“'Poltergeist' was really the film that really scarred but fascinated me with puppets and dolls, clowns, and stuff like that. I've always been afraid of clowns, and then my fear of puppets came around, and 'Poltergeist' was the perfect combination to scare me with a clown doll.”

James Wan is an Australian filmmaker working in Hollywood since the 1990s. He is best known for directing horror films that blend practical effects with psychological tension, including *The Conjuring* and *Aquaman*. His work often explores themes of fear and survival with a grounded, visceral approach.