Directors Juuso Laatio and Jukka Vidgren return with Heavier Trip, the riotous sequel to 2018’s Heavy Trip. This time, the Finnish death metal band Impaled Rektum find themselves breaking out of prison and into even wilder escapades. If Dethklok and Airheads had a cinematic child, this film would be the chaotic result, packed with headbanging humor, absurd situations, and a sly critique of the modern music industry.
Set in a Norwegian prison, the film reunites audiences with Turo Moilanen (Johannes Holopainen) on vocals, Lotvonen (Samuli Jaskio) on guitar, Oula (Chike Ohanwe) on drums, and Xytrax (Max Ovaska) on bass. The premise starts with the band behind bars, where their unapologetic devotion to metal immediately earns the ire of a zealous prison guard who, after some confrontations, makes it her mission to take them down. From there, the story spirals into a chaotic prison break and a mission to save Lotvonen’s family’s reindeer slaughterhouse, threatened by an impending financial crisis.
The adventure features exaggerated metal cultural humor with burning music museums, rejecting mainstream norms, and creating pure chaos regardless of intentions. Yet beneath the outrageous slapstick humor and hyperbolic caricatures lies a film that speaks directly to metalheads. Unlike other attempts to pander to a broader audience like Bill and Ted Face the Music, Heavier Trip unapologetically caters to metalheads while leaving room to welcome wider audiences.
The film has many easter eggs of metal salutes: Lemmy’s iconic hat nods to Lars and James, and the lead guitarist’s clear adoration for Dave Mustaine. The mockery of death metal clichés has taken things to a new level, giving viewers a laugh-out-loud experience. The exaggerated depictions of subgenres and metal elitism continue to bring hysterical moments where all you can do is laugh.
One of the film’s standout surprises is the role of Babymetal. Though their screen time is brief, their presence is pivotal, challenging stereotypes and converting skeptics who may have dismissed the band as “not metal enough.” It’s a brilliant touch, showcasing the diverse spectrum of what metal can be while poking fun at gatekeeping within the community.
While some moments venture into absurdity, particularly toward the film’s conclusion, the movie’s charm lies in its ability to balance ridiculousness with genuine insight. Themes of ego, greed, and the meaning of success within a band are explored, reminding viewers that no member is more vital than the whole band itself. Impaled Rektum’s unconventional journey to fame underscores the value of staying true to yourself and your friends, even when the odds and the system are against you.
In an era where modern Hollywood largely overlooks the metal genre, Heavier Trip is a breath of fresh, headbanging air. Finnish filmmakers like Laatio and Vidgren keep the torch burning for metal films, delivering an equally ridiculous and heartwarming story.
Rating: 4.5/5
