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I think it’s a good sign when a celebrity claims that their movie actually scares them. That’s what Gossip Girl‘s Penn Badgley is saying about the remake of The Stepfather that he stars in.

According to Penn, “There’s less eerie, creepy, bloody stuff and more relatability in the sense that’ it’s a slower, simpler movie that draws you in,” he continued. “I think [it] really terrifies you once you’re in there.”

Plus, for those ladies and inclined gents, Penn does have a number of shirtless scenes which you may enjoy.

“Well, you know, what’s fun is that it was a very physical role. I got to do a lot of my own stunts and do some fight sequences and that kind of stuff and I think that hopefully people will take it in stride and believe it,” he explained. “I think I was believable and, I mean, it was really fun for me. I took to it like a fish in water, which is a terrible analogy to make ’cause I’m in the water the entire time, shirtless.”

The Stepfather opens nationwide in theaters today!