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Tom Arnold talks Dead Ant and, of course, Donald Trump – Metro US

Tom Arnold talks Dead Ant and, of course, Donald Trump

When you’re talking to Tom Arnold you’re never far away from Trump being brought into the conversation. 

The comedian even manages to bring a discussion regarding his latest movie Dead Ants back to the current President of the United States. That is some feat considering that Dead Ant is an enjoyable, funny, sci-fi romp that revolves around one hit wonder metal band Sonic Grave, which Arnold is the manager of, fighting for their lives against giant ants in the desert. 

Tom Arnold talks Trump and Dead Ant

After signing up for Dead Ant, Arnold went back and watched the sci-fi B-movies of the 1950s that inspired it, which, he was surprised to learn, were actually a lot better than he remembered.

“You know, with Trump as president, they hold up,” he insists. “The presidents [in these movies] are so stupid. They want a space force. The vice president is exactly like Mike Pence. These are from 1955 and it’s what’s happening in America right now!”

Arnold was mostly attracted to Dead Ant, though, because he knew exactly how to portray the “crabby” manager of Sonic Grave, who he based on Shep Gordon, his longtime friend that still manages Alice Cooper, and make him hilarious.

Especially as the filming conditions for the indie film mirrored those of the band trapped and under siege from the enormous insects. 

“It was definitely in my wheelhouse because the guy was so crabby, and, you know, he’s in the tight quarters of a Winnebago with these musicians. It was [actually] frustrating to shoot. The actors were wonderful. But I was like, ‘Oh my God these guys are driving me freaking nuts.’ It was just like the band and manger would be. So it was great and easy to play.”

This brings Arnold back to Trump, as he then insists that Sonic Grave “would have played his inauguration” at the behest of his character. 

“My character would have booked him in a heartbeat. They would have been playing for $40. Or they would have played for free, so yeah no doubt I think they would have been up there with Jon Voight. No doubt about it.”

Tom Arnold Donald Trump

Dead Ant also sparked some nostalgia for Arnold, as its combination of humor, horror and just being an all round hoot took him back to his youth and his love of the drive-in movie experience. 

“I grew up in a small town in Iowa with a drive-in theater. And the way this movie opens, the director shot this amazing opening, and when I watched the gal on the highway and what happens… man, that put me right back in Ottumwa, Iowa. You don’t watch those movies to go, ‘Oh that’s impossible.’ You’ve got to buy in. That’s what’s fun about these B movies.”

“You know people are like, ‘I can’t really believe in that movie.’ You know what, ‘F–k you!’ This is what you buy. That’s what made it so fun to play. So once I knew the ants were going to be big and scary then I was like, ‘I’m all in and get the right guys in and get the right gals and let’s have some fun!’”

Dead Ant is in select theaters, On Demand and Digital HD on Jan. 25.