70's Headbanger Throwback A Winner

by Jason R. Hewlett

Sometimes you get a concept movie that works and this is one of them. What could have a 90 minute promo ad for the rock band KISS turns out to be a really witty, energetic rock ' n romp that is enjoyable from start to finish.

The plot, by screenwriter Carl V. Dupne, revolves around four high school headbangers who take off to Detroit during the fall of 1978 to see a KISS concert. What follows is part road movie, part losers triumphant storytelling.

Actually, calling the leads losers is wrong: they're headbangers. Rebels of their era who danced to their own beat and hated Disco music (the 70s version of that crap we call Dance Music). It's a very honest portrait of the headbanger subculture and director Adam Rifkin has captured the look and feel of the 70s and the hard rock scene perfectly. He also throws in visual style and energy to spare to heighten his comedic moments. None of it may be overly believable, but it is alot of fun.

The cast fares well too. Edward Furlong is the only well known youth in the cast but his costars, Giuseppe Andrews, James DeBello, and Sam Huntignton all have their moments as well. As for the adults: Lin Shayne shines as a God preaching enemy to heavy metal music and Shannon Tweed is surprisingly good as a seductress to Furlong.

This is no classic by any stretch of the imagination but it does work as good summer fun and features a great soundtrack of 70's metal music. Give it a shot!

7 out of 10!