what she hopes horror fans connect with most in Lena, Konefal emphasized that she wanted to give the character layers. On paper, Lena could easily be reduced to a bratty diva, but that was not the route she wanted to take. Instead, she aimed to ground the character in something relatable. Despite being a Hollywood starlet, Lena is still human, still empathetic, and still scared. Konefal’s hope is that audiences see pieces of themselves in her and, above all else, have fun with her journey.
Director Paul Boyd also played a key role in shaping that performance. Coming from a music video background, Boyd brought a hands-on, artist-focused approach that Konefal deeply appreciated. She spoke about how present he was during character development and how much he cared about motivation and emotional clarity. Working with directors who invest that deeply in performance, she said, is always a rewarding experience.
If someone is still on the fence about checking out Scared to Death, Konefal’s pitch is refreshingly straightforward. The film has horror icons, scares, laughs, and a guarantee that you will at least laugh once. At worst, you will watch it with friends and have a good time. And honestly, that feels like the perfect summary of what this movie is aiming to deliver.
On a personal note, this interview meant more to me than most. My grandma Gwen was a huge Days of Our Lives fan. Anytime I have the chance to talk with someone connected to that show, I take it. While she is no longer here, I cannot help but think she would have gotten a real kick out of this conversation. This one is for you, Gwen.
Jessie Hobson