 | ON: Content is age-appropriate for kids this age. |
 | PAUSE: Know your child; some content may not be right for some kids. |
 | OFF: Not age-appropriate for kids this age. |
 | NOT FOR KIDS: Not appropriate for kids any age. |
Heavy Metal
- Review Date: January 19, 2012
- R
- Genre: Science Fiction
- 1981
Common Sense Media says
Gory, sexy animated fantasy is too much for most teens.
Parents say
Kids say
What parents need to know
Parents need to know that Heavy Metal is an animated film aimed at teens, but its sexual and violent content makes it inappropriate for most. There are horrifying images of young characters dying, plus fighting, shooting with guns, and slicing with swords. A terrified young girl is a central, disturbing image. Several big-breasted women remove their clothes to sleep with men. There's strong innuendo, toplessness, and full-frontal nudity (mostly women, but men too). Language is strong (including "f--k," "s--t," and "a--hole"). Two aliens snort huge lines of a white powder that makes them spacey.
What's the story?
In this collection of related stories: An astronaut arrives home with a present for his little girl. Unfortunately, the present turns out to be a scary, glowing green ball. It melts dad and proceeds to tell the little girl several stories of sex, violence, greed, war, and revenge. A cabbie tries to protect a mysterious woman who has also found a glowing green ball. A boy finds the ball and is transported to a fantastic, distant world, occupying a warrior's body. A star witness at a trial turns into a monster and goes on a rampage. Aliens kidnap a sexy Earth woman. And so on. In the last segment, a beautiful warrior princess has one final chance to stand up against the forces of evil.
Is it any good?
In 1981, this may have been state-of-the-art animation, but now it looks rudimentary, clunky, and flat. The writing, likewise, is flat. These stories could have been little Twilight Zone-style zingers, but instead they just trail off. One of the stories, "Captain Sternn," came from comics legend Berni Wrightson, and it's the only one that even comes close to having a shape.
What's even more peculiar is the fact that the movie, like the famous magazine it's based on, is designed to lure in teens with the promise of gratuitous sex and nudity, as well as elements of fantasy, sci-fi, and violence. But the movie's overall content and themes make it more appropriate for adults, who will not be as interested. On the plus side, the movie has a good soundtrack of 1970s and 1980s-era arena rock (not all heavy metal, by the way), and the songs are used interestingly as background, often giving scenes an effective and much-needed boost of adrenaline. Ivan Reitman was a producer.
What families can talk about
Families can talk about the movie's rampant violence. Is this kind of violence thrilling or appealing? Is it over-the-top? What effect does it have?
Is the strong sex and nudity in the movie appealing? What messages does this movie send about women's roles? Why are male and female bodies so exaggerated in comics and cartoons?
Do you think this movie is designed for teens?
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AGE
Potential nightmare fuel for sensitive viewers. Discretion Advised.
Although, I watched this movie when I was fourteen at a friend's house. I really wouldn't recommend it to younger teens and especially not to children, The movie is a direct homage to Heavy Metal magazine, an underground cult classic since 1977. What is the most striking about this film is the Visuals which have aged well considering the technology in the early 80's. Visually, it's still a treat with complex characters and amazing backgrounds. The movie is paced like the magazine as in each new chapter tells a different story with different animation, but some how they all link up. Be warned though, the violence in this movie is extremely graphic with grisly and gory imagery by the bucketload. Some characters get beheaded, some impaled, and in the first chapter the scientist who brings home the loc-narr has his face and skin melted off of his body as if he was a casualty of nuclear war. Other than the aforementioned A**load of violence, there is also full frontal nudity, many of the female characters are either topless or wearing no clothes at all. There is also a few softcore sex scenes throughout the film as well. All in all it is a really fantastic film but It's best suited to the 17+ set.
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| Studio: | Columbia Pictures |
| Director: | Gerald Potterton |
| Cast: | Eugene Levy, Harold Ramis, John Candy |
| Genre: | Science Fiction |
| Run time: | 90 minutes |
| Theatrical release date: | August 7, 1981 |
| DVD release date: | January 15, 2008 |
| MPAA rating: | R |
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