DEATHGASM

Amusing, thoroughly tacky horror/parody of metal music

RELEASED IN 2015 and written & directed by Jason Lei Howden, "Deathgasm” is a horror/comedy about a group of teens in Auckland, New Zealand, who start an extreme metal band named Deathgasm and inadvertently unleash dark forces that possess the nearby populace.

“Deathgasm” combines elements of “Evil Dead II” (1987), “Trick or Treat” (1986) and “Braindead” aka “Dead Alive” (1992). Amidst the sometimes profane and tasteless happenings, there are moments of masterful hilarity (e.g. the Peter Criss joke and the black metal photo op in the woods), including black comedy, naturally.

Numerous seminal bands are acknowledged throughout, some of which are worthy of the recognition and some not so worthy: Death, Judas Priest, Bathory, Slayer, GWAR, Cannibal Crap, ad nauseam. (Even Def Leppard is noted, which some might find odd, but it reveals the open mindedness of Howden; besides, they were definitely a metal band during their first few albums, albeit not extreme metal). Florida’s Trivium is curiously referenced throughout the flick, which tells me they’re a big hit in New Zealand (‘cause they ain’t all that big in the USA, although they’re certainly a formidable metal act).

The band’s name, Deathgasm, is presumably an homage to Wargasm and Death or Death Angel. The main protagonist, Brodie (Milo Cawthorne), looks like a cross between a young Alice Cooper and Keith Deen, the vocalist of Holy Terror (R.I.P.) while his buddy, Zakk (James Blake), resembles a pasty version of Conan the Barbarian. Kimberley Crossman is cute, curvy and formidable as the blonde babe, but the camera rarely zeroes-in on her beauty, unfortunately.

There’s the stereotypical myth that Christianity and Christians are opposed to metal, but Black Sabbath started the genre and they had overtly pro-Christian songs, like “After Forever” and “War Pigs.” If you doubt that, just read the lyrics. Or how about the ending of “Hallowed Be Thy Name”? Not to mention that there are scores of kick-axx metal bands that have espoused biblical themes in a positive sense, like Cage, Trouble, Megadeth, W.A.S.P., Saint, Tourniquet, Bride, Saviour Machine, Living Sacrifice, Antestor, Zao, Seventh Angel, Theocracy, Barnabas, Believer, Overkill, Deadly Blessing, Avenged Sevenfold and (of course) Stryper. Notice, by the way, that I didn’t say they were all “Christian bands,” just that they have all blatantly espoused biblical themes on occasion. Needless to say, the idea that metal is intrinsically anti-God is laughable. Get real. Christianity has been part of the genre since day one.

The accents are kinda thick so you might want to use the subtitles if you live outside of New Zealand and Australia.

THE MOVIE RUNS 1 hour, 26 minutes and was shot entirely in west Auckland. The soundtrack features several New Zealand bands unknown outside of the local scene.

GRADE: B