It isn’t all the time sufficient for a awful horror comedy to splash round in its lousiness. However I’d wish to thank the individuals who made “Studio 666.” They’ve splashed me — with the blood of food-delivery guys and the viscera of Chris Shiflett, the chief guitarist of Foo Fighters till he meets his finish right here, and with the wink-wink nastiness that lightens all the extra. (This factor is simply too lengthy and cover-your-eyes gory.)
The cheeky, punny humor of that title is one thing for the filmmakers to stay as much as. Ditto for Foo Fighters. The sextet performs itself, holed up at a fetching Southern California chateau to file some overdue music when resident evil takes over the band’s chief, Dave Grohl. Nobody tries for something mightier than put-on dumbness as a result of that’s the outer restrict of the place the performing, writing (by Jeff Buhler and Rebecca Hughes) and directing (by BJ McDonnell) can take this premise
It’s enjoyable, nonetheless, to catalog all people’s imperviousness to embarrassment. The rhythm guitarist Pat Smear’s whole efficiency — once more, as himself; splendidly flip but warmly blasé — is a deluxe snarl. The keyboardist Rami Jaffee leans into New-Age-y randiness; and Taylor Hawkins, the drummer, is a pure, each behind his equipment and impaled to a wall. And when Grohl’s satanic possession sends him on a rock-star energy journey, the remainder of the band endures tirades, bullying and potential ritual sacrifice.
The film exudes actual “Scooby-Doo”-meets-“The Shining” vibes that rope in Korean horror and prolong to Grohl, who provides, if not his all, then not less than his most charismatic “some.” He is aware of what to do together with his eyes, when to slim, roll and pop them. That may not appear to be a lot — he’s simply as watchable in movies for “Everlong” and “Be taught to Fly,” that are much more imaginative and far shorter than this film. However in a movie starring so many individuals who can’t act, a very good set of eyes is a sign of effort, of life. And Grohl is expending one thing right here, blurring the road between demonic possession and prima donna.
His satanic tantrums are concerning the music, man. And what the satan makes him do culminates in an epic tune that sounds, in a single part, just like the bridge on “No One Is aware of” by Queens of the Stone Age, and, in one other, like “Grasp of Puppets”-era Metallica. However the music is evidently irrelevant, too. “Studio 666” is significantly overcommitted to grossing us out. Pat Smear is the identify of a superb musician. Right here, it’s additionally a verb.
Studio 666
Rated R for F-bombs, chain saws, a cymbal as an influence instrument. Working time: 1 hour 50 minutes. In theaters.