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Kelsey Zukowski is a seasoned and passionate screenwriter, actress, and model, focusing on the horror genre through a dark, introspective lens. Based in Los Angeles, she has contributed to productions nationwide, with significant involvement in the indie horror scenes of both Chicago and LA. Zukowski is best known for writing and co-starring in the surreal dark drama "What They Say," which garnered awards at various film festivals across the country. More recently, her psychological slasher "Words Like Knives," addressing real-life horrors of bullying and abuse, premiered at the Blood at the Beach festival in Virginia Beach. She is currently developing the feature haunted house film "Within These Walls," a gritty collaboration with filmmaker James Tucker. The story centers on a disturbing ghost narrative that portrays the complete entrapment and relentless torment of a girl fighting to find her inner strength, a role played by Zukowski herself.
Zukowski firmly believes in the vast potential of the horror genre. She aims to explore both the light and darkness that surround us creatively and meaningfully through horror. While she ventures into other genres, horror remains her true home. Early influences include the Halloween franchise, A Nightmare on Elm Street, and fellow Cleveland native Wes Craven’s surreal, mind-challenging style of horror.
With a background in theater, Zukowski discovered her love for acting during a school play at age 10. This passion evolved into a broader love for storytelling and cinema. At 14, she began writing film reviews, inspired by the late Roger Ebert’s style and his ability to capture the entire movie-going experience. While still in high school in Ohio, her reviews were published in The Valley Voice, a California-based newspaper. Over the past seven years, Zukowski has been a published film critic for various websites, including Criticsword.com, HorrorYearbook.com, FilmArcade.net, DirectorsLive.com, TheCelebrityCafe.com, and 8th-circuit.com. Her work encompasses TV recaps, music and movie reviews, news coverage, and interviews with independent filmmakers worldwide. She appreciates all types of films, from low-budget independents to Hollywood blockbusters, with a particular enthusiasm for foreign films and undiscovered gems.
Zukowski holds a Bachelor of Arts in Digital Cinema with a concentration in Screenwriting from DePaul University. Shortly after graduating, she immersed herself in the independent film scene. Early roles included appearances in crime writer Kevin Jamison’s intense serial killer-themed productions, the retro horror anthology "Psycho Street," and the Autumn Offering’s "Born Dead" music video, which aired on MTV2’s Headbanger’s Ball. Transitioning from acting, she expanded into modeling, focusing on alternative, pin-up, and glamour work. Much like her writing, Zukowski gravitates toward thematic, stylistic modeling that conveys artistic expression, human emotion, and creates a distinct world within each image.
