I am blessed because I witnessed this metal legend live back in the days in Austria, I am pretty sure it was 1999. Ronnie James Dio. What to say about him? The man, the legend, for me one of the best vocals and voices rock music ever had and will ever have. I was waiting for this movie since the day it was announced with early trailers. This man was responsible for metal horn sing, you know the one, with your hand, that all metalheads around the world use till this day. It was in fact sign against evil curses that his Italian grandmother used to make when she felt something threatening to her family. The movie describes Dio’s beginnings from his early r’n’b and doo wop singing abilities, to Elf and Richie Blackmore and Rainbow, then coming to Black Sabbath when practically no one believed that he will be able to fill in Ozzy’s shoes. Afterwards, his career peak with solo band, Holy Diver, full arenas and tours to nineties which broke hearts and put metal as underdogs. From all the hardships and heartbreaks, to return with Heaven & Hell, this man earned status of eternal metal legend. Small in height, but his voice is still soaring from metal afterlife, although he passed away from cancer, his legacy will never die. Excellent movie.
The same titled book is on my wish and to buy list for many months now. So, when I saw that the movie is made, a documentary based on that book, it was time for me to see it pronto. Based on Harald Oimoen and Brian Lew’s book, this one offers nice insight into Bay Area thrash metal scene, probably the most famous thrash metal scene in the world, coming out of California. This movie is chronological, from end of seventies and all the characters being teenagers and starting their own bands with people like guys from Metallica, Exodus, Testament, Slayer, Dark Angel, Megadeth interviewed in the movie, nice tribute to fallen brother Cliff Burton and great live action footages, describing golden years of thrash metal through eyes of people who are still active in their respected bands and delivering killer albums. My personal opinion is, maybe the movie should have focus less on Metallica, more on other bands, and maybe more anecdotes less facts already known, that would make even better movie, although this one is good and fun to watch. I will get the book soon and see the difference between book and movie, I am certain that you can not put entire book into an hour and a half of movie.
Shudder continues to bring us great horror and thriller movies and I have not seen one bad movie that bears their logo. This one is no exception. This French movie is set in Africa where a trio of mercenaries saved a Mexican drug dealer from military putsch in Guinea Bissau. They travel to remote compound based by Saloum river in Senegal. There they try to recuperate and get gasoline for further escape to Dakar, but things are not what they seem.
Well, this movie is great for three reasons. First, it is filmed beautifully, exteriors are so fantastic, it just looks fantastic. The second are characters which are carefully written and I love the main storyline about mercenaries boss Chaka and his focus on having revenge for the past. Also, the movie touches themes about modern slavery in Africa, child soldiers and child molestation. Third, I love how movies suddenly twists from war torn thriller to Carpenter inspired horror about a group of people trapped in a compound trying to survive and get free being surrounded. The ending is bittersweet, kind of almost poetic but sad in lots of ways. This is a superb movie and possible one of the best Shudder releases that came out this year.
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