Some interviews feel like formal press obligations. Others feel like conversations you've been meaning to have for years. Sitting down with Jason Lei Howden felt like the latter. As someone who has admired his work since the original Deathgasm, this was a discussion that felt long overdue. The funny thing is that within minutes of talking to him, the interview stopped feeling like an interview altogether. It felt like catching up with an old friend over a few drinks while discussing movies, heavy metal, filmmaking, and the bizarre journey that eventually became Deathgasm II: Goremageddon.
That easygoing personality might be one reason audiences connect so strongly with Howden's films. Whether it's Deathgasm, Guns Akimbo, or now Deathgasm II, there is an unmistakable sincerity beneath all the chaos. The gore is bigger, the jokes are louder, and the situations are completely absurd, but everything comes from a filmmaker who genuinely loves the worlds he creates. That passion became especially important during the years-long battle to bring Deathgasm II: Goremageddon to the screen.
The original Deathgasm was released in 2015 and quickly found its audience among horror fans, metalheads, and anyone who appreciated its unique blend of supernatural horror, outrageous gore, and heartfelt comedy. From the outside, a sequel seemed inevitable. Reality proved far more complicated. During our conversation, Howden reflected on the numerous setbacks that threatened to kill the project altogether. Funding fell through. Plans changed. Opportunities disappeared. At various points, it would have been understandable if most filmmakers had simply walked away. Instead, the struggle became part of the motivation. As Howden explained, after hearing "no" enough times, it eventually stopped being about whether the sequel would happen and became about proving that it could happen. The determination to get Goremageddon made transformed the project into something more personal than a typical follow-up.
Ironically, finally finishing the film brought its own strange emotions. After spending years fighting to make something a reality, crossing the finish line almost felt surreal. Howden spoke about reaching completion and suddenly realizing the journey itself had become such a major part of his life. For many creators, the hardest part of making a movie is production. For Deathgasm II, simply getting the opportunity to make the movie became its own marathon. That perseverance can be felt throughout the finished film, which never comes across like a filmmaker cashing in on nostalgia. Instead, it feels like someone returning to a world they genuinely missed.
Perhaps that's why Deathgasm II: Goremageddon feels so confident in its identity. Rather than attempting to recreate the original film beat for beat, Howden embraced the opportunity to push things in a new direction. During our conversation, he pointed to Gremlins 2 as a major influence on his approach, admiring the way that film used its sequel status to become stranger, bigger, and more self-aware. He explained that he never wanted to simply make "a sequel exactly like the first one." Instead, he wanted to have fun with audience expectations and explore how these characters might evolve after surviving the insanity of the original film. The result is a sequel that understands what fans loved about Deathgasm while refusing to become trapped by it.
That willingness to experiment is evident from the opening moments. One of the first things that struck me about Goremageddon was its animated introduction, which efficiently catches audiences up on past events while immediately establishing the film's wild energy. Howden explained that accessibility was important to him because he wanted newcomers to be able to jump into the film without feeling lost. At the same time, longtime fans would still find plenty of references and callbacks waiting for them throughout the story. It is a delicate balancing act that many legacy sequels fail to achieve, but Goremageddon manages to pull it off by remembering that entertainment should come before homework.
Another topic that produced some of the most entertaining discussion was Jesse Dead, one of the sequel's breakout characters. Anyone who has seen the film knows exactly why audiences are going to be talking about him afterward. Howden spoke enthusiastically about actor Kieran Charnock's performance and how thoroughly he committed himself to the role. According to Howden, Charnock "totally just became that character," disappearing into a personality that is simultaneously hilarious, irritating, and strangely authentic. The inspiration behind Jesse Dead stemmed from Howden's own experiences growing up around metal culture and witnessing its evolution over the years. Rather than creating a one-note parody, he built a character that represents a collision between different generations of music fans. The result is someone who can be laughably self-important one moment and completely unforgettable the next. As Howden jokingly described him during our conversation, Jesse is "a total douchebag" and "such a weasel," which only makes him funnier.
Of course, there is another aspect of Deathgasm II that fans are guaranteed to discuss, and that is the practical effects. Horror fans regularly talk about the importance of practical craftsmanship, but Goremageddon serves as a reminder of why those effects continue to resonate. The film is packed with inventive gore sequences, grotesque transformations, and visual insanity that frequently leave audiences wondering how certain shots were even accomplished. Speaking about those sequences, Howden was quick to credit the artists and technicians responsible for bringing them to life. He praised the practical effects team as "total legends" and spoke about the countless challenges involved in coordinating ambitious effects work on a limited budget. The production's relocation to Saskatchewan created additional logistical hurdles, as the filmmakers worked to transform Canada into a convincing stand-in for New Zealand while simultaneously executing some of the biggest practical set pieces of Howden's career.
What becomes clear while talking to him is that he approaches filmmaking as a collaborative process. Many directors discuss their work in terms of personal vision. Howden consistently redirected attention toward the people around him. Whether discussing actors, effects artists, crew members, or the fans who helped fund the sequel through Kickstarter, his enthusiasm for collaboration remained evident throughout our conversation. That perspective likely explains why his films feel so cohesive despite their chaotic exteriors. Behind every exploding body and every ridiculous joke is a filmmaker who understands that movies succeed because talented people come together to build something larger than themselves.
One of my favorite moments from our conversation came when I asked what kind of audience reaction he enjoys seeing most. Rather than saying he wants people to love his work, Howden offered a more interesting answer. He said he hopes audiences either love it or hate it. What matters most is that they feel something. He explained that the worst outcome for a filmmaker is creating something forgettable. Whether viewers are laughing, cheering, squirming, or recoiling in disbelief, at least the movie has made an impact. That philosophy perfectly summarizes not only Deathgasm II: Goremageddon but also Howden's entire filmography. His movies are not designed to blend into the background. They are designed to get a reaction.
As our conversation wrapped up, I found myself reflecting on something Howden mentioned almost in passing. Looking back on his career, he admitted that he's proud simply to have made three feature films at all, joking that he never expected to make even one. It was a humble comment, but it also highlighted how much gratitude he has for the opportunities he's been given and for the fans who have supported him along the way. That appreciation feels especially fitting considering that Deathgasm II only exists because a passionate fanbase refused to let it die.
After finally seeing the finished film and spending time talking with its creator, one thing became abundantly clear. Deathgasm II: Goremageddon is more than a sequel. It is the culmination of years of persistence, passion, and refusal to give up. It is also a reminder of why Jason Lei Howden remains one of the most exciting voices working in genre cinema today. He continues to make the kinds of movies that only he would make, and the horror community is better for it.
More importantly, he remains exactly the kind of person you hope he is. Smart, funny, self-deprecating, and endlessly enthusiastic about the things he loves, Jason Lei Howden is a class act. This conversation may have been long overdue, but it was absolutely worth the wait. Every time he releases a new film, I'll be there opening weekend, and after talking with him, I'm more excited than ever to see what madness he dreams up next.
Jessie Hobson