For the longest time, Horror and Rock’N’Roll have been flirting heavily. Why wouldn’t they? They both are powered by Satan and teach kids to be degenerates. What’s not to love? But it’s been awhile since they’ve jumped in bed together. Studio 666 changes that by shredding the rock back into the horror genre with one of the best horror films of 2022 thus far. I didn’t expect to write this sentence in my entire life but Patrick Wilson better watch his back because Dave Grohl may be coming for the scream king title.
Studio 666 revolves around the Foo Fighters, yes, the actual Foo Fighters. They don’t play some fictional band or anything like that but just exaggerated versions of themselves. They’re on the verge of recording their tenth album and they’ve got nothing. So Dave suggests they go outside the box and record somewhere that isn’t a typical studio. From there, their new recording home turns out to be haunted and the horror gets cranked up to 11, building slowly through Studio 666 until it’s so loud it’s shaking the house.
No one in Studio 666 seems to be a seasoned actor and that actually benefits the film a lot because they’re genuinely funny to watch on screen. Even when the film is at its scariest, there are still moment that will make you laugh out loud. It’s very much in the same tempo as cheesy 80’s horror. Each member of the band is unique and has their own quirks that bounce off one another well. It’s no surprise these dudes have been in a group together for so long because they play incredibly well off one another. They play a lot in the movie together and those moments are so purely rock that it makes you forget you’re not just watching them play a set.
The sound in Studio 666 is pure bliss with the typical riffs of horror scores with the added heavy electric guitars you’ve come to know from the Foo Fighters. Even besides the score and the music they play, the sound design is terrific; with cues that amplify the scenes, and take jump scares to a higher level right after you’ve been laughing for awhile. John Carpenter, Ludrium, and Daniel Davies provide the theme music for the film and you cannot get more hardcore horror than that.
Something I really appreciated about Studio 666 was it’s use of practical effects and over the top gore as if I was watching the fourth or fifth installment in an 80’s horror franchise. There are some truly memorable kills in this. The “slasher” is absolutely hilarious but watch the film to find out more about that. There are plenty of ghouls in Studio 666 whose burning red eyes cut through the darkness. They’re wonderfully designed and spooky but purposeful for the films plot.
When I first heard that the Foo Fighters were doing Studio 666, I was a bit hesitant because it just didn’t click. But then I realized that this is the band who commits hardcore to their bits. So when they decided to get Rock and Horror to reunite, well, I’m just glad we all got to tag along. This is my favorite horror film so far this year and honestly it’s going to take a lot to dethrone scream king Dave Grohl in my heart.