Character Analysis
Something Fishy
The newspaper reporter comes to Will when he suspects him of placing the statues near the bodies of the teens who have died. Hungry for a good story, and ready to throw the facts to the wind, this guy is likely to say whatever he feels like to get noticed. His tabloid-esque approach to the story is all about catchy headlines, which Will may very well be the victim of.
Will doesn't trust the reporter, and why he should? He calls Will "kid" and ultimately threatens him. Suffice it to say that "you might as well tell your story straight, to me, before it gets all morphed into something worse" (916), or asking Will if he's "some kind of mystic monster" (927) are not things taught in any journalism school we know of. And referring to Will's woodwork as his "Nazi goth penis whatever" (920) doesn't give him much cred as a professional. Which leaves us with one question: Who is this dude?
What's This Dude's Deal Anyway?
Untrustworthy, unethical, way too reactive, the reporter (if he's even truly deserving of the title) doesn't really add up, does he? It's up to readers to decide if he really is from the newspaper, or if instead he's somehow connected to the guy who shows up at the beach in a leather jacket and matching black cap or one of the anonymous callers. All we know for sure is that dude doesn't play nice, nor does he follow standard journalism ethics. The rest, as they say, is up to you.