PopHorror Let's Get Scared
Ice Nine Kills is once again expanding its twisted cinematic universe — this time with a Tim Burton twist and the help of a horror legend.
On Oct. 9, the band dropped the music video for its highly-anticipated song “The Laugh Track,” inspired by the 1989 Batman film by Burton and its iconic villain, The Joker (Jack Nicholson, The Shining 1980). Donning the character’s purple, blue and orange ensemble (and possibly the best SFX makeup of INK’s video lineup to date thanks to designer Christopher Nelson and MUA Jill Fogel), vocalist Spencer Charnas leads a whimsically grotesque parade through the streets of Gotham City while singing the earworm-inducing tune:
“So join the parade, turn that frown upside down. While you’re screaming in pain, I’ll be laughing out loud…”
As if this colorful spectacle wasn’t enough, horror fans are given quite the treat at the end of the video — a special appearance by Matthew Lillard [our interview], whose involvement in this project was announced recently at Silver Scream Con. Lillard said at the event:
“Spencer and I are friends and we’ve been friends for a while now. We have been collaborating in the shadows as you slept quietly in your beds…”
In fact, it was an exciting dual announcement. Lillard and Charnas also teamed up to craft and release on Oct. 9 a new whiskey — expertly dubbed Horrorwood Reserve — through Lillard’s company, Macabre Spirits. Described as screams in a bottle, the whiskey is available in two collectible limited editions, Golden Age and Silver Scream. Both sets contain a bottle of whiskey, a glass topper and cocktail recipe cards. Charnas said:
“Horrorwood Reserve is the liquid soundtrack to your favorite slasher flick. It tastes like suspense, danger and the satisfaction of surviving until the credits roll.”
The whiskey is prominently featured throughout “The Laugh Track,” with Lillard appearing as himself at the end to defend his brand’s collab with INK. As is the case throughout the INKverse, Charnas is portrayed as, well, a bit unhinged. That’s why Lillard’s business/PR associates — Winston Jackson (Phil Morris, Atlantis: The Lost Empire 2001) and Jimmy Fling (Terry Kiser, Friday the 13th Part VII: The New Blood 1988) — have concerns that his image will be ruined. Morris is particularly hilarious in this scene, giving horror fans who might also love Seinfeld a quick nod to Jackie Chiles when he says, “This band is vicious, violent, vitriolic.”
Currently, it’s unknown when Ice Nine Kills plans to drop more new music (and maybe a third edition of The Silver Scream?!). But one thing is certain: Both of their recent releases — “The Great Unknown” and “The Laugh Track” — are a reminder that no one blends horror and melody quite like this band. We can’t wait to see what’s on the horizon and who might join the INKverse next…
