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11 out of 12 people found the following review useful: A brilliant doc on a tragic and absurd case in which no one comes out looking very good..., 19 January 1999 Author: anonymous from Los Angeles
This documentary provides a chilling post mortem on the tragic case of two Reno, Nevada teens who decided to shoot themselves in the head with a shotgun rather than go on living, and the ensuing civil court case staged to place the blame on the heavy metal combo Judas Priest. It is a heartbreaking case, but a fascinating film. It is a great look back at mid-1980's american culture, and should be compared to the fictional "Gummo." The question explored by both the court case and the film is whether or not the boys shot themselves because of the music or because of the heartless, spineless and absolutely mindless "society" they were forced to grow up in. The film includes fantastic interview footage with both the surviving boy, the members of Judas Priest, and assorted family members and other characters who revolve around the case. I got the feeling that the film maker did a great job of trying to be as objective as possible - and no one comes out looking all that good...
4 out of 4 people found the following review useful: Shocking on so many levels, 29 October 2006 Author: Superunknovvn from Austria, Vienna
I distinctly remember seeing this documentary as a 10 year old in 1993. I recently discovered it on video google and I have to say that this hasn't lost any of its power."Dream Deceivers" tells the story of two teenagers who tried to shoot themselves in 1985. One of them died, the other one, James Vance, survived horribly disfigured. In 1990 Judas Priest, one of the kids' favorite bands, were taken to court and accused of putting subliminal messages into their songs (or more specifically into their version of "Better By You, Better Than Me") that would drive their fans to suicide.This film is short, heavy and in your face, like a brick through the window or a punch in the stomache. It takes less than an hour to reveal the hyprocrisy of the whole trial. Another reviewer has said that David Van Taylor hasn't been objective in his approach, but I disagree. Every party tells the story from their point of view, it's just really clear that the parents are the ones denying their own responsibility, trying to put the blame on anyone but themselves. It's unbelievable that this case ever came to trial in the first place and it's shocking to learn about the troubled childhood of James Vance and his friend. The scariest thing, however, is that we as a race always tend to look for obvious "monsters" to put the blame on. Making bands responsible for misguided kids is comparable to witch-hunts in the middle ages. You could say this is just a portrayal of the American society in the late 80's/early 90's, but I don't think things have changed all that much. These days it's Marilyn Manson or Eminem or anybody who questions the American government in any way. There's always someone to point the finger at. Freedom of speech is still at stake. The situation hasn't gotten better, it's gotten worse if anything."Dream Deceivers" still gives me the creeps after all these years, because the main problem still prevails. The youth is helplessly lost in modern day society and no one is willing to take responsibility. There's a lesson to be learnt here and you better learn it fast.
2 out of 3 people found the following review useful: Great documentary, 10 November 2004 Author: chinpeng from Texas, USA
Dream Deceivers is only an hour long but it packs a lot into that hour.The film follows the trial and accounts of events when two troubled teens in Reno decided to commit suicide. One succeeded, the other failed and was horribly disfigured. The family of the disfigured boy decide to sue Judas Priest but their case doesn't hold together. It amazes me that the case even went to trial. A sad story of the breakdown of family life. This film raises many questions about life in the modern age. Every youth interviewed seemed to come from a similar type of family with religious working-class parents who have been through a divorce or two.Highly recommended.
1 out of 2 people found the following review useful: Good, 10 October 1999 Author: Bobby Clark (Droz-4)
I saw this documentary when I was in 10th grade in this class that I had about law and government. I found this documentary very interesting because Judas Priest happens to be my favorite band of all time, and also because of the interviews with the kid who survived and with the band. It is also pretty disturbing because the boy's face was seriously disfigured after the suicide attempt. I do not believe that the band was in any way responsible for the two teens deaths. Although I do listen to my old Priest records when I am depressed, I have never tried to do anything like that. Anyway, I recommend this documentary because it is very interesting and thought provoking
3 out of 6 people found the following review useful: Director wasn't being objective..., 22 September 2004 Author: PrairieDoggin from New Jersey
The purpose of this documentary was to prove a one sided opinion of facts presented in this case. Van Taylor was looking at this from Judas Priest's point of view. He essentially was looking to disprove the families claim that the music and "subliminal" messages were to blame for these kids problems and ultimate suicide attempt. Van Taylor, through interviews, court proceedings and song lyrics mixed in, basically disproves any theory that the family tried to push across. These kids had horrible childhoods and grew up in alcoholic/drugs/abusive households where the NATURAL father wasn't in the picture. I loved the point where the boys (Belknap) sister, was on the stand, and had to basically tell the court she had attempted suicide twice and was NEVER a listener of heavy metal.
0 out of 1 people found the following review useful: How did this somewhat interesting case make it to a courtroom?, 20 April 2009 Author: stewartrandellmcguire from United States
*** This review may contain spoilers ***
This documentary was interesting in a historic context for those of us who were youths and fans of heavy metal during the time in which the story unfolds (mid 1980s). But in retrospect shows a very unsophisticated attempt by the parents and attorneys of the two deeply troubled young men to pin the blame for a botched double suicide solely and squarely on the band Judas Priest in a Reno courtroom circa 1990. (Spoiler?) Instead interviews and court testimonies reveal a startling portrait not of the band, but of the histories of the two young men and their less than ideal family lives. This is the 1980s version of 'Parents blaming popular music for all problems associated with juvenile bad behavior.'
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