Heavy Metal

HEAVY METAL(18)

D: Gerald Potterton

Columbia (Ivan Reitman)

Canada/US 1981

90 mins

Animated 

W: Daniel Goldberg & Len Blum [based on original art and stories by Richard Corben, Angus McKie, Dan O'Bannon, Thomas Warkentin & Bernie Wrightson]

Mus: Elmer Bernstein

voices of: Richard Romanus (Harry Canyon), John Candy (Dan / Den), Don Francks (Grimaldi), August Schellenberg (Norl / Taarak), Rodger Bumpass (Captain Sternn)

An experimental animated film featuring alumni from Saturday Night Live and inspired by the conceptual artwork from Heavy Metal magazine.

The choppy plot surrounds a mysterious orb with an unspeakable power and is set across various eras, from a past involving barbarians and warriors to a futuristic and squalid New York City. The film also has various animation styles, from a rotoscoped opening sequence to an anime style for the majority of the running time.

In lieu of a comprehensible plot, it does have a soundtrack jammed packed with rock songs of the late 1970's and early 1980's. Due to this, and being released at the dawn of MTV, it has collected a cult fanbase, though it goes without saying that it's a very acquired taste.

6/10