Review of Heavy Metal (1981) by Stafford V — 22 Aug 2015

Gerald Potterton's animated cult classic based upon the adult fantasy magazine of the same name, which has an innovative mixture of different animation styles. This anthology of stories are very original and entertaining.

The central premise of the film is that of good vs. evil. It concerns a green orb called the "Loc Nar" which holds a super powerful entity of pure evil, that is involved in each of the six vignettes beginning with my personal favorite "Harry Canyon," about tough New York City yellow cab driver in a dark distant future, full of gangsters, aliens, corrupt cops and femme fatales, "Den," about a nerdy teenager who transforms into a huge hulking muscleman while being transported to another world of hot big-breasted women and murderous monsters, "Captain Sternn," which is a hilarious story that is full of wit and chaos, it concerns Captain Lincoln F.

Sternn, who is a sleazy scoundrel that is on trail for his life for his many heinous indiscretions, he has the perfect plan to win, with a special character-witness named Hanover Fiste, "B-17," is a creepy segment that captures the flavor of the old E.

C. comics, it concerns a flight crew of a bomber in World War II who encounter the evil power of the "Loc Nar" in the form of the living dead, "So Beautiful, So Dangerous," is full of juvenile humor, it is about a couple of wacky, stoner aliens that pilot a gigantic smiley face spaceship, they abduct a sexy hot jewish secretary, that befriends a little horny robot, and finally "Tarrna" about a beautiful, voluptuous, super lethal mute warrior woman, who is mankind's last hope to vanquish evil.

Astute direction by Potterton, with fine voice performances by Richard Romanus, Al Waxman, Susan Roman, John Candy, John Vernon, Eugene Levy, and Joe Flaherty, Elemer Bernstein's lush score is superb, and the film also has an amazing 80s rock soundtrack that includes music from Black Sabbath, Blue Osyster Cult, Cheap Trick, Devo, Donald Fagen, Journey, Nazareth and Stevie Nicks.

There is much inspired imagination here, this is robustly entertaining. Highly Recommended.