ISMN: “Hells Bells: The Dangers of Rock ‘N’ Roll - Pt. 1” (1989) Thursday May 31st @ 8 PM
For people who couldn’t make ISMN @ Brewvies in SLC, I had a request to hold another ISMN this Thursday in Springville. This time, it’s a very different film.
VHS/97 Mins - because we’re only showing the first tape/Not Rated
Whether or not you voted for this year’s ISMN alphabet line-up, this one got the most votes for “H” and I’ve had several requests for it in the past.
From IMDB: “Hell’s Bells explores/examines ideas of seeming satanists and occultists looking for parallels within the world of secular rock music.”
Yep it’s that lengthy documentary about Satanic messages in rock music. Featuring a hip guy with a mustache and mullet, giving you the impression of “Hey, I may not listen to this stuff, but I’ve researched it, I believe in God and I’m still just as cool as any of you teens.”
(Below:) He shows you things like how to boil an egg in a speaker.
I’m not going to say this is a “great” film but it’s very notorious, interesting and quite the odd cultural artifact. There are many who claim that this is the film that got them INTO much of this music to begin with.
It definitely has it’s ridiculous camp moments, such as my favorite fake infomercial (shown above).
Plenty of random facts are also given about how music manipulates and effects your mind and drives people to suicide etc.
Famous examples are shared of confused mice unable to get through a maze and wilting flowers under the influence of heavy metal, etc.
What you mostly get are explanations about the attacks and mockery from rock music on Christianity.
Many scriptures are quoted and many quotes are given from musicians, under who knows what context. As well as lots of footage of these musicians performing live.
I’m fascinated by this stuff, I have done several radio shows in the past about the phenomenon of back masking and subliminal messages in music, and have also written a paper on this very topic.
I understand the points he is trying to make, and he digs deep, sometimes almost too deep to the point to where things at times seem like kind of a reach, i.e. by claiming things like, Satan is so effective with music that he must have been over the music in Heaven before his fall, etc. But again, that’s part of this film’s charm.
This is shown solely as a cultural and historical artifact. As to it’s overall message in this review I would like to remain indifferent, as it does not necessarily reflect the views of Lost Media Archive.
You may find many aspects of this film being cheesy camp, it may also disturb you, it may also offend you, or it may make you laugh depending on your point of view.
Possibly the part which may be most offensive to some is by pretty much saying that all other religions are of the devil. And if you are a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (coming to this from our locale) , it also gives you the common argument that you are not Christian.
This guy above says to go see it! My Lutheran friends told me that they once had to watch this in school.
Again I show it due to it’s cultural and odd historical relevance, and for a rare opportunity to actually watch it with friends :)
See it if you must!
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Time & Place: Thursday May 31st, 8 PM @ “The Art City Mansion”
See you there!
BC
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(Below: My section of personal comments, that you can skip if you like.)
It’s probably pretty obvious from my previous posts that I am a Latter-day Saint. I’ve heard the non-Christian argument given to me so many times, that I’ll just share this once for those who don’t understand the basic claim of the The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
It’s this: Christ established a church. People changed it. It has been re-established.
If people want to say I’m not Christian, I suppose that’s their business. I move on.
If you want more detail on what the LDS church believes, you can read the “Articles of Faith” or visit http://www.lds.org/?lang=eng.
You can also ask me questions about it if you like, especially with all the weird things that are being said about it on television and in the media, mostly by and from what seem to be people with an agenda.
That’s all :)
