Nowadays it is quite common for a historically influential Heavy Metal band to make a film. You had 2004’s Metallica: Some Kind of Monster, 2008’s Anvil! The Story of Anvil, 2009’s Iron Maiden: Flight 666, and more recently, Mötley Crüe represented in 2019’s The Dirt. All solid films which represent what band has stood for through the years, now you have Slayer making their theatrical mark with Slayer: The Repentless Killogy.
Slayer, in conjunction with Trafalgar Releasing, Nuclear Blast Records, and Prime Zero Productions, bring fans Slayer: The Repentless Killogy, so the question is… what is it all about? The answer is it is a narrative short film paired with Slayer’s entire performance of their August 5th, 2017 concert at the Los Angeles Forum. A story of revenge, murder, bloodshed, and retribution, Slayer: The Repentless Killogy made a worldwide, special, one-Night theatrical premiere on November 6th, 2019 in over 1,5000 theaters. Written/directed by BJ McDonnell, the individual responsible for the creation of three Slayer music videos – “You Against You,” “Repentless,” and “Pride in Prejudice” – all of which are featured in the first half of the film, it is apropos that each song is from Slayer’s final studio album, 2015’s Repentless.
Breaking it down, the film comes at you in two parts that quickly jump from one to the other. The first part is a re-showing of the aforementioned three music videos with an interspersed storyline featuring a neo-Nazi named Wyatt (Jason Trost: Hatchet III 2013, How to Save Us 2014) who terrorizes a few men and women in his path using a bloodthirsty “no fucks given” attitude. It should be noted that this portion of the film also features an all-star list of genre film actors/actresses including Bill Moseley (The Texas Chainsaw Massacre 2 1986, The Devil’s Rejects 2005) as Nazi Dad, Caroline Williams (The Texas Chainsaw Massacre 2 1986, Leprechaun 3 1995) as Nazi Mom, Danny Trejo (From Dusk Till Dawn 1996, Machete 2010), Tony Moran (Halloween 1978, American Poltergeist 2016), Derek Mears (Friday the 13th 2009, Predators 2010), Tyler Mane (X-Men 2000, Halloween 2007), Sean Whalen (Twister 1996, Halloween II 2009), and Vernon Wells (Commando 1985, Weird Science 1985).
The second part of the film teleports you into a live recording from August 5th, 2017, This section was directed by the accomplishment Wayne Isham, and includes a great setlist hitting the best of the best with tunes such as “Angel Of Death,” “Raining Blood,” “Dead Skin Mask,” “South Of Heaven,” plus much more.
The story portion of Slayer: The Repentless Killogy, the three music videos entwined together, uses many characters and feature the very Metal concept of playing heavy music in a forest with nowhere to plug in the amps purely for the effect, and of course, it is a totally acceptable visual staple. The Forum show, with all of its pyrotechnics, and large mosh pit of despair, for those who were actually there, still probably remember it as one of the more calm Slayer shows to date. A tour which featured both Lamb Of God and Behemoth as support, it was a plentiful and aggressive mix, but still, Slayer delivered the goods, as they always do.
In preparation for their supposed last hurrah tour wise, and in celebratory acknowledgement of Repentless, comes a memorable collective re-telling of history from one of the most brutal bands on the planet. Also worth mentioning, Slayer are scheduled to end it all with two special shows at The Forum in Los Angeles on November 29th and 30th, so get in there somehow!
Through it all, Slayer has yet to forget their roots, and while this looks to be their last creative effort, fans can hope for another tour run, and in the meantime enjoy Slayer: The Repentless Killogy which became available digitally and on Blu-ray Friday, November 8th. A nice holiday gift, the release also features an option for soundtrack from the 2017 concert, both as a two-disc vinyl and two CD packages. Overall, it is a solid representation of the majorly influential Slayer that fans have come to know and love, and that is why Cryptic Rock gives Slayer: The Repentless Killogy 4 out of 5 stars.
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