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The Murderous World of Angry Johnny and The Killbillies

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Written by Brian Linsky

Welcome to Killville, the home of Angry Johnny and the Killbillies.

Angry Johnny is a hell bent, revenge minded, Whiskey swiggin,’ poet, artist, and lead singer for the band the Killbillies. The rest of the band includes Goatis T. Ovenrude, Slabs Theilman, and Dwight Trash.

Angry Johnny and The Killbillies serve up their own unique blend of grim and murderous melodies that infectiously haunts you with songs about death, mayhem, shootouts with cops, odes to serial killers, revenge, and even murdering Santa Claus.

Angry and his gang are a Grindhouse film brought to life, and Killville is the murderous world where it all goes down.

To quote some excerpts from the Killbillies’ own band bio, “Angry Johnny and The Killbillies are Norman Rockwell’s worst nightmare come to life. Take a trip to a town called Killville where nobody gets out alive and about the best you can hope for is a quick and painless demise.

The Murderous World of Angry Johnny & The Killbillies.

The Murderous World of Angry Johnny & The Killbillies.

These murder ballads and tales of woe weren’t meant to be read about in a magazine, they were meant to be listened to full blast on a crappy stereo in a fast car, barreling down a dark and lonely highway heading to nowhere. So drink ’em up, smoke ’em if you got ’em, laugh and punch that hammer down, say a little prayer, hang on and enjoy the ride.

Song by song the body count continues to rise, and the broken hearts and busted dreams keep pilin’ up on the ground as you press the accelerator down a little harder. That cracklin’ Delco spits out an endless stream of revenge, damnation, double crossin’ and the occasional redemption.”

Obviously not your average band bio. I wanted to learn more about the man they call Angry Johnny, so I recently caught up with him and Goatis T. Ovenrude to discuss the method behind the madness of the Killbillies.

Welcome to Killville. A nice place to visit but you wouldn't want to die here.

Welcome to Killville. A nice place to visit, but you wouldn’t want to die here. – Angry Johnny

iH: The majority of your music is riddled with violence and chaos, does it become tough to keep thinking of new ways to plan murder & revenge?

AJ: Not so far. it’s much harder figuring out how to get away with it.

IH: In addition to your music, a lot of your artwork is angry as well with paintings depicting murder and suicide. As an artist, does your inspiration for your paintings come from the same place as your music does?

AJ: They all kind’ve just slosh around together inside my head. Maybe something’s wrong with my brain.

iH: Is it true that some of your artwork was found at a crime scene? Have your lyrics gotten you into trouble with the law?

AJ: Some guy “accidentally” killed an ex-mental patient during “rough sex” and buried her in the woods. He had one of my paintings on his wall, so the genius investigators from the Connecticut State Police figured that I must’ve had something to do with it. The body was too decomposed to determine cause of death so he was only charged with illegal disposal of a corpse.

iH: Listening to your music, it sounds like you’ve been through some hellacious relationships. How many of your stories and characters are based on actual real life experiences and people?

AJ: Probably most all of them in one way or another. The names are changed to protect the ignorant.

iH: In addition to your own paintings, you’ve also done album artwork for Shadows Fall & Dinosaur Jr… Any others you’ve done?

AJ: I did some crap for Slash Records and A&M a long time ago but my stuff has never really been in much demand. They’re just cartoons on wood after all.

Cover of Shadows Fall album "Threads of Life"

Cover of Shadows Fall album “Threads of Life”

iH: Goatis, In 2007 you won an award at the Fright Night Fest Film Festival for best soundtrack after scoring the independent horror film Gimme Skelter. How did you first get started doing the music for movies?

GTO: We have a friend Don Adams who is a film editor and screen writer, he came on tour with us once and I asked him if he ever needs music I’d like to give it a try. He passed my name along to some film makers and I was lucky enough to be a part of a movie that starred Gunnar Hansen. I met him and he was such a cool guy too. Don Adams also got some of my stuff and the Killbillies into Wrong Turn 6, so I owe him a lot.

iH: Is there a film or tv series that the Killbillies wish they’d be asked to provide tracks for?

AJ: I guess any TV show or film that’s gonna pay us lots of money.

iH: Goat, I know you recently scored the Horror / Comedy film Night of Something Strange, and you included some tracks from the Killbillies, how’d this gig come about?

GTO: One of the previous film guys, Billy Garberina, passed my name to Jonathan Straiton, the director. I asked him if he could send me a scene to score the music to and we could take it from there to see if we were a good match or not. He liked what I did and I was really impressed with the original footage, so we decided to go for it. That movie is absolutely crazy. It is ridiculously awesome. Jonathan needed to find a replacement song for the end credits and I suggested Angry Johnny. He had no idea who we were but he loved the songs I sent to him. He’s a fan now.

iH: Right on. You guys have done some work with Jim Stramel (Degenerates Ink, Reviled), How’d you first hook up with him?

AJ: Stramel tripped me at a bar we were playing at in Richmond. I landed on my face on the cement floor and got a concussion. We’ve been friends ever since.

GTO: Jim and his wife Renee are awesome! I always wish that they were closer to visit. REVILED is awesome too, I like how he’s breaking the story into a series of episodes. He’s another really dedicated film maker. A lot of people talk about making movies but he’s one that actually does it.

Zombie vs zombie pit fighting.

The underground world of zombie pit fighting. Featuring the music of Angry Johnny & The Killbillies.

iH: What can you tell me about your Museum of the Strange? Do you have any authentic collectables?

AJ: As far as you know they are all authentic collectables.

iH: I’m a big fan of your X-mas album, Bang Bang Baby, Merry X-Mas, but I imagine that killing off Santa probably doesn’t sit as well with everyone. Any negative feedback over some of those songs, or has your fan base come to know what to expect from you at this point?

AJ: I’m sure there’s folks out there who can’t take a joke that might be offended if they ever heard it but you really have to go out of your way to come in contact with our stuff. Plus, we’re certainly not for everybody. Anyway my mom likes it, so that’s good enough for me.

iH: Over the years you’ve killed off a lot of people in your songs. Do you keep track of the body count at all?

AJ: No but I was thinking of making up a drinking game based on the body counts, but I’m pretty lazy, so I probably won’t.

iH: What’s next for Angry Johnny & The Killbillies? Any new albums in the works?

AJ: “Dance Dead Man Dance”, the sequel to “Dance Of The Shufflers” is just about mixed. And “Don’t Go Down To Voodoo Town” is also almost ready. Plus “Down At Your Grave” and “Creepier Than Me” are coming soon, along with a couple more.

GTO: I write music for TV mostly. A lot of shows always need background music. I’ve been doing it for almost 10 years now and it’s finally paying the bills. So, I’m really lucky to be doing what I love to do.

iH; Thanks guys, I look forward to hearing new music from you guys and hope we send some new fans your way as well. Check out more from Angry Johnny and The Killbillies by visiting their official website. You can listen to a few of their tunes below, and you can buy them here.

 

 

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New Poster Reveal For Nicolas Cage’s Survival Creature Feature ‘Arcadian’ [Trailer]

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Nicolas Cage Arcadian

In the latest cinematic venture featuring Nicolas Cage, Arcadian emerges as a compelling creature feature, teeming with suspense, horror, and emotional depth. RLJE Films has recently released a series of new images and a captivating poster, offering audiences a glimpse into the eerie and thrilling world of “Arcadian”. Scheduled to hit theaters on April 12, 2024, the film will later be available on Shudder and AMC+, ensuring a wide audience can experience its gripping narrative.

Arcadian Movie Trailer

The Motion Picture Association (MPA) has given this film an “R” rating for its “bloody images,” hinting at the visceral and intense experience awaiting viewers. The film draws inspiration from acclaimed horror benchmarks like “A Quiet Place,” weaving a post-apocalyptic tale of a father and his two sons navigating a desolate world. Following a catastrophic event that depopulates the planet, the family faces the dual challenge of surviving their dystopian environment and eluding mysterious nocturnal creatures.

Joining Nicolas Cage in this harrowing journey are Jaeden Martell, known for his role in “IT” (2017), Maxwell Jenkins from “Lost in Space,” and Sadie Soverall, featured in “Fate: The Winx Saga.” Directed by Ben Brewer (“The Trust”) and penned by Mike Nilon (“Braven”), “Arcadian” promises a unique blend of poignant storytelling and electrifying survival horror.

Maxwell Jenkins, Nicolas Cage, and Jaeden Martell 

Critics have already begun to praise “Arcadian” for its imaginative monster designs and exhilarating action sequences, with one review from Bloody Disgusting highlighting the film’s balance between emotional coming-of-age elements and heart-pounding horror. Despite sharing thematic elements with similar genre films, “Arcadian” sets itself apart through its creative approach and action-driven plot, promising a cinematic experience filled with mystery, suspense, and relentless thrills.

Arcadian Official Movie Poster

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‘Winnie the Pooh: Blood and Honey 3’ Is a Go with Enhanced Budget and New Characters

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Winnie the Pooh 3

Wow, they’re churning things out fast! The upcoming sequel “Winnie the Pooh: Blood and Honey 3” is officially moving forward, promising an expanded narrative with a larger budget and the introduction of beloved characters from A.A. Milne’s original tales. As confirmed by Variety, the third installment in the horror franchise will welcome Rabbit, the heffalumps, and the woozles into its dark and twisted narrative.

This sequel is a part of an ambitious cinematic universe that reimagines children’s stories as horror tales. Alongside “Winnie the Pooh: Blood and Honey” and its first sequel, the universe includes films such as “Peter Pan’s Neverland Nightmare”, “Bambi: The Reckoning,” and “Pinocchio Unstrung”. These movies are set to converge in the crossover event “Poohniverse: Monsters Assemble,” slated for a 2025 release.

Winnie the Pooh Poohniverse

The creation of these films was made possible when A.A. Milne’s 1926 children’s book “Winnie-the-Pooh” entered the public domain last year, allowing filmmakers to explore these cherished characters in unprecedented ways. Director Rhys Frake-Waterfield and producer Scott Jeffrey Chambers, of Jagged Edge Productions, have led the charge in this innovative endeavor.

The inclusion of Rabbit, heffalumps, and woozles in the upcoming sequel introduces a new layer to the franchise. In Milne’s original stories, heffalumps are imagined creatures resembling elephants, while woozles are known for their weasel-like characteristics and a penchant for stealing honey. Their roles in the narrative remain to be seen, but their addition promises to enrich the horror universe with deeper connections to the source material.

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How to Watch ‘Late Night with the Devil’ from Home: Dates and Platforms

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Late Night With The Devil

For fans eager to dive into one of this year’s most talked-about horror films from the comfort of their own home, “Late Night with the Devil” will be available for streaming exclusively on Shudder starting April 19, 2024. This announcement has been highly anticipated following the film’s successful theatrical release by IFC Films, which saw it earning rave reviews and a record-breaking opening weekend for the distributor.

“Late Night with the Devil” emerges as a standout horror film, captivating audiences and critics alike, with Stephen King himself offering high praise for the 1977-set film. Starring David Dastmalchian, the movie unfolds on Halloween night during a live late-night talk show broadcast that disastrously unleashes evil across the nation. This found footage-style film not only delivers scares but also authentically captures the aesthetic of the 1970s, drawing viewers into its nightmarish scenario.

David Dastmalchian in Late Night with the Devil

The film’s initial box office success, opening to $2.8 million in 1,034 theaters, underscores its wide appeal and marks the highest opening weekend for an IFC Films release. Critically acclaimed, “Late Night with the Devil” boasts a 96% positive rating on Rotten Tomatoes from 135 reviews, with the consensus praising it for rejuvenating the possession horror genre and showcasing David Dastmalchian’s exceptional performance.

Rotten Tomatoes score as of 3/28/2024

Simon Rother of iHorror.com encapsulates the film’s allure, emphasizing its immersive quality that transports viewers back to the 1970s, making them feel as if they are part of the eerie “Night Owls” Halloween broadcast. Rother lauds the film for its meticulously crafted script and the emotional and shocking journey it takes viewers on, stating, “This whole experience will have viewers of the Cairnes brothers’ film glued to their screen… The script, from beginning to end, is neatly sewn together with an ending that’ll have jaws on the floor.” You can read the full review here.

Rother further encourages audiences to watch the film, highlighting its multifaceted appeal: “Whenever it is made available to you, you must attempt to view the Cairnes Brothers’ latest project as it will make you laugh, it will creep you out, it will amaze you, and it might even strike an emotional cord.”

Set to stream on Shudder on April 19, 2024, “Late Night with the Devil” offers a compelling blend of horror, history, and heart. This film is not just a must-watch for horror aficionados but for anyone looking to be thoroughly entertained and moved by a cinematic experience that redefines the boundaries of its genre.

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