Malia Baker Talks Are You Afraid of the Dark?: Curse of the Shadows and Her Love of Horror Films
Malia Baker has had a very busy and productive last couple of years, and we couldn't be more excited for her.
We were first introduced to her as the brilliant Mary Anne Spider in Netflix's The Baby-Sitters Club last year, and in 2021, she played Gabby Lewis in Are You Afraid of the Dark?: Curse of the Shadows—the latest revival of the '90s horror series Are You Afraid of the Dark?. The series is out on DVD today, Aug. 10, and we got the chance to catch up with Malia to chat about the series, the role horror films play in her life and so much more.
Sweety High: Had you ever seen the original Are You Afraid of the Dark? before getting cast in this reimagining to the series?
Malia Baker: I had seen the original '90s show when I was around 10 years old. I remember being so scared and thinking how I was so cool for watching something that freaky. Now that I look back on it, I laugh at how scared I was!
SH: Are you a big horror fan in general? If so, what are some of your favorite scary shows and films?
MB: I am definitely a horror fan. My closest friends are horror geeks, too, so whenever we're together, it's always a slumber party of scariness. Some of my favorites so far are Don't Breathe, Midsommar and classics like The Shining or The Silence of the Lambs. I still have lots to watch, but so far, those are just a few.
SH: What do you think your biggest assets or skills would be if you were tasked with taking down a spooky villain like The Shadowman?
MB: Running away! Haha, no, I think my biggest asset would be if I were trying to take down a spooky villain I would be coming up with a strategy. Unlike Gabby, I am not that sporty, but we are very tactical in how we think.
SH: How would you describe your character, Gabby?
MB: Gabby is the goody-two-shoes and sweetheart of the town. She is a recovering people-pleaser and has an amazing arc over the series, which I loved getting to portray. She's an excellent friend, she's smart, witty, sarcastic, brave, kind and determined. I absolutely loved getting to play Gabby with all the fun scenes she had!
(Photo credit: Britney Gill)
SH: Do you have any favorite memories from the set?
MB: I'll try to sum it up, but there are definitely more than I can even count. One of my favorite times with the cast was after a day of filming when we wrapped early, and we all went to the hotel Arjun [Athalye] was staying at. It was a night of dance parties, yummy food, TV-watching and talking about everything and anything.
SH: What are the biggest reasons you think everyone should watch the series?
MB: The biggest reason everyone should watch the series is that it's for everyone. You can watch it as a family or you can watch it by yourself and you would still have a great time. The parents and people that grew up with the '90s show will have a huge sense of nostalgia and that's pretty awesome to be able to share with little siblings, cousins or their kids.
SH: Is there anything else you'd like to add?
MB: I'm so excited to see the DVD! Thank you to everyone who loved the show and made this all possible.
Want to know why Malia Baker was our Woman Crush Wednesday? Click HERE to find out everything you wanted to know about Malia Baker.