Music and film are two constructs that
fit so perfectly that they might as well be sending each construction
paper hearts with glitter glue lovey words. With something that can
be as epic, brutal and at times, goony as heavy metal, it is always
natural for it to cross-pollinate with the wild world of film.
Luckily for us, someone was ballsy, brave, educated and, yes, metal
enough to traipse these curious waters. That man? Mike McPadden and
his book, Heavy Metal Movies: Guitar Barbarians, Mutant Bimbos &Cult Zombies Amok in the 666 Most Ear- and Eye-Ripping Big-ScreamFilms Ever!
This is a book, nay, a tome, that loves
metal more than the older brother of your best friend in junior high
who used to sell skunk weed to underage kids at the roller rink. Even
more than that acquaintance you once had who could quote Rush's “Fly
By Night” by heart, worshiped at the altar of Ronnie James Dio and
happened to have at least one 8-sided dice in his/her pocket. In
fact, the only way this book could be more dedicated to the genre of
heavy metal is if it was spit shining the studded codpiece of Blackie
Lawless himself.
 | |
| The one and true Thor |
One of the first things that stands out
about about Heavy Metal Movies is its sheer density. Even as someone
who is both a professional (yes, because I am that fancy) film writer
and a longtime heavy metal music fan, I was shocked that there were
that many movies that fit the criteria. Which is really a testament
to the tireless research McPadden put into this book. The expected
titles are written about, including for my money, the most uber-metal
film of them all, ROCK & ROLL NIGHTMARE starring the one and only
true Thor, the Canadian hard rock god. Seriously, forget about The
Avengers and all of that and pick up ROCK & ROLL NIGHTMARE. In a
fair and just world, every movie would have the hulky, blonde
presence of Jon-Mikl Thor.
But the flip side of that is a film
like ACE VENTURA: PET DETECTIVE. Initially, that may seem about as
heavy metal as a Stryper concert, save for one very key detail, which
is the presence of death metal legends Cannibal Corpse. Having seen
this film years ago, how I forgot about Cannibal Corpse being in it
is beyond me. Maybe that detail got lost amongst the singing operatic
butts, Udo Kier (whom, some could argue, is even more metal than
Cannibal Corpse themselves) and the lame, even at the time of the
film's release, CRYING GAME twist ending. Even better, is that
McPadden then informs us that the sole reason that the band
responsible for some of the most grisly album cover art and music in
the annals of metal, is even in the movie itself, is due to VENTURA
star himself, Jim Carrey. The mental image of Jim Carrey rocking out
to some supreme death metal trumps everything that is actually in ACE VENTURA.
The book itself
opens up with, appropriately enough, an interview with the godfather
of horror-rock himself, Alice Cooper. (I type this as the ghost of
Screaming Lord Sutch grimaces from the afterworld. It's okay, I love
them both.) Cooper, having not only integrated horror movie ambiance
and imagery with his stage shows, also has acted in such notable
scary movies as John Carpenter's PRINCE OF DARKNESS, the
Italian-oddity MONSTER DOG and the ooky-spookiest of them all, SGT. PEPPER'S LONELY HEARTS CLUB BAND. With a pedigree like that, as well
as a hilarious cameo in WAYNE'S WORLD he is the perfect interview to
set the tone for Heavy Metal Movies.
As ambitious as it
is epochal, with a resume like Mike McPadden's, it feels like a
no-fail formula. Here is a writer that was practically built for the
job. His background includes working for Hustler back in the 1990's
and even writing the script for the Skin-a-max staple ANIMAL INSTINCTS 3 (under the pseudonym Selwyn Harris, which are both nods
to the legendary Grindhouses of NYC) and being hip enough to include
a Steve Albini reference. How many “erotic thrillers” included
references to the famed producer and former member of Big Black? Only
one and McPadden wrote it. In addition to helming the seminal early
90's zine, Happyland, he also currently dips his toes into the trash
culture waters with his site, McBeardo.
All of this
experience shines well in Heavy Metal Movies, with there being a
sweet balance of humor, fucking A attitude but all with an
undercurrent of being smart and impeccably researched. This is one of
those films books where you may learn something new, but even if you
don't, you are gonna have fun reading it one way or the other. Kudos
to both McPadden and the publisher Bazillion Points for not only
releasing this work but having it laid out in such a comic-book fun
level.
For fringe-film culture fans and heavy
metal converts alike, Heavy Metal Movies is the book equivalent of
the cover art for Anthrax's appropriately named debut. But in lieu of
a iron studded wrist going through your skull, you get some wicked
writing and the only film book to my knowledge that intentionally has
666 movie reviews. It's enough to make the dark lord proud.
Copyright 2014 Heather Drain
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