STUDIO 666

US, 2022, 106 minutes, Colour.

Foo Fighters: Dave Grohl, Nate Mendel, Pat Smear, Chris Shiflett, Taylor Hawkins, Rami Jaffee, Whitney Cummings, Will Forte, Jeff Garlin, Jenna Ortega.

Directed by B.J.McDonnell.

This reviewer is indebted to a blogger for a succinct review: gory and goofy.

The main reason for seeing this film is to see Dave Grohl, larger-than-life, Kurt Cobain’s former drummer and founder of the rock group, Foo Fighters. It is an opportunity to see him and the whole group with their musical talent, plenty of opportunity. And, each of them, is able to display their prowess and finesse.

But, Foo Fighters fans may not be definite A’s of grisly horror films. But, that is what this Juanez, some gory touches at the opening to set a tone but after the music comes all kinds of gristle and Gore, demonic appearances, and the most graphic and macabre slayings. (For those not into this kind of horror they, maybe, will have to close their eyes and listen to the music!)

The screenplay is based on an idea by Dave Grohl which could be interpreted as self-promotion. However, he is a genial presence, larger-than-life, able to send himself up. And, at times, he plays the guitar as if possessed (and, according to the plot, he is!).

To brighten the proceedings there are some guest spots, Will Forte is an unfortunate would be musician who is a pizza deliverer. Then Dave Grohl has a dream singing Hello and who should enter into his dream but Lionel Richie himself! Jeff Garlin is the manager, money-preoccupied, but also in league with the devil.

In many ways, this is a typical be film which might hope one day to be a cult film (and probably will be given the reputation of the Foo Fighters). It is B budget – especially with some of the effects for the bizarre Demons. And, the individual Foo Fighters are given a lot to do and say in the drama of the narrative, about their work, their personalities, and becoming more and more involved in the bizarre goings on in the country estate where the audience knows there has been a massacre in the 1990s and that the Foo Fighters had walked into a trap.

It may have been a condition in the contracts for the Foo Fighters that they are not required to act. Acting is definitely not their forte.

For Dave Grohl fans and the music of the Foo Fighters if they can live with the gory horror (and the non-acting).