Bishop Stevens began his career as a professional wrestler, where you might have known him as “The Atomic Dogg” and “Ali Stevens” in World Championship Wrestling and World Wrestling Entertainment. After ending his career in the ring, Stevens began acting in 2013, where he appeared in many television series and feature films in supporting roles. However, get ready for what could be his breakout role, that of Birdy family member Brutus, a masked maniac who has brute strength and wields a chainsaw in Brute 1976, now on Digital from Cinephobia Releasing. 

WFG: Nice to meet you, Bishop. I am very excited to talk to you about Brute 1976 as it is definitely one of my favorite indie horror films of the year.

BS: The pleasure is all mine brother, I’ve been a fan of your writings for awhile now. So I’m really glad to hear you enjoyed the movie.

WFG: Your character of Brutus fits perfectly. He is a beast who is the big bad enforcer of the family. What inspired you to take on the role and were you allowed to put your input into the character?

BS: That is a funny story , if you believe in the old saying “right place at the right time” or “everything happens for a reason” . We were filming a movie called The Baton Rouge Serial Killer and we had to stop production because fell in Illinois where we were filming. It didn’t look like fall in Louisiana so we had to wait till spring or summer to finish filming. So, I get a call from Sarah French, and she’s like a little sister to me. She tells me about Brute 1976 and the actor who was to play Brutus bailed on them. I’m not gonna lie. I had no idea it would become as big as it’s becoming. But I’m a big Texas Chain Saw Massacre fan. They told me I would be running around in a mask with a chainsaw, I was like, say less. 

WFG: The team of Marcel Walz (director), Joe Knetter (writer), and Sarah French (co-star) have been hitting home runs with That’s a Wrap and Garden of Eden as of late. What was it like working with them on the film?

BS: Well this goes back to your previous question. I love working with them, Joe is like that long lost brother you finally get to kick it with and Marcel is one of the most flexible and creative directors I’ve ever worked with. They were not only open to my input on the character development but they encouraged it. And that gave us one of the most original fight scenes in horror movie straight from the wrestling ring. Chair shot, body slam, into a camel clutch, never been done in a horror movie.

WFG: What was your favorite kill of the film? There is one that totally got to me and made me cringe, but it definitely is a highlight kill sequence.

BS: I honestly don’t have a favorite in 1976 but there are a few in 1986 that are just unbelievable. I know the one that made you and every guy in the world cringe but believe it or not Joe, Marcel and Robert Kern managed to out do it.

WFG: In addition to Brute 1976, you appear in a new movie called Trick and Treats with Malcolm McDowell and Gary Busey. Can you tell us about the film and your character in it?

BS: Man I have worked with a lot of name actors in my career but to work with legendary actors Malcolm McDowell and Gary Busey was a godsend. Yeah, a lot of people are anticipating the success of Trick and Treats. Gravitas Ventures and Apple TV are putting a lot into it this Halloween season. It’s a supernatural horror film based on the nursery rhyme “Peter, Peter, Pumpkin Eater”. A group heading to a Halloween costume party ends up at the wrong place at the wrong time. I play Big Ed, the enforcer for an outlaw biker club who has ownership of a possessed jack-o’-lantern (Treat voiced by Malcolm McDowell). Gary Busey plays a devoured preacher in search of the Jack-o’-lantern. The big question is who’s trapped with who? Are partygoers trapped with the bikers? Are the bikers trapped with the partygoers? Or is everyone trapped with Treat? 

WFG: A movie I am anticipating is Brute 1986, the sequel to Brute 1976. How excited are you about this film and without spoiling too much, what can we expect in this one?

BS: Like I said the SFX for 1986 will not only make you cringe but will make you second guess your own eyes and ask “did they really do that”. There will be a lot of people hitting that playback button (Laughs). 

WFG: Brute 1976 is now on Digital from Cinephobia Releasing and Trick and Treats is now on Apple TV+. Check them out today and Bishop, it’s a pleasure to have met you and can’t wait to get in touch again!  

BS: It’s a blessing to have two movies popping off at the same time, especially two movies attached to such a great fanbases.  And I thank you for covering them, I look forward to our next conversation.