Studio 666 (2022)
Directed By: BJ McDonnell
Starring: Dave Grohl, Rami Jaffee, Taylor Hawkins, Pat Smear, Kerry King, Leslie Grossman
Plot Summary: The Foo Fighters move into a creepy mansion with a bloodstained history in order to record their tenth studio album. Things of course goes sideways pretty quickly in this love letter to ‘80s horror.
There is a long-standing tradition of movies featuring bands playing versions of themselves. These cinematic outings range from the well-known like The Beatles in “A Hard Day’s Night,” to the brain-melting and obscure films like 1978’s “Kiss Meets the Phantom of the Park.” The one common thread throughout these films is they are all various degrees of meta textual and of course strange. Director BJ McDonnell seems to be a fan by paying loving homage to these films with his latest directorial effort, “Studio 666.” McDonnell has quite the cred when it comes to horror, having credits including the “Hatchet” series, “Halloween ‘07” and music videos for Slayer. You can tell that clearly the director is a “died” in the wool horror fan as the movie plays like a pulpy rollercoaster of gore, Sam Raimi-esque slapstick, not to mention some spot-on humor.
One thing that is getting lost in the reviews is just how slick this movie looks. The cinematography is on-point and the movie has a clean and polished presentation that only comes from having years of experience in the director’s seat. Things are taken up a notch however as “Studio 666” celebrates its grimy-genre legacy within its visual landscape. This means we get some truly stunning neon drenched colors that reminded me of classic ‘80s horror and garish E.C. comics. Fans of the red red kroovy will also not be disappointed. This movie leans into the zany splatter and certainly feels like something straight out of an early Peter Jackson bloodbath, weirdness included.
This blood-caked love letter also makes sure to feel like a throwback in its sound design and of course music. This leads me to one incredibly awesome aspect which is the horror legend himself, John Carpenter creating an original piece for the film. Hearing Carpenter’s score kick in really had me cheering in my seat. I’m sure fellow fans will feel that way as well. Also, the insanely talented Dave Grohl playing a little bit of “Everlong” hit me right in the nostalgia feels, I won’t lie.
The cast is incredible with Grohl and the Foo Fighters turning in solid performances. The supporting cast and cameos are also damn impressive with Kerry King and Jason Trost. McDonnell isn’t afraid of taking this film into the realm of the batshit crazy. Intentionally corny dialogue and oddball set-pieces help give the film a tonally surreal feel. Though I was a fan, I will say that you will either be totally on-board for this absurdist, almost Dadaist humor or it will not work for you. Grohl throwing a tantrum about being a rock-star and getting the best parking for life had me rolling.
Though I enjoyed the movie, it is not without some rough edges. My biggest complaint is that the film clocks in at an hour-and forty-six minutes, and it could have easily had fifteen to twenty minutes trimmed. Indeed, there is a point towards the end that feels like a fitting end, but instead we get a very late twist. This twist, it’s worth mentioning, was out of the blue and not hinted at or set-up. As much as I think the humor lands, there are some jokes that don’t work or are stretched out too long. Overall, the movie does have some shaggy areas, but damned if I wasn’t completely and utterly entertained. McDonnell truly knows how to make an epic movie on a modest budget. “Studio 666” looks great and showcases some truly memorable gross-out gore, a solid and fun plot and a “hell” of an amazing cast. A “damned” good time.
Studio 666 is currently playing in theaters.
Before we let you go, we have officially launched our merch store! Check out all of our amazing apparel when you click here and type in GVN15 at checkout for a 15% discount!
Make sure to check out our podcasts each week including Geek Vibes Live, Top 10 with Tia, Wrestling Geeks Alliance and more! For major deals and money off on Amazon, make sure to use our affiliate link!
Big film nerd and TCM Obsessed. Author of The Ultimate Guide to Strange Cinema from Schiffer Publishing. Resume includes: AMC’s The Bite, Scream Magazine etc. Love all kinds of movies and television and have interviewed a wide range of actors, writers, producers and directors. I currently am a regular co-host on the podcast The Humanoids from the Deep Dive and have a second book in the works from Bear Manor.
