Metal: A Headbanger's Journey (2005)

90% of critics liked it
(29 reviews)
90% of users liked it
(9,152 ratings)

Heavy metal might be regarded as the High School Shop Class of rock & roll -- there's a lot going on there, but most folks don't credit the participants with being either very smart or terribly ambitious. Not everyone feels that way, though, and filmmaker, anthropologist, and heavy metal enthusiast… More Heavy metal might be regarded as the High School Shop Class of rock & roll -- there's a lot going on there, but most folks don't credit the participants with being either very smart or terribly ambitious. Not everyone feels that way, though, and filmmaker, anthropologist, and heavy metal enthusiast Sam Dunn offers an insider's look at the music and subculture of metal with this documentary, created in collaboration with filmmakers Scot McFadyen and Jessica Joy Wise. Metal: A Headbanger's Journey examines the history of hard rock's extreme wing, offers a look at the various subsections within the heavy metal pantheon (from innocuous hair metal bands such as Poison and Warrant to the homicidal lunatic fringe of Norwegian black metal); examines the sociology of metal in terms of class, race, gender and economics; celebrates the music with a nod toward its underestimated intelligence as well as its physical power; and allows members of such landmark bands as Black Sabbath, Slayer, Motörhead, Iron Maiden, White Zombie to speak for themselves about their work. Metal: A Headbanger's Journey received a fist-pumpingly enthusiastic reception for its premiere screenings at the 2005 Toronto Film Festival. ~ Mark Deming, Rovi

Rating, Runtime: R, 1 hr. 36 min.
Directed By: Sam Dunn, Scot McFadyen
Genres: Musical & Performing Arts, Documentary

In Theaters: Jan 1, 2005 Wide
On DVD: May 23, 2006
Studio: Séville Pictures

Critic Reviews

Erin Meister, Boston Globe
The metal scene emerges throughout the documentary as the recruitment center of an army of misfits, where the outcasts of the world can seek each other out based on their love of the angsty, eardrum-destroying tunes their parents warned them about.
Manohla Dargis, New York Times
This documentary about one of the most loathed, lampooned and beloved music genres isn't the kind of film to rock your world, though it may well inspire laughter.
Kyle Smith, New York Post
It'll make you want to dig out your Whitesnake T-shirt. It might even convince Tipper Gore that heavy metal thunder is all in good fun.
Bruce Westbrook, Houston Chronicle
A lightweight fanboy valentine for ostensibly heavyweight music.
Colin Covert, Minneapolis Star Tribune
Full of splendid social and psychological insights.
Kevin Crust, Los Angeles Times
Interviews with metal practitioners such as Tony Iommi, Alice Cooper, Rob Zombie and Dee Snider, journalists and academic types paint a compelling portrait of a vibrant society of outsiders.
Rob Gonsalves, eFilmCritic.com
Brings on a variety of eloquent voices from both the fanbase and the gods of metal themselves.
Urban Cinefile Critics, Urban Cinefile
The success of Dunn's film in support of heavy metal music might be the result of not offering the audience too much music
Matt McNally, BBC
Enjoyable whether you're a fan of the music or not.
Will Lawrence, Empire Magazine
A documentary that preaches to the converted if ever there was one, but Dunn's enthusiasm for the subject and the range of pretension and humour of his interviewees makes for fun viewing.
Jeff Vice, Deseret News, Salt Lake City
A film that manages to be intelligent without being boring, making it one of the better music documentaries in recent memory.
Sean Means, Salt Lake Tribune
The movie is woefully short on concert footage, which could have shown us the power of metal instead of just telling us.
Andy Klein, Los Angeles CityBeat
It's a measure of Dunn's success that even a total nonfan like myself could find his journey interesting.
Glenn Whipp, Los Angeles Daily News
You might not go out and buy the latest Slipknot album after seeing it, but you will understand why some disenfranchised kid would.
Edward Havens, FilmJerk.com
Acts not as the window for the outsider into the spectacle of heavy metal music, as the filmmakers proclaim it to be, but an unprovoked fan's defense for liking what he likes

Read all 15 critic reviews

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Featured Audience Ratings

Jeff "

As a diehard metalhead, I was astounded at how much care that Sam Dunn has given to the genre. He truly gives the respect the genre deserves. Metal: A Headbanger's Journey takes a closer look to the metal genre. In the documentary, Sam Dunn tries to answer one question, "Why… More
As a diehard metalhead, I was astounded at how much care that Sam Dunn has given to the genre. He truly gives the respect the genre deserves. Metal: A Headbanger's Journey takes a closer look to the metal genre. In the documentary, Sam Dunn tries to answer one question, "Why is metal so controversial, yet so loved?" The film features terrific interviews done by the legends that forged this incredible genre. Dunn is able to provide solid evidence as to why Metal is dismissed by the mainstream. As a diehard fan of the genre, I was very happy to see my question answered. For over ten years have I asked the same question that Dunn did. After viewing this documentary, I thought to myself, well this genre is an elitist genre, the people who listen to it don't conform to the standards of trendy music of today, thus it makes loving metal that much cooler. Just the fact the the trendy MTV crowd misunderstands this epic genre makes me love metal even more. Dunn presents valid arguments to his points and that also shows that him being a metalhead doesn't necessarily make him stupid as the mainstream crowd presents us metalheads to be. Dunn asks intelligent questions, and despite that he's surrounded by his idols, he is extremely professional. One interview kinda pissed me off, the one with Mayhem, the guy was being a really douchbag with the director. Dunn asked him a buinch of questions, and the guy from Mayhem just kept telling him to fuck off. The interview after that was with Ronnie James Dio. Dio as always is kindhearted and he was very kind to the crew. that was one of my favorite interviews. Dio was the man, and always will be. Dunn has done a terrific with assembling a collection of great interviews, one of the best is Dee Snider talking about the PMRC censorship of metal bands. Snider proved that metal musicians are intelligent, and not some stupid uneducated people. Other worthy interviews are with Alice Cooper, Tom Araya, Kerry King and Tony Iommi. Metal: A Headbanger's Journey is terrific music documentary, it answers many questions and gives true respect to this misunderstood genre of music. One of the reasons that this documentary works so well is that it was made by fans for fans. One phenomenal Journey for metal fans everywhere. The appeal of Metal music has lasted longer than many careers of pop stars of today, in many ways the genre is still young, as it continues to reinvent itself and be relevant with today's times. Watch out Lady Gaga and Justin Bieber, METAL IS HERE TO STAY!!!
_kelly .

This is one of my favorite documentaries, not only because I'm a metalhead myself, but because it gives true insight into a large global cultural movement. That this movie was helmed by an anthropologist metalhead increased this full perspective of its subjects. Sam Dunn asks… More
This is one of my favorite documentaries, not only because I'm a metalhead myself, but because it gives true insight into a large global cultural movement. That this movie was helmed by an anthropologist metalhead increased this full perspective of its subjects. Sam Dunn asks intelligent questions of the "heroes and gods of metal" so that even diehard fans will gain some insight on the art form. Dunn's talent at interviewing also creates some very compelling and full portraits of a spectrum of metal fans themselves. Dunn is also incredibly tactful when dealing with the "bad boys" of metal who just want to curse and fling beer at the camera, or especially the Satanic black metal musicians in Northern Europe (mostly Norway) who advocate violence and have prior committed or advocated terrorist acts of political natures. Overall, Dunn creates a fantastic and extremely informative doc, thorough, and one of the better music docs I have ever seen. This doc works for people completely oblivious to the metal scene as well as the seasoned headbanger. The DVD 2 disc edition is also required to get the best out of this doc. While what had the edited feature stands perfectly on its own and will be enough for some viewers, the extended interviews with metal's legends and revolutionary contemporaries are must-watch for rock fans or musicians. This movie also introduced me to tons of great metal bands I didn't know about and I've also gotten around to listening to legendary bands that have been on my "discographies to digest" list; Right now I am listening to: Hammerfall and Candlemass in the former category, and Rush and Iron Maiden in the latter. \m/,.\m/
Emily A

The first ever documenatry about heavy metal culture, from the point of view of someone who is immersed in it himself. I saw this at the Toronto film festival when it came out and I still love it. It's one of my favorite documentaries, although some of his concluding points kind… More
The first ever documenatry about heavy metal culture, from the point of view of someone who is immersed in it himself. I saw this at the Toronto film festival when it came out and I still love it. It's one of my favorite documentaries, although some of his concluding points kind of came out of the blue.
Duncan R

Anthropologist Sam Dunn directs this documentary about an under appreciated music genre with love, and it shows. It's not everyday you watch a documentary and say, "Wow that movie was fun", but this one will please both die-hard fans and those who find metal an abysmal… More
Anthropologist Sam Dunn directs this documentary about an under appreciated music genre with love, and it shows. It's not everyday you watch a documentary and say, "Wow that movie was fun", but this one will please both die-hard fans and those who find metal an abysmal art form.
William G

A thorough love letter to metal subculture, for fans, by one.
Anastasia B

This would have been essential reading (ok, viewing) for the "School of Rock". To anyone who hates metal music, and doesn't know or doesn't want to know what it's all about, please watch this. In the end you come out of the experience knowing much more about… More
This would have been essential reading (ok, viewing) for the "School of Rock". To anyone who hates metal music, and doesn't know or doesn't want to know what it's all about, please watch this. In the end you come out of the experience knowing much more about the artists and what they represent to the eternal youth that needs to rebel, to find an outlet for anger, aggression and repressed emotions.
Wu C

Cool doc on the history and culture of heavy metal.
Kevin M

Informative and entertaining, with many exciting performances and interviews with the best of the best metal legends. Ronnie James Dio & Dee Snyder are so damn outspoken. Dio started the 'devil horns' hand sign; Snyder defended glam rock's free speech movement… More
Informative and entertaining, with many exciting performances and interviews with the best of the best metal legends. Ronnie James Dio & Dee Snyder are so damn outspoken. Dio started the 'devil horns' hand sign; Snyder defended glam rock's free speech movement politically. Makes me sad to see Emo punk kids use prior generations' hand gestures.
Christopher B

Interesting doc. I had rented a doc called "Black Metal" the night before because I was interested in Norwegian Black Metal (talk about wacky!) but it never worked in my DVD player, so I figured I'd downgrade to just "Metal". Though I don't think it… More
Interesting doc. I had rented a doc called "Black Metal" the night before because I was interested in Norwegian Black Metal (talk about wacky!) but it never worked in my DVD player, so I figured I'd downgrade to just "Metal". Though I don't think it helps those who find metal ridiculous to really see it's merits, it is good justification for those who like their music a bit angry and loud. Plus there was a section on Norwegian Black Metal!