Dave Grohl’s Foo Fighters always seem like such nice people, smiling, pleasant shaggy dog types, even when thrashing out and rocking hard.
So why do they want to scare the heck out of us so much as they do in their first, gore-filled, black comic fright flick, ‘Studio 666’?
Rock bands and rappers taking to the bloody demon and spooky spectre genre isn’t exactly new. Gene Simmons and Paul Stanley did it badly in ‘Kiss Meets the Phantom of the Park’ in 1978, while Snoop Dogg did so to humorous effect in 2007’s ‘Hood of Horror’.
What winds up being dark, delicious fun about ‘Studio 666’ is how earnest its actors are in taking to the blood, guts, gore and giggles of it all, a story – originated by Grohl, no less – where a jaded rock band, looking to rid itself of writers block and find new inspiration for its tenth album, moves into a notorious Encino mansion steeped in grisly historical lore, only to find themselves up against the same, savage spirits that wreaked havoc, and wrenched (really violent) bloodshed on the last band who tried this stunt (Dreamwidow, “the next Jane’s Addiction,” by all Foos estimation. And yes, Grohl & Co. record some truly strident thrash outs under the ‘Dreamwidow’ tag for Studio 666’s soundtrack).
Unlike the aforementioned Kiss film, ‘Studio 666’ never seems like a vanity project or a rote bit of branding, but rather a genuine attempt to frighten filmgoers with its maudlin-but-merrily provocative references to Stanley Kubrick’s ‘The Shining’, Ivan Reitman’s ‘Ghostbusters’, Tobe Hooper’s ‘The Texas Chain Saw Massacre’ and John Carpenter’s ‘Halloween’ series. Carpenter’s influence is not only found in Grohl & Co’s gorefest in terms of messy body counts. The director and composer who has a slew of his own synthesizer and sequencer-heavy albums, penned the ‘Studio 666’s opening musical theme and makes a blink-and-you-miss-him cameo appearance in the film, as does Lionel Richie in a goofy riff on his “Hello.”
Opening in theaters Friday, Feb. 25, ‘Studio 666’ is directed by BJ McDonnell (known for 2019’s ‘Slayer: The Repentless Killogy’), from a story by Foo front man Grohl, with a screenplay by Jeff Buhler and Rebecca Hughes. Respect and admiration must be paid to ‘Studio 666’’s cinematographic, special effects and make-up crews: this film is an honest-to-gods-of-horror fright flick that never skimps on the atrocities (and there are some truly, great gross-outs to be found involving blood-spurting halved-bodies, skull slicings, head crushings and one particularly gnarly episode that will keep home chefs away from their outdoor barbecues forever).
The film was acquired by Open Road Films, is produced by Roswell Films’ and Therapy Studios, and executive produced by all six of its stars, Foos Grohl, Taylor Hawkins, Nate Mendel, Pat Smear, Chris Shiflett and Rami Jaffee in various degrees of dress, undressed and bloodshed.
Along with the Foos, ‘Studio 666’ costars actors Whitney Cummings (“Roseanne” show runner), Leslie Grossman (“American Horror Story”), Will Forte (“MacGruber”), Jenna Ortega (“Wednesday”) and Jeff Garlin (“Curb Your Enthusiasm”), most of whom don’t make it to the end of the film.
While this reviewer makes fun of all things-Kiss-like, director McDonnell, in an early press release for his Foo film, venerates the 70s made-for-television schlockfest.
“‘Studio 666′; is a perfect combination of all things I love,” says the director in a release. “Rock, horror, and comedy all tied together in a very thrilling motion picture. I am so excited to have teamed up with the Foo Fighters to create an old school ‘band’ movie. It’s been years since we’ve seen something like The Beatles ‘Help!,’ the Monkees ‘Head’ or ‘Kiss Meets the Phantom of the Park.’ Take that 60’s/70’s old-school band film fun, mix it with horror and “Studio 666” is born! I am so ecstatic for audiences of film and music to come together and enjoy our film.”
To this release, Grohl added his own touch. “After decades of ridiculous music videos and numerous music documentaries under our collective belts, it was finally time to take it to the next level… A full-length feature horror comedy film. Like most things Foo, ‘Studio 666’ began with a far-fetched idea that blossomed into something bigger than we ever imagined possible. Filmed at the same house where we recorded our latest album, ‘Medicine at Midnight’ (told you that place was haunted!), we wanted to recapture the classic magic that all of our favorite rock and roll movies had, but with a twist: hilarious gore that f&$*ng rocks.”
Grohl is correct. ‘Studio 666’ is gore that does indeed rock, and makes for a beyond-credible, truly entertaining blood-fest to add to the modern horror cannon.
