INT: William Butler

Last Updated on July 28, 2021

The
Arrow interviews William Butler

William Butler has been
around! No I don’t mean his sex life your pervs, I mean his horror
life! He has done everything! From acting in Ghoulies 2, Friday the
13Th Part 7, Leatherface, Night of the Living Dead and the list goes
on, to working special effects for films like From beyond and
Village of the Damned. Today he’s focused more on writing (ROTLD
4-5) and directing (Madhouse). I caught up with Mr. Butler and
here’s what he back-handed my way.

What’s your favorite horror movie?

I have several really, but I’d have
to say “The Innocents” by Truman Capode is my favorite. Debra Kerr
plays a nanny who agrees to take care of two children who turn out
to be quite diabolical. It’s a very scary film that uses no make-up
effects what so ever, but keeps you glued to the screen.

You’ve acted, written and directed
genre films while doing much more on other levels within the
industry. What is it about horror that cranks your dial so much?

It’s because I am totally fucked
up… J
I dunno, I just love the genre very much and always have. Since I
was old enough to read and my mother turned me onto Edgar Allen Poe,
I have been obsessed with everything that goes bump in the night. I
knew I was going to work in show business since I was eight. I never
cared about being famous or popular for what I do – I always aimed
to do what makes me happy and somehow, through some awesome stroke
of luck…I made it happen. I feel so fortunate to do what I do and to
have the chance to be interviewed by sites like this, when I’d be at
home reading them anyway. I am a hardcore fan first and foremost.

Do you ever find it difficult to
remain focused since you are such a “Jack of all Trades”? Or would
you say it’s an advantage?

When I was acting I only
focused on that. As I have said before, I had to work really hard
to stay in the game. Even in order to stay thin enough, I literally
would eat one meal a day – trust me, for a guy like me that in itself
took most of my concentration. When I was performing I lived on the
verge of hunger for like twelve years to keep my fat ass in shape.
Then you have to stay in class and constantly network and study. I
wanted to stay working so I stayed focused.

Years later when I became a writer
for National Lampoon I realized that I enjoyed that much more than
performing alone and started to change my focus. Not long after
that I became a producer at Fox Family, and eventually met Tom Fox
from the “Return” franchise and we started to work on several
projects which included “Madhouse.” I think the more skills you
have the better, if you are half decent at it what you do, all the
better. Trust me you need all the options you can get in Hollywood.

You wrote both of the upcoming
sequels: Return of the Living Dead Part 4 and 5. What were you
aiming to deliver when tackling these follow-ups?

Well, certainly not the film that
you ripped to shreds in your review.
J

Tom Fox and I met about five years ago. He told me that the
“Return” franchise was dead – which it was and asked me to
brainstorm some pitches for some potential new spins on the story.
I wrote a dozen pitches; the problem was that there were already ten
zombie films in production all with the same basic storyline, so we
had to come up with something that had a different approach. The one
thing I really loved about the original film was that it was funny –
and according to Tom unintentionally so.

The original story that I came up
with took place on a military base, but somehow the story evolved to
a prison that was created to hold zombies, that also functioned as a
zoo of sorts. Part five came out of the idea that the franchise
simply had to move forward somehow as how many sequels can you watch
where zombies are popping out of coffins? The idea of a “life after
death” drug angle came out of the many raves that were taking place
at the time we wrote it. After all is said and done, I am really
proud of how the scripts turned out. I haven’t seen the films yet so
I can’t really tell you that you don’t know what you are talking
about in your review…as much as I’d like to…he he. So, I do
understand part of your mentality, as a fan I like things to stay on
track as well…but, whether you agree with this mentality or not, it
is really, really hard to convince any production company to keep
making the same film over and over again.

My recommendation to anyone who
wants to stay true to the first film is, if you think you can’t
watch it without getting yourself upset, don’t watch it. If however,
you can’t get enough zombies and would watch them no matter what
then – CHECK IT OUT! I only wish that you guys that review films
could experience what movie folks go through to get a studio project
done. If you only knew the many hands that have their say in what
goes in and out of a film – you would never dare stick the blame of
what you don’t like on any one person. But like I told you
yesterday, I basically bitch about every film I ever see, so to each
his own. I enjoy your website and will continue to do so. Don’t
hate the playa – hate the game.

How much creative input, if any, did
you have while the films were being shot in Romania?

None. Unfortunately, once Tom Fox
passed away last October, I was cut out of the deal and the
production took over. We had originally wanted Tobe Hooper to
direct, but once Tom passed they moved on to Ellory, who is a great
guy and did a good job I heard. We polished the script according to
their notes and were asked to leave the production.

You’ve been killed my Jason, a
Ghoulie, Leatherface, Freddy, Zombies and more…which horror icon
would you like to be killed by next?

I mostly write and direct these
days, so I would have to say I will next be killed by old age or
overdose.

The title of Dead Grrl (a film
you’re set to direct) tantalizes me. What is it about and where is
the picture at in terms of production?

The film is an overtop combination
of The Bad Seed meets Evil Dead. These horribly spoiled and awful
teenagers end up at the house where a dead pageant child has been
brought back to life with black magic. Unfortunately, she isn’t
quite the same and goes on a ruthless murdering spree. She’s Jon
Benet Ramsey meets the Tasmanian Devil.

Other than that; what’s next up for
you acting/writing/producing/directing/etc. wise? Any projects in
the works?

I am currently editing a project for
the Disney Channel that I just directed and am writing the Paul
Lynde Story with my writing partner Aaron Strongoni. Other than
that you can usually find me staggering around two or three horror
conventions a year.

Having been so deep in the movie
business for a while; what would be the key thing that you’ve
learned about it? Share the wisdom…SHARE I SAID!

Choose your battles wisely. Your
worst enemy could very well end up your greatest supporter one the
next project. I also learned to accept when someone doesn’t like
work that I have done, because it’s all very subjective.

When he’s not working 24/7 what does
William Butler do to kick back?

Try and stay out of trouble for
one. Kick it with my dog Gibby Haines and George and Weezie the
cats. My idea of heaven is laying in bed with a pile of bad DVD
movies.

What’s your favorite alcoholic
beverage?

Yes.

NICE!

I’d
like to thank William for checking into the site and sharing the
horror love. Keep kicking man and we’ll keep watching!

SEE WILLIAM’S IMDb PROFILE HERE

READ
ARROW’S ROTLD 5 REVIEW HERE