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IMDbPro

Hype!

  • 19961996
  • Not RatedNot Rated
  • 1h 24m
IMDb RATING
7.6/10
2.7K
YOUR RATING
Hype! (1996)
Official Trailer
Play trailer2:10
3 Videos
5 Photos
  • Documentary
  • History
  • Music
Documentary covering the growth and subsequent overexposure of the Seattle "grunge" music scene in the early 90sDocumentary covering the growth and subsequent overexposure of the Seattle "grunge" music scene in the early 90sDocumentary covering the growth and subsequent overexposure of the Seattle "grunge" music scene in the early 90s
IMDb RATING
7.6/10
2.7K
YOUR RATING
  • Director
    • Doug Pray
  • Stars
    • 7 Year Bitch
    • Valerie M. Agnew
    • Carrie Akre
Top credits
  • Director
    • Doug Pray
  • Stars
    • 7 Year Bitch
    • Valerie M. Agnew
    • Carrie Akre
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 13User reviews
    • 26Critic reviews
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Awards
      • 1 win & 3 nominations

    Videos3

    Hype!
    Trailer 2:10
    Hype!
    Hype!
    Trailer 2:39
    Hype!
    Hype!
    Clip 2:04
    Hype!

    Photos

    Hype! (1996)
    Hype! (1996)
    Hype! (1996)
    Hype! (1996)

    Top cast

    Edit
    7 Year Bitch
    • Themselvesas Themselves
    Valerie M. Agnew
    • Self - 7 Year Bitchas Self - 7 Year Bitch
    • (as Valerie Agnew)
    Carrie Akre
    • Self - Hammerboxas Self - Hammerbox
    Jeff Ament
    Jeff Ament
    • Self - Pearl Jamas Self - Pearl Jam
    Dawn Anderson
    • Self - Local Music Criticas Self - Local Music Critic
    Michael Anderson
    • Self - Blood Circusas Self - Blood Circus
    Paul Arkin
    • Self - Band Practice Space Touras Self - Band Practice Space Tour
    Mark Arm
    • Self - Mudhoneyas Self - Mudhoney
    James Atkins
    • Self - Hammerboxas Self - Hammerbox
    John Atkins
    • Self - Seaweedas Self - Seaweed
    Jon Auer
    • Self - The Posiesas Self - The Posies
    Love Battery
    • Themselvesas Themselves
    Leighton Beezer
    • Self - Stomach Pumpas Self - Stomach Pump…
    Martin Bernier
    • Self - Some Velvet Sidewalkas Self - Some Velvet Sidewalk
    Nils Bernstein
    • Self - Sub Pop Recordsas Self - Sub Pop Records
    Don Blackstone
    • Self - Gas Hufferas Self - Gas Huffer
    Don Blair
    • Self - Some Velvet Sidewalkas Self - Some Velvet Sidewalk
    Kurt Bloch
    • Self - The Fastbacks, The Young Fresh Fellowsas Self - The Fastbacks, The Young Fresh Fellows
    • Director
      • Doug Pray
    • All cast & crew
    • See more cast details at IMDbPro

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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      The documentary notably contains footage of Nirvana's debut live performance of "Smells Like Teen Spirit," recorded on April 17, 1991 at Seattle's OK Hotel.
    • Quotes

      Art Chantry: The Northwest is where flying saucers - where the term "flying saucers" was coined. The Northwest is where Louie Louie's from. The Northwest is where - is the serial killer capital of the world. We have more unsolved serial killings here than any other place in the United States. I mean, the Manson Family used to vacation up this way. This place is weird - a lot of occult stuff. All this stuff is a factor in what happened in the music.

    • Crazy credits
      The credits end with the statement "Your town is next."
    • Connections
      Featured in At the Movies: 101 Dalmatians/Hype!/The Crucible/Palookaville/Ridicule (1996)
    • Soundtracks
      Bandages
      Written by Crackerbash

      Performed by Crackerbash

      Courtesy eMpTy Records

    User reviews13

    Review
    Top review
    8/10
    Authenticity Meet Corruption
    When you think about what happened up in the Pacific Northwest during the late '80s and early '90s, you kind of realize that this "scene" was always destined to fail. There's no way a secluded, out-of-the-way region like Washington state could have produced a long-lasting cash cow. It did in a backhanded kind of way since people are still leeching off the scene to create a much more dumbed-down version (Seether, anyone?). That's not to say everything that came from Seattle was intelligent. No one would accuse Seaweed or Gas Huffer for being the most brilliant bands ever. But there was an authenticity that came from those bands and many others that were created in Seattle that scene-hoppers like Candlebox couldn't replicate.

    And the movie Hype perfectly illustrates this point. It shows the juxtaposition created by commercial success and authenticity. Occasionally the two can coexist, but more often then not they're mutually exclusive. So to see bands like the Screaming Trees on the cusp of fame, only to shy away from it (even if unintentionally), you kind of get the idea what a lot of the Seattle bands were about. Most never expected to amount to anything more than the guy who serves you your coffee at Starbucks. The goal for a lot of people was just to make music they personally enjoyed, and then play a few shows. If they got lucky, they expected maybe to tour up-and-down the West Coast. And then that's it But MTV came calling and then that was it. Authenticity is replaced by photogenic front men.

    Don't get me wrong. Nirvana, Pearl Jam, Soundgarden, and Alice in Chains were all greats band, but they got a lot of their attention because they were lucky enough to be fronted by sensitive, good-looking guys that girls would go crazy for. They had great music, but their looks coupled with the down-and-dirty attire that they wore made them into the guys-next-door. The movie Singles helped to solidify that image, and then grunge became a household word. Meanwhile Tad were stuck out in the cold, stormy weather of Seattle, playing music that was equally compelling.

    If anything, don't watch Hype for the big bands that came out of the scene. Watch it for the obscure bands you've never heard of. Bands like the Fastbacks, the Gits, Some Velvet Sidewalk, and Love Battery. Is Eddie Vedder a good listen? Well, yeah. But does he make much sense? Nope.

    Another big highlight of this movie are the producers, the writers of fanzines, the current (and former) employees of Sub-Pop, generally everyone that lived in Seattle but wasn't in a band. They all have great stories that really go back to illustrating the authenticity of the music, and eventually also pointing out its corruption.

    This along with the more recent Brian Jonestown Massacre/Dandy Warhols-documentary Dig should be required viewing for any self-respecting music fan. They both brilliantly show the highs and lows of success in the music business, and everything those two polarities entail.
    helpful•8
    3
    • AngryChairr
    • Aug 21, 2005

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • November 8, 1996 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • Истерия!
    • Filming locations
      • Bellingham, Washington, USA
    • Production company
      • Helvey-Pray Productions
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Gross US & Canada
      • $268,520
    • Opening weekend US & Canada
      • $106,599
      • Nov 22, 1996
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 24 minutes
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • Dolby SR
      • DTS
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.85 : 1

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