Metal: A Headbanger's Journey (2005)

Directors:

Sam Dunn
Scot McFadyen

Writers:

Sam Dunn (writer)
Scot McFadyen (writer)

Release Date:

21 June 2006 (USA)

Genre:

Documentary | Music

Plot:

Sam Dunn is a 30-year old anthropologist who wrote his graduate thesis on the plight of Guatemalan refugees...

Plot Keywords:

Metal | Heavy Metal | Censorship | Conservative Morals | Rock Festival

Awards:

1 win & 1 nomination

Cast

Chris Adler	...	Himself
Tom Araya	...	Himself
Gavin Baddeley	...	Himself
Blasphemer	...	Himself
Randy Blythe	...	Himself
Alice Cooper	...	Himself
Pamela Des Barres	...	Herself
Bruce Dickinson	...	Himself
Ronnie James Dio	...	Himself
Malcolm Dome	...	Himself
Sam Dunn	...	Himself
Robert Ezrin	...	Himself
George Fisher	...	Himself
Gaahl	...	Himself
Donna Gaines	...	Herself
Al Gore	...	Himself (archive footage)
Tipper Gore	...	Herself (archive footage)
Angela Gossow	...	Herself
Ernest F. Hollings	...	Himself (archive footage)
Ihsahn	...	Himself
Tony Iommi	...	Himself
Joey Jordison	...	Himself
John Kay	...	Himself
Kerry King	...	Himself
Chuck Klosterman	...	Himself
Mercedes Lander	...	Herself
Morgan Lander	...	Herself
Geddy Lee	...	Himself
Lemmy	...	Himself
Tom Morello	...	Himself
Necrobutcher	...	Himself
Vince Neil	...	Himself
Doro Pesch	...	Herself
Samoth	...	Himself
James 'Munky' Shaffer	...	Himself
Brian Slagel	...	Himself
Dee Snider	...	Himself
Corey Taylor	...	Himself
Eddie Trunk	...	Himself
Robert Walser	...	Himself
Alex Webster	...	Himself
Rob Zombie	...	Himself

Also Known As:

Metal - Uma Jornada pelo Mundo do Heavy Metal (Brazil) [pt]
Metal: A Headbanger's Journey (Finland) [fi]

MPAA:

Rated R for language, violent images, some nudity and sexual content.

Runtime:

USA:96 min | Canada:96 min (Toronto International Film Festival) | Canada:96 min | Australia:98 min

Country:

Canada

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Certification:

Canada:18A | Australia:M | USA:R | Finland:K-11 | Netherlands:12 | Singapore:M18 | Brazil:14

Filming Locations:

Canada

Company:

Banger Productions

Trivia:

Varg Vikernes was released from prison the week of May 13 2009 after serving nearly 16 years.

Goofs:

Factual errors: In the movie Sam says that Varg Vikernes received a life sentence for his crimes. In Norway, however, there is no life sentence. He got the maximum 21 years.

Quotes:

Sam Dunn: Ever since I was 12 years old I had to defend my love for heavy metal against those who say it's a less valid form of music. My answer now is that you either feel it or you don't. If metal doesn't give that overwhelming surge of power that make the hair stand up at the back of your neck, you might never get it, and you know what? That's okay, because judging by the 40,000 metalheads around me we're doing just fine without you.

Movie Connections:

Features Heavy Metal Parking Lot (1986)

Soundtrack:

Prelude and Fugue in A Minor

Color me impressed

I saw the film today and was mighty impressed. The film captured the buzz in the '80s when heavy metal became the biggest thing going. It was good to see Iron Maiden and Judas Priest contrasted to current bands such as Slipknot to show how the spirit of the genre is thriving. Tony Iommi, Dee Snider and Ronnie James Dio all give standout interviews with Dio's digs at Gene Simmons being especially revealing. It was also great to see '80s curiosities Accept and Quebec's own Voivod being represented. The segment contrasting the grunting, leather-clad bands such as Man O War with the lace-wearing bands such as Poison and Cinderella was unexpected and fascinating. Showing the closeted Rob Halford performing in full cruising gear for a rabid hetero audience was quite poignant. I especially like how the film stresses how the music let its fans dream, cope and find solace. Those like myself, whose interest in metal may have flagged in the intervening years would do well to view it and remind themselves what all of the fuss was about.