Metalhead (2013)

I saw bunch of "metal" movies. Usually they are documentary about specific bands or metal culture overall, B-production horrors, comedies or horror-comedies, but this is the very first time I ran into drama. This Icelandic movie brings painful story about girl whose metal-head brother died when she was twelve. Trying to deal with her pain she turns to his music, loses faith in God and finally, under influence of burning churches in Norway in early 90's, she turns to black metal. Story about loss, thoughtlessness, unconformity and rebellion, growing up and finding one true self. Slow, heavy and realistic movie that stands out from the mass of template teenage drama to which we are accustomed. It's not masterpiece, but it is worth your time and I warmly recommend it.

8/10

Fmovies: It may seem that this film is about music or about a musical style, but it really speaks about what is that people thinks about us and what they think we should be or they want us to be, about what we want to be and about who we really are. Talk about the most important thing in life, which is one's own identity and our happiness. Very powerful message. It is an excellent film.

There is not much Black metal in the movie, if you were expecting this. :-) HOWEVER, the film is more than worth watching. More or less benign in nature, it deal with humanity of people that are mostly alone. Just they themselves, their work and their pain.

The movie is set about the time Mayhem started forming Black Metal scene; the main protagonist in a way "invented" her version of black metal as a way to cope with death of her brother. Interestingly, the black metal track from the movie (unfortunately just one song) actually sounds really good! It actually does sound like it was made in that time, making the movie only more believable.

While Burzum is not specifically mentioned in the movie (sadly), it was very important for the plot itself.

Slow "studio" version of the song is also really good. (It is called Svarthamar, and there are two versions- studio and demo on YouTube - artist is Petur Bien - the rest of the album is so-so, instrumental ambient music). I don't remember when was the last time I got shivers down my spine listening to something. The track is really good, especially if you understand the words / read the translation. It goes phenomenally with the movie itself.

Metalhead fmovies. A throwback in time. To some to a better time (and music) and to a smaller village that is center stage here. We do have a girl who's different and is not really liked for that reason. The story has a lot of good songs (again only if you like the music of course) and a character development that might be predictable but still works, especially because of the acting.

It stays true to its nature most of the time, not going for an easy way out (no pun intended), but might have jumped the shark a bit at the ending (depending on your view of what's happening). Still good strong characters and a nice story.

I don't do this thing often, but this film really needed a review written by... well, a metal-head. I mean, just like many of you, I was hooked by the poster and, of course, the film's name. That's exactly what they want,except for the fact that this was just the first one of a series of really big mistakes. First of all, if you want metal- heads to come to watch your movie you better make a movie they like or at least show some respect. The plot is as cliché as it can be: a 12 year old girl has to deal with the lost of her older brother, who happens to be a metal-head. Then guess what? Yes: she becomes a metal-head herself in the name of the fallen brother! I think I got something in my eye, excuse me... Don't get me wrong: at this time I was excited about the idea and really happy to watch a hot chick wearing Slayer and Megadeth shirts the whole time, but eventually it all went down. Hera (the metal-head) is a confused teenager that really hates everyone and everything. And I guess the idea is that you have to feel sorry for her and understand her pain, but you just can't do it. Unlike other movie anti-heroes, this girl is just so annoying. She's not charismatic at all. She makes you want to slap her all the time. Then there's the other big problem: it seems that the director is trying to tell you all the time that becoming a metal-head is only for confused heart broken people: if you find God, get closer to your family, grow up and start to deal with your child traumas, eventually you'll be cured from that teenage-weird-disease called "Heavy Metal". And that is pretty much what this movie is about. Really. Oh, and let me tell you about the priest: this is the best priest in town... maybe in the world. He's is a metalhead himself, he's got tattoos, he's comprehensive and he won't succumb to flesh temptations. The man is a true man of God, but you, metalhead, are just too stubborn to open your heart to him and talk. But wait, 'cause then there's the other big fat mistake: they had to mock the Black Metal inner circle in the dumbest way possible. By the end of the film and out from nowhere you suddenly have three new characters: Øystein, Per and I'm not sure about the other guy, but obviously they're "Mayhem". The Wayne's World version of Mayhem. That was completely unnecessary and stupid. I'm not supporting the church burnings in Norway, but man, I felt like they where telling me all the time: "Hide your kids from metal and TV; keep them in the God's herd; give'em love, talk to those confused creatures and eventually the'll be 'normal people'". The scene where this black metal version of Beavis nd Butthead help to rebuild a destroyed church while the priest mock them is just too much. What do you expect us metalheads to say after the film, Mr director? Really. "Damn it! Thank you God! After watching this touching film I ran home to talk to my family with my heart open and now I'm fu++ing cured, I'm not a metal-head anymore!" You have to be kidding me... Don't waste your time.

In Iceland, Karl (Ingvar Eggert Sigurðsson), his wife Droplaug (Halldóra Geirharðsdóttir), his son Baldur (Óskar Logi Ágústsson) and his daughter Hera (Thora Bjorg Helga) form a simple family of farmers that works in their farm. When Baldur has an accident and dies, the family is deeply affected and the twelve year-old Hera becomes a rebel and fan of hard rock. Along the years, they grieve the loss of Baldur and the confused Hera composes songs of death rock and gets into successive troubles in their friendly community.

"Málmhaus", a.k.a. "Metalhead", is an original Icelandic drama, with the story of a troubled teenager that becomes a fan of hard rock. The screenplay is absolutely unique and never uses clichés. Hera is a messy character troubled by the loss of her beloved brother. She gets into the most unusual situations that are resolved by her parents, neighbors and members of their communities that understand the meaning of the loss of Karl to the family, especially to the young girl. My vote is six.

Title (Brazil): "Mudando o Destino" ("Changing the Destiny")