Review of Metallica: Through the Never (2013) by Tracy S — 06 Jun 2014

Heavy metal legends Metallica have had a history of musical highs like Master of Puppets and Ride the Lightening to lows such as ReLoad and Saint Anger but in the end they are still the best metal band around today so it is only fitting that a concert film be added to their catalog with Metallica: Through the Never.

Through the Never is a concert film that shows Metallica give a phenomenal greatest hits concert sporting what makes them the legends they are but with an added twist in the form of a storyline. If I was grading the concert portion only in this film, this would be the best concert movie ever made.

Metallica plays all the songs you want to hear with amazing production value and the sheer enigma that we know as Metallica playing as hard and as emotional as ever. However, you have to remember that this has a storyline and with that comes the main issue.

The story revolves around a roadie played by Dane Dehaan who has to go get a maguffin in the form of a bag for Metallica while the concert is going on. Of course with that comes complete and total anarchy in the form of riots in the streets and hellions on horses.

When Pink Floyd put out The Wall's companion film, it was horrific and utterly insane but it fit the album Here, the storyline feels out of place and your waiting to get back to the concert. The visuals in the storyline are striking and filled with references, but lets be honest here, you watch this for Metallica and not the roadie.

All in all if you love Metallica, see this movie. Its a greatest hits show that will have you searching for the film's soundtrack. If you don't like Metallica, then odds are this is anything but the movie for you.