Interview: HILLBILLY HORROR SHOW’s Bo Keister{0}
There’s something horrific in his shorts
Howdy y’all! Hillbilly Horror Show is an anthology show featuring an awesome foursome of kickass short horror films and whatnot by talented varmints and smart-asses. The shorts are packaged into a fun, 1 hour comedy show hosted by Bo, Cephus and their hot kissing cousin, Lulu.
With Volume 3 just gone live today, exclusively here, we sat down on a rickety folding chair with Bo Keister, one of the hillbilly hosts of the growing collection of horror shorts, from some of the best emerging directors – with a lot of laughs in between.
For those who have yet to experience the show, how would you sum it up?
What we’ve kind of said from the beginning is that if Hee Haw married Tales from the Crypt and had a child, Hillbilly Horror Show would be their kid. You get a fun blend of top notch horror shorts, with fun, backwoods humor. It seems like an odd combination, but it works!
And though the short films are horror films, and can be quite disturbing, the series itself has a lot of comedy in it. Right?
Absolutely! Some of the films are pretty intense, so we wanted to give the audience a chance to come out of it, catch their breath, and maybe have a laugh or two to help shrug it off. Blu de Golyer does an excellent job of writing the sketches; the jokes are already funny on the page. Scott, Rachel, and I take that and look for some moments to improvise, which takes it to another level. I think it’s a great testament to the cast chemistry. Every new volume, we just keep getting better and better.
What’s been your favorite short to screen so far?
Oh, wow! I’m not sure I can choose just one, because they all have something great to offer, which is why they were chosen. “The Nest” (Volume 1) really stands out, because you so rarely see that level of CGI in a short, and the same could be said for “Divination” (Volume 3). “Franky and the Ant” (Volume 1) has just torched the festival circuit, winning awards left and right. “Til Death” (Volume 4 ~ coming soon) is a hilarious homage to Hitchcock’s Strangers on a Train. And “Get Off My Porch” (Volume 3) is just a brilliant piece from Patrick Rea. Those are just a few that jump out, off the top of my head, but there’s really not a bad short to be found in any volume. A little something for everyone.
What do you look for in selecting them?
Well, first, everyone involved with the show actively seeks out projects. Each of us know filmmakers, whether through those we’ve worked with prior, or met along the way. We also attend lots of film fests, so we get to see many of these projects. If it’s a great short, then we go after it. We look for great stories, with solid, quality work both in front of, and behind, the camera. Our goal is to showcase what these filmmakers are capable of, and expose our audience to the mass of talent that’s out there.
What kind of fans have you discovered the show has? I see you have a big following online!
That’s starting to be the really fun part about doing this show. Our fan base is growing quickly, and we’re starting to get a wonderful cult following. The fans are starting to engage us more than ever, and we love it! We set out to make ourselves accessible. No matter how big the show becomes, we will always respond to our awesome fans, because without them, we wouldn’t be here. Scott, Rachel, and I are all thrilled when we hear from them.
Has screening so many of these horror shorts inspired you to make one yourself?
Personally, I have aspirations of directing, at some point, so that’s definitely in the works. When will I actually have time to do that? Who knows! Certainly, if an opportunity presented itself, and the timing was right, I’d be game.
How about a narrative feature film starring the three of you? That Lulu could definitely put bums on cinema seats!
Yeah, Scott and I have come to grips with the fact that nobody is tuning in to watch us! Lulu is indeed the main attraction, and I would have to agree, she would put butts in the buckets. If the fans want a feature, we’d certainly look at doing one! We’re always looking for the next way to spin and expand the show, so why not?
Interview by Phil Wheat (@NerdlyUK)
Hillbilly Horror Show Volume 1-3 are available to stream for just 99p at TheHorrorShow.TV
