AJ Bowen Biography

AJ BOWEN

Date of Birth: December 21, 1977

AJ Bowen is best known for his roles in horror films such as The Signal, A Horrible Way to Die and You’re Next.

AJ was born Alfred C. Bowen Jr. in Marietta, Georgia. Unlike most actors, AJ was late to enter the world of acting. He made his screen debut at 27 in Jacob Gentry’s 2004 drama Last Goodbye.

Following his debut, AJ began to create a niche for himself in the genre of horror films. From 2006 to 2010, he would have roles in six horror films, including Ti West’s The House of the Devil, Adam Edward Brooks’ The Season and James Spanos’ Maidenhead.

AJ’s next notable role came in David Bruckner’s sci-fi thriller The Signal. Although it premiered at various festivals such as the Sundance Film Festival in 2007, it didn’t receive a limited theatrical release until 2008. The horror flick tells the story of a mysterious transmission signal that transforms people into killers. AJ’s performance as Lewis Denton earned him a Chainsaw Award for Best Supporting Actor at the Fangoria Chainsaw Awards.

In 2010, AJ received acclaim for Adam Wingard’s horror 2011 film, A Horrible Way to Die. The film, which follows an escaped murderer on the hunt for his ex-girlfriend, continued to cement AJ’s place in dark films. The film won three awards at the Austin Fantastic Fest, including Best Screenplay and Best Actor for AJ.

Since 2011, AJ has continued to take on roles in films in the horror, thriller and mystery genres. These films included Padraig Reynolds’ Rites of Spring, Adam Wingard’s What Fun We Were Having and Ti West’s The Sacrament.

AJ reunited with Adam Wingard for their third horror film together, titled You’re Next. Although it was completed in 2011, Lionsgate did not release the film until 2013. The film follows a gang of killers who invade a wedding anniversary, only to find that one of the victims has no qualms about getting revenge.

You’re Next received critical acclaim when it played at the Toronto International Film Festival and Fantastic Fest in 2011. It was the runner-up film for TIFF’s prestigious People’s Choice Award, losing to Nadine Labaki’s Where Do We Go Now? At the Fantastic Fest, it received four out of five awards it was nominated for, including Best Director, Best Film and Best Screenplay. In addition, it also won the SCI FI Jury Award at the 2013 Gerardmer Film Festival.

Filmography

You’re Next (2013)
Synchronicity (2013)
Grow Up, Tony Phillips (2013)
The Sacrament (2013)
Among Friends (2012)
Sun Don’t Shine (2012)
Rites of Spring (2011)
What Fun We Were Having (2011) A Horrible Way to Die (2011)
The Hatchet II (2010)
The House of the Devil (2009)
The Season (2008)
Maidenhead (2008)
The Signal (2008)
Last Goodbye (2004)