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Rock 'n' Roll Nightmare More at IMDbPro »

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52 reviews in total

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9 out of 11 people found the following review useful:
So horrible it falls off the bad scale, and lands on the good one!!!, 21 September 2005

Author: ifitrocks from United States

Brothers and Sisters of Rock and Roll!! Hear my words!! Go forth and rent this masterpiece!! If you have no idea who John Thor is let me explain. He's the inventor of Muscle-rock. He's been around since the early seventies, and still tours and releases albums. Manowar, Iron Maiden, Wasp, even Kiss cannot deny being influenced by him. He was even a bass player for a band called Iron Falcon years before Maiden formed. I'm telling you this to better explain the film. An 80's metal band go to an old house to record an album. It's possessed, and demons start killing people. In between death scenes the band rocks out. Thor himself wrote and produced the film and soundtrack. That's really all you need to know, because nothing else in the movie makes a lick of sense. The direction, acting, special effects, and script???, are absolute pieces of trash. That's what allows Thors stage presence to really shine. It's really just a long music-video that has a horror story thrown in. The music is classic, if you like that style, and if you don't you shouldn't be watching it in the first place. I had the pleasure of seeing Thor in 2005, and was blown away. The amount of heart that he puts into a show is truly amazing. Even though people say this movie was over-the-top ridiculous, that's always been Thor's style, and you can't fault him for being true to himself. If you love comic books, glam metal, and mythology(and I hope everyone does) this is the crown-jewel of entertainment. An absurd good time!!

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6 out of 7 people found the following review useful:
"It sounded like it came from down here...let's go back upstairs.", 11 October 2006

Author: burbs82

Why a 9 you ask? Because my 1-10 scale is different, and my dreams not like yours. B-movies are on a different scale system, and this one is very special, mainly because of the ending and the totally radical Jon-Mikl Thor soundtrack. But the ending... I won't spoil it, but it will shock even the most hardened b-movie connoisseur. You WILL be left asking yourself questions like:

Jon-Mikl Thor; Genius or Madman?

Jon-Mikl Thor; Was that a skinny woman's nightie you were sporting during the (GNARLY) song 'Energy'?

Jon-Mikl Thor; Is my new-found fear of showers only a TEMPORARY side-effect from watching the movie?

Jon-Mikl Thor; Based on the lyrics to your (RADICAL) song 'Energy', do you think it's accurate to say you SOMETIMES act like a fool? And did you say 'I feel small when on shrooms'? 'Cause sometimes when I'm on shrooms my head feels small, then really big, then small again...

Jon-Mikl Thor; Is that hairspray manufactured on our plane of existence or just in the heavens? That super-hold hairspray could only be created by the Gods themselves! By the beard of Zeus!

The answer to all of these questions and more is YES! Even the ones that weren't yes or no questions. Jon-Mikl Thor is the freakin' INTERCESSOR! You'll take whatever answer he has to give and you'll freakin' like it or he'll cast you out of Valhalla and laugh at you! That's Jon-Mikl Thor! High on his mountain!

Weird, stupid fun.

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7 out of 9 people found the following review useful:
I'm so glad they make these!, 24 March 2003
Author: Paul Thorne from USA

I can't believe stuff like this gets made, but I am so glad they did it.

Rock 'n' Roll Nightmare is a delicious piece of mid-80s drive-in fodder. The thing that makes these kinds of films so unique and fun to watch is the seriousness with which the major players seem to take their part in them. It is their obliviousness to the low-quality of the product that is this grade-Z film's most fascinating aspect.

It is appallingly poorly acted. It is written by total amateurs. It is directed enthusiastically and even artistically in places, and is thankfully short in duration, for although it has moments of professionalism, they are more than outnumbered and greedily overshadowed by some of the silliest scenes ever to make it to the VCR.

It's the Muppet Show meets Spinal Tap meets Friday the 13th meets total crap, and total crap wins the day! Hooray!

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9 out of 13 people found the following review useful:
WE ACCEPT THE CHALLENGE!!!!!!!!!!, 11 September 2004
Author: A C from IN

Let me start off by saying that if you don't die from laughter during the last 15 or so minutes of this film, then you are not human.

Starring muscle-bound hero Jon-Mikl Thor, this film opens with dialogue that can't be heard over the musical score and a skeleton popping out of an oven. I mean, this is an EXTREMELY fake-looking skeleton. And the camera lingers on it forever. Then, we get an extremely long van sequence that is shown from multiple camera angles. Yep. Then, we get into a house, which is filled with a few puppet creatures and hilariously bad rehearsals for songs like "ENERGY GETS ME WHERE I WANT TO BE" or something.

Soon, the drummer turns into a demon. And people start to die. And... stuff. But none of that matters, because the ending features Thor wearing a spiked leather thong, boots, wristbands, and a cape while Satan throws Play-Dough starfish at him. Then, the two lock arms and circle around for about 4 minutes. Then, there's fireworks. And the words "I'll see you again, Old Scratch."

That's all you really need to know. Do whatever you can to get this film. A masterpiece.

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3 out of 3 people found the following review useful:
The best bad movie ever made!!!, 11 November 2009

Author: jesseravenwolf from United States

You all may say what you will about this movie, but I was there making it, and I'll always love it... I'm Jesse D'Angelo, the actor who played the young boy in this magnum opus. I acted in several low budget horror films in the 80's, and this is my favorite. But it's not for everyone. So many people on here just trash it, writing really nasty reviews, saying everyone involved was an amateur, nobody ever went on to do anything again... Well let me correct this misinterpretation.

First of all, this movie was shot in seven days with a budget of only 50 thousand dollars. Okay? You make a better movie with that much time and money. Second, everybody was an amateur back then. For the money we had, we couldn't afford anyone who knew what they were doing, decent props, monsters, etc. This was basically a glorified student film or home movie. And that is part of its appeal. The fact that it was made for no money by a bunch of amateurs, all working their asses off.

Also, many people from that movie have gone on to prosperous careers, despite the claims of one reviewer. John Fasano has continued to work as a writer, producer and director. You may recognize some of his credits: "Another 48 Hours," "Alien 3," "Tombstone" and many more. Frank Dietz did more work as an actor, independent filmmaker and as an artist for Disney. Felicia Fasano is now a top casting agent in Los Angeles. Cindy Sorrell (really Cindy Cirile) is an accomplished writer and historian. And then there's me. I storyboarded "Sky Captain and the world of Tomorrow," "Darkness Falls," "Mini's First Time," and many TV shows, commercials and music videos. I'm also an aspiring writer/director... So when I hear people say that we were just a bunch of amateurs who didn't do anything afterword, I take offense.

We were amateurs, but what sets this film apart from many bad movies is that we were amateurs with talent and skill. We hadn't developed it yet, but it was there inside of us. Watching the movie, you can tell it's made by people who love this kind of movie, that it took real ingenuity, hard work, and most important that it was fun to make. This vibe of family and fun I think seeps into the final film, giving it its charm... So appreciate it for what it is. Sit back with some friends, put on "Rock n' Roll Nightmare" and enjoy a night of fun and laughter.

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3 out of 3 people found the following review useful:
Rock & Roll!!!, 1 October 2006

Author: HaemovoreRex from United Kingdom

*** This review may contain spoilers ***

Something of a cult classic this although it's only in the last 15 or so minutes that it becomes clear as to exactly why.

Up until this point, the film is a typically by the numbers, unimaginative 80's slasher flick set in an old farm house wherein the protagonists are bumped off one by one by various supernatural beasties (including some hilariously rendered sock puppet like critters!!!)

The protagonists in this case are members of a heavy metal band and their girlfriends/wives. Leader of the group is the lead singer John Triton (the incomparable Jon Mikl Thor!) who has arranged for his band mates to stay at the farmhouse for some creative inspiration. Trouble is that by the end of the film everyone except John has been murdered..... or so it seemed at least for in a twist at the end it is revealed that in fact no one was murdered at all(!) and that John's band mates were all externalised figments of his imagination which he has created in order to lure his ultimate nemesis out into the open.

And who is John's ultimate nemesis? Why it's none other than Satan himself!!! (Or at least a rubbery, gangling armed puppet who's method of killing is surely to make his victims die of laughter!) But surely even Jon Mikl Thor, as awesome as he is, is no match for the Devil? (even such a poorly rendered representation of him!)

....Well in a final shock twist John undergoes a sudden miraculous transformation and reveals himself to be the studded leather codpiece wearing Archangel Triton!!! WHOAH!!!

Now the stage is set for what must surely rank as one of the most hilarious cinematic battles ever filmed as our hero gallantly grapples with his virtually immobile adversary (and with his deadly, demonic starfish!!!)

After much exaggerated straining and grimacing Triton proves to be the eventual winner (hurray!!!) and Satan is forced to admit defeat (for now at least) wherein he promptly disappears behind a decidedly shoddy looking pyrotechnic display.

WOW! I've got to say it, this final battle is absolutely side splitting stuff! For all fellow fans of bad movies, if you haven't yet seen this veritable classic (ahem) then I recommend you high tail it and grab yourself a copy as soon as possible - trust me, you won't regret it!

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2 out of 2 people found the following review useful:
Incredible, 24 September 2006

Author: MaximumCheese (UrbanConfederate@hotmail.com) from Chicago

*** This review may contain spoilers ***

I rated this movie not based on its quality, but its entertainment value. (Hey, that's how I rate all movies!) There are so many awesome points to this movie, I don't know where to begin.

There are ostentatious amounts of filler in this movie. Noticeably long filler. One of my favorites is what I've come to know as the "sock puppet cam," which is presumably a POV shot from one of the penis-shaped sock puppet monsters. Another great filler scene is the "van-driving" scene at the beginning of the movie. Not only do we get to see an 80s metal van driving for five minutes, we get treated to some horrible synth pop that consists of a guy talking over synth bass.

Eventually the van stops at a farmhouse, and we learn that this a trans-dimensional van that defies the laws of physics, because apparently they were carrying 9 people, instruments, luggage, and 80s metal clothing in a standard-sized van. Here we meet all of the main characters, which include a 300 pound beefcake named Jon Mikl Thor, a drummer whose fake British/Aussie accent is laughable (and later on we find out that this guy's American accent is just as bad as his British accent), and a slew of very ugly 80s girlfriends complete with gigantic hair. Thor proceeds to explain the reason they are there, as if the band were randomly driving around the Canadian countryside, having absolutely no idea where they were going or why.

The rehearsal scenes are pure gold, and so poorly dubbed that at times it appears as if the drummer is playing an entirely different song. Also, apparently getting into full 80s onslaught mode (with mirror-finished Blu Blockers, makeup, and glittery silver unbuttoned shirt) is paramount for a successful rehearsal. Thor's guitar player easily outdoes Jimi Hendrix, because most of the music has two or even three audible guitar parts, but this guy manages to pull it off with one (!) guitar, and often without even having his fingers on the right notes or strumming to the rhythm of the song.

The "killing" scenes are painful to watch. The special effects ranged from "horrendous" to "unwatchable". For whatever reason, NO ONE ran from any of the monsters, but I could understand that, because if some guy in a Halloween mask attacked me, I would stand there in questioning puzzlement as well.

This is just the tip of the iceberg. There is way too much to explain here, so I recommend picking up a copy of the movie on DVD and experiencing it for yourself :-) Also, make sure to watch the DVD with the original audio, because the voices sound horrible and muffled in the 5.1 surround audio.

Also, check out the special features on the DVD. The mini-documentary is hilarious. Thor serious believes that he is a great film maker and that his music is great. The clip from the Merv Griffin show is priceless. Merv introduces Thor amid applause, and Thor runs out on stage in full Herculean gladiator garb, singing off key the whole way. The applause dies, and everyone gives Thor their "WTF" look, including the band. Also, the best quote from the documentary was (speaking of his sex scene) "Especially for a guy like me, with Thor's hammer, it all comes very natural." The interview ends like a train wreck, with poor Thor nervously rambling about his future projects and desperately trying to reinforce his illusion of self-importance.

If I haven't convinced you to see this movie yet

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3 out of 4 people found the following review useful:
Pretty Much the Kind of Enoyable, Low Budget Thing You Want, 3 September 2008

Author: gavin6942 from United States

The Tritons, your typical 1980s hair band with cheesy songs, is on retreat in Canada in order to rehearse some new songs for an upcoming album. But the farm house they rented, once visited by Alice Cooper, has some otherworldly creatures that are hell-bent on destroying the band and their very lives.

This is a "guilty pleasure" 1980s film to the extreme. Poorly acted, poorly directed... really lame music. The special effects are humorous but very clearly low budget. Yet, despite all this the film has a charm. It's what you might call Tim Ritter meets early Peter Jackson... "Killing Spree" meets "Dead Alive". But weirder.

Most of the film comes across as either a music video or a softcore porn. When the band isn't performing a song ("Energy" or "Live to Rock") in its entirety (take these out and the film is an hour), they're having sex. And while there's not excessive raw sexuality, there's plenty of gratuitous skin, particularly in a shower scene... it runs a little longer than usual, and we get a nice view of Harry Manasse's brother Slick.

While for much of this picture I found myself thinking it was fun but nothing special (and wondering why my friend loaned this to me), there is a dramatic plot shift later on. And, believe it or not, the movie gets even weirder and cheesier... leading into the sequel ("Intercessor"). I never saw the change coming and am still really confused on what the heck I was watching.

Synapse has released a lot of great cult and exploitation films ("Street Trash", for one) and this is right at home on their label. While I don't see there being a great resurgence of interest in this one, it has a quality that makes it fun and hard to hate, regardless of how silly and low budget it may be.

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4 out of 6 people found the following review useful:
Oh my God, 4 March 2005

Author: vamp88 from WI

All the comments here and from others are true: What can you expect : bad acting, rubber puppets, effects that consist of Halloween masks, Halloween rubber monster gloves, an OK soundtrack (most disagree but I didn't mind the cheesy rock),a horrible score, and for the big finale a paper-mache marionette and a independence day firework fountain. Oh and much more, rubber starfish thrown at our hero as Satans main weapon, (seriously it looks like something you and your friends would've done in the 5th grade with your dads camcorder). Its great. There is one blatant product placement and from the looks of it, the money they got from coke was the entire budget of the film. I didn't give it a high score because I don't know if I could ever sit through it again. But it is recommended big time to anyone who wants to watch a really. really poor movie. I wonder if Jon-Mikl Thor really thought this would be a great career move? My guess is if he did at the start he couldn't have when he saw the final product. I hear a sequel is in the works. Can't wait to see if it happens.

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1 out of 1 people found the following review useful:
"I am the Intercessor!", 24 September 2006
Author: Backlash007 from Kentucky

*** This review may contain spoilers ***

~Spoiler~

There are bad movies in this world and then there are BAAAAAAD movies. However, there are a select few films that transcend the barrier of bad movies and obtain the coveted title of "So Bad They're Good" movies. The rock opera that is Rock 'n' Roll Nightmare crosses the threshold and wears its title proudly. Rock 'n' Roll Nightmare (aka Edge of Hell) follows the exploits of The Tritons, a metal act who are renting a secluded farmhouse to record their latest opus. Unbeknownst to them, the gates of hell have been opened and play dough creatures are on the loose. I really can't say much else about the plot because I don't want to give away the "twist" ending. Also, this is one you simply have to see to believe kiddies. Jon Mikl Thor, genius that he is, is pretty much the mastermind behind this film. He wrote it, produced it, and starred in it, as well as being responsible for the awe-inspiring soundtrack. Whether he's rockin' out with the band or making out with his girlfriend in a 15 minute shower scene, you will be cracking up with every sway of his flowing locks and every ripple of his um...rippling biceps. And just maybe you'll be singing along too. Thanks to Synapse this is finally on DVD for all to witness and bow down. Because We Live...We Live to ROCK!!!! Now that I got that out of my system, I've got to get to work writing that love ballad...

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