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Ryan Phillippe, who got his big break as a doomed teen in the slasher I Know What You Did Last Summer, has come full circle, now starring in the teen slasher Wish Upon, only this time as one of the parents. It’s fun to watch the former bad boy of Last Summer play the (somewhat) responsible adult figure, his presence lending Wish Upon some much needed genre cred. All that’s missing is a Jennifer Love Hewitt or Sarah Michelle Gellar as the ‘mom’ to really bring it home.

In Wish Upon, Phillippe co-stars as Jonathan Shannon, a widower who has taken up dumpster diving in the wake of his loss. One day – Jonathan finds an old Chinese music box discarded in the trash, which he then immediately gives to his disappointed daughter, Clare (Joey King). Unbeknownst to Jonathan, though, this box is actually possessed by an evil demon that grants seven wishes at the cost of your soul. So… maybe not the best gift ever.

In the following interview with Ryan Phillippe, the actor discusses how his approach to slashers has changed since I Know What You Did Last Summer, his favorite horror films and the tips to playing the saxophone (as his character does in Wish Upon). For the full interview, watch above.

Ryan Phillippe:

• Phillippe on the prized possession he can’t live without
• On whether he approaches teen slashers differently now
• On his favorite horror films
• On the first thing he does to get into character

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  On tips for playing the saxophone

Here's the official synopsis:

In the latest thriller from the director of ANNABELLE, 17-year-old CLARE SHANNON (Joey King) is barely surviving the hell that is high school, along with her friends MEREDITH (Sydney Park) and JUNE (Shannon Purser). So when her dad (Ryan Phillippe) gifts her an old music box with an inscription that promises to grant the owner's wishes, she thinks there is nothing to lose. Clare makes her first wish and, to her surprise, it comes true. Before long, she finally has it all: money, popularity and her dream boy. Everything seems perfect - until the people closest to her begin dying in gruesome and twisted ways. Now, with blood on her hands, Clare has to get rid of the box, before it costs her and everyone she loves the ultimate price.

Be careful what you wish for.