Metalocalypse: Army of the Doomstar

Last updated

Metalocalypse: Army of the Doomstar
Metalocalypse - Army of the Doomstar.png
Poster
Directed by
Screenplay by
  • Brendon Small
  • Tommy Blacha
Based on Metalocalypse
by Brendon Small
Tommy Blacha
Produced by
Starring
Music byBrendon Small
Production
companies
Distributed by Warner Bros. Home Entertainment
Release date
August 22, 2023
Running time
83 minutes
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish

Metalocalypse: Army of the Doomstar is a 2023 American direct-to-video adult animated film based on the Adult Swim animated series Metalocalypse . The film is directed by series creators Brendon Small and Tommy Blacha and is a direct sequel to the 2013 special, Metalocalypse: The Doomstar Requiem . The film was released on August 22, 2023, alongside Dethklok's fourth studio album, Dethalbum IV . [1] [2] The film was dedicated to longtime series director, Jon Schnepp, who died in 2018 before production began.

Contents

The film is the third of Adult Swim's line of straight-to-video movies after Aqua Teen Forever: Plantasm and The Venture Bros.: Radiant Is the Blood of the Baboon Heart , and was released by Warner Bros. Home Entertainment.

The film picks up after the events of the Metalocalypse: The Doomstar Requiem special, with Dethklok tasked to write the "song of salvation" in order to save the planet from impending doom, [3] and serves as the finale to the Metalocalypse series.

Plot

After rescuing Toki from the Revengeancers and defeating the Metal Masked Assassin, Dethklok hold a press conference to announce a new tour and music. While the rest of the band have no recollection of the actual rescue, Nathan is suffering from post-traumatic stress from the experience and Magnus Hammersmith's suicide, while Toki has emotionally regressed to a child-like state as a coping mechanism. This results in him passing out during their first performance back together and all plans being indefinitely paused while he recovers at Mordhaus. During a memorial service for Ishnifus Meaddle, Charles Offdensen (now leader of the Church of the Black Klok) tasks Nathan with writing the "Song of Salvation" to prevent the Doomstar from destroying the Earth and allowing Mr Salacia to become whole again, but Nathan declines, choosing to settle down with Abigail. However, Abigail declines his proposal. After a confrontation with fans who witnessed it, Nathan ultimately decides to focus on his music, and the band head to a secret location under the guidance of Dick Knubbler.

Meanwhile, General Crozier has been temporarily freed from control by Mr Salacia while he attempts to possess another, as he can only possess one person at a time. Now aware of what the Tribunal's true motives are, Crozier attempts to get a message out, but is stopped by Vater Orlaag before Salacia regains control. It turns out that the other person Salacia is attempting to possess is William Murderface, who experiences disturbing and painful hallucinations as Salacia takes control and influences him to damage Nathan's confidence and prevent the Song of Salvation from being written, as well as revealing the location of the Army of the Doomstar.

At the end of their training and a drug induced meeting between Nathan and the Whale Prophet, the band begin performing the Song of Salvation. However, as they begin, Nathan realises that this is the wrong song. During their performance of "Aortic Desecration", the Doomstar approaches Earth and begins the Metalocalypse, destroying monuments across the planet and killing millions. The US Army and the Tribunal's own militia then attack the band's location, wiping out the Army of the Doomstar and killing Knubbler. During the attack, Crozier is able to free himself of Salacia's control for good while Murderface flees, still possessed and blaming himself for sabotaging the band's attempt to save the world. Crozier offers his help to the band as Skwisgaar, still in shock from the attack, is able to reveal Murderface's possession to the others. Crozier tells the band how to free him from Salacia and the band forgive him for what happened, given that he was not in control of his actions, explaining that he belongs in the band as he brings balance to the group with his negativity.

Realising what they now need to do, Dethklok and Crozier reconvene with Edgar Jomfru to perform the correct Song of Salvation, "SOS", but during their performance, Vater Orlaag orders an attack on the group. Dethklok are captured by Salacia and, after Nathan refuses Salacia's offer to join him, the five are hooked up to the supercomputer Salacia built to draw in the Doomstar. This allows Salacia to draw on the power of the Doomstar and commence the "Great Reuniting", becoming whole once more, but Nathan is able to break free of his restraints and break the computer long enough for the rest of the band to break free. Jomfru and Crozier infiltrate the facility, with Jomfru planting a bomb to destroy the supercomputer while Crozier attempts to regain control of the US military. Jomfru is killed, but not before successfully activating the bomb. The band are joined by Offdensen, the Church of the Black Klok, and their legions of fans, and fight the Tribunal's forces and the US Army while Vater Orlaag fights Offdensen. Just as Orlaag is about to kill Offdensen, he is distracted by Murderface, allowing Offdensen to recover and kill Orlaag. Crozier manages to regain control of the US military and orders them to stand down and assist the fans, apprehending the Tribunal's forces.

However, Salacia emerges from his coccoon in his true form, killing many of the people on the battlefield. As he attempts to kill Dethklok, Nathan draws on the power of the Doomstar himself to counter Salacia's attacks. The band's power spreads to the legions of fans, amplifying their power and forcing Salacia to "Go into the Water", where he is finally killed by the Whale Prophet. Addressing their fans in the aftermath, Nathan realises that the fans are the true Army of the Doomstar, and that their new relationship with their fans is the true "Great Reuniting". The group and fans celebrate as the movie ends.

Voice cast

Soundtrack

The original motion picture soundtrack for the film was released on August 25, 2023 through WaterTower Music. [4]

Reception

A review on The Daily Beast says of the film: "It may be the weirdest and wildest music series of all-time, yet at its fire-and-brimstone core, Small and Blacha's Metalocalypse saga is a sincere ode to the thrilling extremism of metal and a celebration of the idea that music is life—and, when loud and ferocious enough, capable of saving the world." [5]

A review at Blu-Ray.com states "So yes, it's a page ripped directly out of the Bill and Ted's Excellent Adventure playbook – or, to a much lesser extent, Bill and Ted Face the Music – albeit with a much more darkly funny and violent edge. That's about as big a complaint as I can muster for what's otherwise a well-crafted and even emotionally effective love letter to die-hard fans who've patiently waited a full decade for the band to get back together." [6] The film was additionally reviewed in Polygon [7] and IGN . [8]

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References

  1. ↑ DiVita, Joe (April 11, 2023). "New 'Metalocalypse' Movie to Come Out This Year, Starring Kirk Hammett, Amy Lee + More". Loudwire. Retrieved 2023-05-01.
  2. ↑ "First Trailer for New 'Metalocalypse' Movie is Here, So is the Brutal New Dethklok Song 'Aortic Desecration'". Loudwire . June 21, 2023.
  3. ↑ Alex Billington (June 25, 2023). "Trailer for R-Rated Animation 'Metalocalypse: Army of the Doomstar'". First Showing.
  4. ↑ "'Metalocalypse: Army of the Doomstar' readies another preview from forthcoming movie". Lamb Goat. August 16, 2023.
  5. ↑ Schager, Nick (2023-08-21). "'Metalocalypse: Army of the Doomstar' Dials Its Gonzo Antics to 11". The Daily Beast. Retrieved 2023-08-28.
  6. ↑ Metalocalypse: Army of the Doomstar Blu-ray (Blu-ray + Digital HD) , retrieved 2023-08-28
  7. ↑ Egan, Toussaint (2023-08-22). "Metalocalypse's finale movie is a climax worth the wait". Polygon. Retrieved 2023-09-17.
  8. ↑ Donato, Matt (2023-08-24). "Metalocalypse: Army of the Doomstar". IGN. Retrieved 2023-09-17.
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