Bo Keister, star of the hit horror web series Hillbilly Horror Show, chatted with us about his latest film, The Cabining, as well as one he has in the works, Finding Waldo.

For those who haven’t seen it yet, can you describe what Hillbilly Horror Show is all about?
The show is “Hee Haw meets Tales From the Crypt.” We blend a series of terrific horror short films into a comedic wraparound storyline, focused on our lovable, beer-guzzling, hillbilly family. What you end up with is a great combination of indie horror and hilarious sketch comedy. It’s a lot of fun.

So, you’re a horror fan?
I am indeed. I grew up on all the classics, so horror films have always been a favorite. Never thought I’d be making them one day, but love that it’s worked out that way.

Have you intentionally chased roles in horror movies because of that fondness for the genre?
Actually, I haven’t had to. The roles just sort of show up, and I honestly have no explanation as to why. I just go with it, have fun, and hope more roles come my way. I’m more than happy to make horror movies for the bulk of my career.

You’re obviously doing very different horror movies, though – House of Good and Evil and The Cabining are quite different in not only story but also tone. Were they both good experiences?
Yeah, they are almost on polar ends of the spectrum, but both turned [out] to be great films in their respective subsets of the horror genre. The experiences were wonderful. With House of Good and Evil, I was only involved briefly, but it generated great friendships that last to this day. The Cabining was a much more extensive experience, and our cast and crew became like a family. We’re already talking about doing another Todd & Bruce adventure!

Which character was the closest to you?
That would definitely be Bruce in The Cabining. From the minute I read the script, I knew I was meant to play him. There were so many similarities between myself and the character’s sense of humor, it was uncanny. I think he was kind of the party animal part of me personified. It gave me, as an actor, the opportunity to show off my comedic ability, and I just ran with it.

Did Hillbilly Horror Show come off the back of working with director Blu de Golyer on House of Good and Evil? Or was there an existing relationship?
Blu and I kept in touch after filming, and began tossing ideas around for future projects. Late in 2013, he pitched me the premise for the show, and it just felt right. The horror host medium has always been popular, but it’s kind of vanished over the last few years. We saw it as an opportunity to revive the part of the horror genre, and people love it so far.

You’re doing a comedy next, right? A film with Richard Riehle of Office Space fame? What can you tell us?
That’s right. I am playing Chance Reed in the new feature entitled, Finding Waldo. Which I would say is very comedic, but it has a dramatic tone underneath with a powerful message of forgiveness and redemption. Chance is an ex pro football star whose life comes to a crashing halt due to his battles with alcoholism and a fateful night of drunk driving. We pick up his story while he’s out on parole, and working in the mail room of a Lloyd’s of London-like insurance firm. He’s miserable and just can’t seem to pick up the pieces, until one day when he’s called to the president’s office and charged with going to interview eccentric novelist, Waldo Greene. Waldo is claiming to be insane, and that certainly appears to be so, because he kidnaps me and takes me on the road trip from hell. In the end though, not everything is as it seems. I’m really excited about getting to work with Richard again. He is an amazing actor. We’re also bringing in Matthew Jacobs, who wrote for the series Doctor Who, to play Waldo Greene. Hillbilly Horror Show star, Rachel Faulkner, plays Lucy, Motley’s secretary. And we just announced the addition of Tom Proctor (Guardians of the Galaxy) who is coming on to play Bruno, the owner of Crazy 8’s Strip Club. We’re really excited to have him. This is going to be a great film, in every aspect.

How have you found the IndieGoGo process so far? Is it challenging? What are the tricks to getting people to notice your film on there?
It is a big challenge, if for no other reason than you’re competing with so many other projects, spanning every genre imaginable. But we believe we’ve got a story that will hit home with people and we hope people will support it. The campaign is full of great perks, from memorabilia to being part of the production itself, to entice donations. We’ve raised a large portion of our budget, thanks to our production partners at Planet Capricorn, and we are still pursuing standard investors, as well as product placement sponsors. Still, the crowd-funding portion is extremely important to our success, so any help we can get is monumentally important. If anyone out there is interested in donating, sharing, or dropping us a comment of support, just visit our campaign page.

Thanks for taking time to interview me. It’s been a pleasure.

On the surface, “The Deal” doesn’t seem like much of an episode. It was mostly driven by drama, it had very little action, and Norman didn’t really have a break with reality. But if that’s all you saw in this episode, oh how you haven’t been paying attention.

But a lot was done to drive Norman’s character forward. First, in his mind he had a conversation with Norma about Dylan’s harboring of Caleb, however, that talk never happened in reality. Through Dylan and then Norma, Norman figures out that said conversation only took place in his head and that he had passed out during a blackout, and this is a fact that actually scares him. It also leads him to find the dress imaginary Norma was wearing, sniff it, and hide it. I don’t mean to sound like a teenage girl, but gross!

By the end of the episode, it becomes a possibility that imaginary Norma will be the only mother Norman finds himself with.

That’s right, Norma walks out, which is more like a hysterical rampage out the door, on her boys. As she goes she tells Norman to stay with Dylan because he’ll take care of him.

The cause of her dramatic exit was the fact that both Dylan and Norman, after some sort of inexplicable reconciliation, sit her down to tell her that Caleb is back and has been staying at the farm helping Dylan. That, in and of itself, isn’t that big of a deal, but Norma’s sons also asked her to more or less accept Caleb and to hear him out as he explains his remorse. Yeah, I guess asking your mom to listen to her brother as he apologizes for raping her is a bit much to ask.

Who wants to bet that she drives straight to her professor friend, James Finnigan, whom she bonded with further in this episode? Or maybe she’ll go to Bob Paris to ask him for one more favor, which would be to off Caleb.

Going to Bob is unlikely, but not totally out of character for Norma. It’s unlikely because after being run off the road by one of his goons, and then learning the contents of his flashdrive, she uses the information as leverage to get some things she wants to help out her business. It wasn’t much to ask for, and it was so funny to watch her negotiate the deal. But, according to the deal, she won’t be able to ask for any additional favors, and she keeps the flashdrive. Did anyone believe Bob when he said, “You got me… we have a deal”? Yeah, me neither.

Speaking of the flashdrive, how the contents got unlocked was the worst piece of writing ever witnessed on Bates Motel. Insignificant character working at Dylan’s farm fiddles with the light switch, flashdrive drops out, “I plugged it into my laptop… I used to be a movie pirate” — or something to that effect.

And I guess speaking of technology in general, did anyone pick up on the motel’s Wi-Fi password? “Mother, all caps.” That is golden. That’s part of the beauty of the writing on this show; among all the gloom and perverse actions, there’s room for jokes like this and the running gag on Norma’s car, her general disposition in dealing with people outside her family, Romero’s reactions to Norma, Chick’s quirkiness. There’s a real subtle, deadpan humor on this show, and it’s great!

Chick finally made another appearance, being as odd as can be, and altogether less threatening. Aside from trying to persuade Caleb to try his boar jerky, he also had a risky but well-paying job to offer. But, Caleb claims to have turned over a new leaf and politely declines, but he has until the end of the week to decide.

And in closing…

-What does all this set up for Norman? What will become of him if Norma is out of the picture? For me, Bates Motel often sends me off thinking one thing and comes back at me the following week like I was foolish for my predictions. So, I’m betting she’ll return to her sons next week.
-What will Bob’s next move be? He certainly can’t accept the deal he has with Norma stand as is.
-Will Norma and Caleb have a talk? Will Caleb accept Chick’s job offer?
-Norma’s nervous twitch before meeting Bob was hilarious and perfectly executed.
-Does anyone else want to punch Marcus in the face, or is it just me?

Yup, Season 3 is in full swing now.

Rock Hard \m/

Now that “Rampage” Jackson is off the UFC 186 fight card in Montreal because he lost his battle in court with Bellator MMA on Monday, a new fight for the co-main event may be starting to take shape for pay-per-view this April.

Earlier today, Benson Henderson, a former reigning UFC lightweight champion sent out a message via Twitter, telling the UFC he is ready to exchange leather against anyone at 170 pounds. Within a few hours of the tweet, Jorge Masvidal responded to Henderson, and accepted the challenge two weeks ahead of UFC 186. Both fighters are eager to step inside the cage, however, the UFC has not officially announced the fight, yet.

Since Masvidal was expected to meet Henderson at UFC Fight Night 63 earlier this month, but ended up facing Al Iaquinta and lost by controversial split decision, this fight may just save UFC 186. Henderson is currently coming off a solid submission win against Brandon Thatch in February.

It’s really just a matter of time before we get the official word from the UFC for the fight, so stay tuned on Yell! Magazine for the update.

UFC fans looking forward in seeing “Rampage” Jackson return inside the Octagon at UFC 186 later this month will be disappointed to hear that the former UFC light heavyweight champion lost the preliminary injunction hearing filed by Bellator MMA in the Burlington County Superior Court of New Jersey on Monday.

This forces “Rampage” off the co-main event of UFC 186 against Fábio Maldonado in Montreal, which is slated for April 25, 2015 at the Bell Center. “Rampage” previously claimed that Bellator MMA breached its contract by failing to provide him with pay-per-view buyrates for Bellator 120 and failed to properly promote his past events in the organization.

Now, Bellator MMA has full control over “Rampage” again, preventing him from competing in the UFC until his contract is up.

We are pleased by the judge’s ruling and look forward to having Rampage fighting for Bellator again soon.

“Rampage” is clearly upset about the situation and already had a few words to say on Instagram today. It sounds like his future in MMA may be back to a complete halt.

A photo posted by Quinton Jackson (@rampage4real) on Apr 7, 2015 at 10:59am PDT

This past Easter Weekend was not good to horror icons. Not only have we lost Maniac Cop‘s Robert Z’Dar, but we also lost Night of the Living Dead‘s (1990) Tom Towles.

According to The Hollywood Reporter, Tammy Dupal of TnT Talent Management, which represented Towles,said that the actor died on April 2nd, at a hospital in Pinellas, Florida, after suffering a stroke four days earlier.

Towles, a Chicago native, starred in many genre films, including Henry: Portrait of a Serial Killer (1986), The Pit and the Pendulum (1991), The Borrower (1991), The Prophecy II (1998), Grindhouse (2007), and became a go-to actor for Rob Zombie, appearing in House of 1000 Corpses (2003), The Devil’s Rejects (2005), and Halloween (2007).

Tom Towles, you will be greatly missed.

RIP

Motor City thrashers, Battlecross, will join Crowbar and Lord Dying on The Summer Of Doom North American Tour. The trek will commence on May 28th, in Shreveport, Louisiana, and run through nearly three-dozen cities before winding down on July 3rd, in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. Additionally, the band will appear on the 2015 edition of Heavy Montreal in Montreal, on August 8th. Summer Of Doom tickets are on sale now!

Battlecross guitarist Hiran Deraniyagala commented about the upcoming tour:

I am beyond excited to tour with one of my favorite bands, Crowbar. Ever since I heard Odd Fellows Rest, I’ve been a fan. Kirk Windstein is such a monster guitar player. His riffs are inspiring. It’s an honor to be able to hit the road with these guys and I’m thankful and excited for the opportunity. We’re excited to get back out there, especially Western Canada… it’s been too long! See you all soon.

Summer Of Doom Tour:

w/ Crowbar, Lord Dying, Battlecross
5/28/2015 Riverside Warehouse – Shreveport, LA
5/29/2015 Gas Monkey Bar & Grill – Dallas, TX
5/30/2015 Dirty Dog Bar – Austin, TX
5/31/2015 Scout Bar – Houston, TX
6/04/2015 Til-Two Club – San Diego, CA
6/05/2015 DiPiazza’s – Long Beach, CA
6/06/2015 Whisky A Go Go – Hollywood, CA
6/07/2015 Oakland Metro Operahouse – Oakland, CA
6/08/2015 Hawthorne Theatre – Portland, OR
6/09/2015 El Corazon – Seattle, WA
6/10/2015 The Rickshaw Theater – Vancouver, BC
6/12/2015 Republik – Calgary, AB
6/13/2015 Pawn Shop Live – Edmonton, AB
6/14/2015 O’Brian’s Event Centre – Saskatoon, SK
6/16/2015 The Zoo Cabaret – Winnipeg, MB
6/17/2015 Amsterdam Bar & Hall – St. Paul, MN
6/18/2015 The Metal Grill – Cudahy, WI
6/19/2015 Shelter – Detroit, MI
6/20/2015 Reggie’s Rock Room – Chicago, IL
6/21/2015 Alrosa Villa – Columbus, OH
6/22/2015 Agora Ballroom – Cleveland, OH
6/23/2015 MOD Club – Toronto, ON
6/24/2015 Mavericks – Ottawa, ON
6/25/2015 La Sala Rossa – Montreal, QC
6/26/2015 The Palladium – Worcester, MA
6/27/2015 Trick Shot Billiards – Clifton Park, NY
6/28/2015 Voltage Lounge – Philadelphia, PA
6/29/2015 St. Vitus Bar – Brooklyn, NY
6/30/2015 Cafe 611 – Frederick, MD
7/01/2015 New Brookland Tavern – Columbia, SC
7/02/2015 The Masquerade – Atlanta, GA
7/03/2015 Varsity Theatre – Baton Rouge, LA
End Tour
8/08/2015 Heavy MTL – Montreal, QC

Rock Hard \m/

Montreal’s Fantasia Film Festival is one of the biggest and best for genre fans, which is why thousands attend to see the plethora of amazing horror and sci-fi movies. As well, that’s why filmmakers want their works to screen there. And if you’re a filmmaker with a terrifying short or a bloody feature, then you’ll be happy to know that there’s still time for you to submit your film for this year’s event. That’s right! The submission deadline has been pushed back to April 24, 2015.

To submit your project, please prepare the documents outlined here and fill out the application form here.

The 6th edition of the Frontières International Co-Production Market, returning to the Fantasia International Film Festival in Montreal after an edition in Brussels, will take place from July 23 to 26, 2015.

To learn more about Frontières, please visit frontieresmarket.com.

Rock Hard \m/

Sweden’s rising doom metal lords, Monolord, have unleashed a new monolithic track, “Died a Million Times,” from their upcoming sophomore effort, Vænir. Stream the 10-minute opus over at: consequenceofsound.net

The thick, heavy chords and the dream-inducing melodies of the track will surely help you contend with a languid and dreary day, perhaps even inspiring some latent creativity you’ve got pent up.

Vænir is due out April 28th, but pre-orders are available now with several limited-edition vinyl versions available as well as a variety of colored vinyl and CD packages: ridingeasyrecords.com. Digital pre-orders via iTunes are available now.

Vænir track listing:

Cursing The One
We Will Burn
Nuclear Death
Died a Million Times
The Cosmic Silence
Vænir

Monolord will play this year’s Roadburn Festival and have a handful of European tour dates confirmed.

Monolord Tour Dates:

April 9 Tilburn, Netherlands Roadburn Festival
April 10 Berlin, Germany Crystal
July 10 Milan, Italy Lo Fi
July 11 Nikolsdorf, Austria Stock and Stone Fest
August 14 Ieper, Belgium Ieper Hardcore Fest

Rock Hard \m/

Randy Blythe is a name that’s been tossed around quite a bit in the media in recent years, owing mostly to his being charged with manslaughter in the Czech Republic. But more than that we know him as the frontman to one of modern metal’s most provocative bands, and as a writer, filmmaker, and photographer, among other things.

Today, the Grammy-nominated frontman of Lamb of God has announced the upcoming exhibition of his photography, D. Randall Blythe: Show Me What You’re Made Of, to take place from May 2nd to June 30th, at the Sacred Gallery NYC. The opening reception will take place on May 2nd, from 8-11 p.m.

Sacred Gallery NYC is located in Manhattan’s SoHo District at 424 Broadway on the northeast corner of Broadway and Canal.

In addition to his work with Lamb of God, Blythe is the author of the forthcoming memoir Dark Days (to be published July 2015 by Perseus/Da Capo books in the U.S., and Random House in the UK and associated territories), a music critic at the highly acclaimed TheTalkhouse.com, has acted in movies filmed in America and Asia, and periodically composes music for the Richmond Ballet.

Blythe commented on his photography exhibition:

I’ve been lucky enough to travel literally around the world several times for my job, and for the last few years I have carried a camera with me everywhere I go. Show Me What You’re Made Of will showcase fine art prints of what I consider to be some of the most striking images that I have collected, both at home and during my travels. The body of work is quite diverse, and in an attempt to highlight that diversity, all the photos will be shown in custom made frames made of reclaimed wood, adding to the individuality of each piece. The frames are made by my friend, Richmond, VA musician Greta Brinkman (former bassist for Moby, The Deborah Harry Band, White Cross, and currently with RVA doom merchants Drug Lord). I am especially pleased to have my first exhibit at Sacred Arts, a gallery with such a solid connection to my community- the underground music and arts scene. I hope to see as many of you as possible at the opening, so come on out, check out some photography, and be sure to say hi to me and Greta!

For purchase inquiries, please e-mail the gallery director at [email protected].

Rock Hard \m/

I wouldn’t change a thing about my approach. Had it been a couple inches in the other direction, it could have gone a completely different way. – Cat Zingano