'Bitch Ass' director Bill Posley and cast know why the horror genre is killing right now
It’s no secret - the scary movie and TV trend isn’t going anywhere but up heading into 2023. With the back-to-back box office success of Smile slaughtering up the competition including a star-studded Amsterdam release and 90’s horror icon Chucky having a successful series to Michael Myers still somehow being alive and thriving with movie ticket sales to prove it in 2022 - it’s safe to say it’s going to remain scurry for a long time.
But with every genre comes a standout you honestly didn’t see coming and find yourself attached to - immediately. Hollywood actor turned director Bill Posley’s passion project Bitch Ass officially comes out Friday, October 14 and it takes comedy, horror and all the gory in-between stuff to a whole other level.
Bill and Bitch Ass stars Tunde Laleye and Me’lisa Sellers come through clutch for Attack The Culture with a chop up session about their new movie, the genre winning across all platforms and why the newest addition to the horror movie icons isn’t your traditional slasher villain. As always, check out highlights from the discussion below and keep scrolling for the full-fledged interview.
Why is horror killing it right now? No pun intended.
Me’lisa: I’m going to speculate. Maybe it’s the level of escapism that you get with horror. Of course the shock value. There’s something about escaping and being - I spoke on this recently saying it’s kind of like being on a rollercoaster ride and just kind of inching up, inching up, inching up knowing that when you get to the top and go over to the other side it’s going to be, ‘Ahhhh!’ You know what I mean? The shock of how it’s going to feel compared to all the other rollercoasters and experiences. I think there’s just something about sitting somewhere, escaping and being taken on this journey of ‘I don’t know what the hell is going to happen. Am I going to be peeing in my pants? Jumping out of my seat screaming?’ That has a lot to do with it.
And then for the horror that’s a bit more political. I think it’s a way to not preach at people and introduce very important ideas and it’s all encompassing. That’s what I think and speculate.
Tunde: I just think people have always been fascinated with thrill. There’s a reason why Halloween is one of the most celebrated holidays not just in the United States but in the world period. People like the idea of being frightened and just getting out of your comfort zone and something coming after you.
I think our film does a remarkable job and that’s a reason why the public resonates with horror so far.
Bill: I think what’s great is horror, to me, is the only genre that horror is the star. Part of that is that with the box office and all this stuff, the idea that like Smile doesn’t need to have Christian Bale in it and directed by David O. Russell to shine because it is like, to me, the great equalizer that when you come up with a concept. A killer. A plot. Or a scare that is so intriguing and so interesting that you can get people to forgo tentpole names that they already know. I think that’s what’s always made horror special.
It is literally the great equalizer when you are low-budget or first-time moviemaker. People will come watch this because they’re not reliant on the names or the household names that they already know. I think that has a lot to do with why horror is important and to take that even a step farther, I think horror is a genre that everybody relates to because I think horror has always been on the pulse of society.
Obviously Get Out is something that likens to that as well but one of the things that I always think horror has allowed is you get to see people in society who are underdogs win.
You get to see women take charge. You get to see people of color take charge. Anyone who is an underdog, you get to see nerds. People who have been bullied. People who have been this. To me, it’s one of the most relatable genres and always has been.
I think it’s something where the genre is more important than who is in front of the camera.
Me’lisa, you already have a connection to the horror genre from the movie Split, what made you want to take part in this film to help get Bill’s vision to the masses?
Me’lisa: Marsia. The character of Marsia and her relationship with her son and her need to protect him at all costs. It’s a story that I know and I wanted to fill the shoes and I wanted to breathe life into an African American woman who had ‘that’ and I know it sounds strange speaking about a horror film to say that but I think it’s part of the pulse of the film.
It’s their relationship and how close they are to each other. But also, I just fell in love with the script and I’ve said before, once I was invited to the call back, I fell in love with Bill and Jonathan and I just heavily respected and valued what they created. I felt like I had a bit of foresight that it would be good and I would be good in it.
And then just some of the stuff I got to do in the film! I was like, ‘Oh my god! Yes! Give it to me!’ I wanted it so bad so yeah, those are all of those things that drew me to it.
Tunde: Man, the idea of the first Black boogieman? That was a win for me already. I also liked the character. Cecil. I could relate to the character. It’s a story of an underdog and a kid that was picked on a lot and a kid that was bullied and I felt like I could relate to it.
Coming from a different country, I went through similar situations. Not like I got bullied physically but I was teased for being different. I’m just the biggest fan of Bill Posley, man. Not only Bill Posley is an amazing director and writer, but he’s also a stand-up comedian. So I met Bill at one of his stand-up comics and I was like, ‘Oh my goodness. This guy is amazing. He has a vision. If I ever have an opportunity to work with Bill, I will do it.’ I read the script and it just took me on this incredible roller coaster.
I was like, ‘Oh my goodnesss. Cecil. Come on.’ I’m always rooting for the underdog, man. I was like, ‘Absolutely. I have to be a part of this.’
Check out what Bill, Me’lisa and Tunde had to say about their most memorable experience from filming, putting the movie together during the height of COVID-19 before vaccinations were available and the close-knit bond everyone shared on and off-set below!
