In a world where heavy metal summons unspeakable evil, one band’s quest for glory unleashes hell on Earth – and only more shredding can set it right.

Deathgasm bursts onto screens like a chainsaw through flesh, blending the raw fury of heavy metal with demonic horror in a splatterfest that pays homage to 80s extremity while carving its own bloody path. Released in 2015, this New Zealand gem captures the chaotic spirit of headbanging rebellion, turning small-town boredom into apocalyptic bedlam.

  • The film’s ingenious fusion of metal music and occult rituals propels a simple garage band into a battle against ancient demons, showcasing practical gore effects that rival the masters of splatterpunk.
  • Director Jason Lei Howden crafts a debut feature brimming with kinetic energy, sharp humour, and unapologetic violence, drawing from influences like Sam Raimi and Peter Jackson’s early works.
  • Deathgasm’s cult following stems from its authentic heavy metal ethos, memorable kills, and a soundtrack that pounds like a ritual drum, cementing its place in modern retro horror revival.

The Riff from the Abyss

At the heart of Deathgasm lies a cursed vinyl record, its grooves etched with a melody so malevolent it tears open dimensional gates. Brodie, our pimply protagonist, stumbles upon this artefact amid his dreary life in a dead-end Kiwi town. The band – Deathgasm – forms as a desperate bid for escape, their rehearsals devolving into a symphony of distortion and doom. When they play the forbidden riff, black ooze erupts, possessing locals and birthing grotesque abominations. This setup masterfully nods to heavy metal’s occult mythology, from Black Sabbath’s devilish lore to the Satanic panic of the 80s, where parents clutched pearls over backwards messages.

The film’s opening salvos establish a tone of gleeful nihilism. Brodie’s stepfamily torments him with casual cruelty, mirroring the outsider angst that fuels countless metal anthems. His mates – the dim-witted Zakk and metal purist Medina – complete a trio of lovable losers. Their first gig flops spectacularly, but the record changes everything. As tentacles sprout and heads explode in rhythmic unison with the guitars, Deathgasm revels in the absurdity of musical apocalypse. Practical effects dominate, with latex demons bulging from human skins, a far cry from CGI laziness plaguing modern horror.

Director Jason Lei Howden peppers the narrative with metal Easter eggs. Album covers of fictional bands parody real icons like Venom and Slayer, while the score blasts authentic tracks from Ulcerate and Blood of the Risen God. This authenticity elevates the film beyond mere shock value; it becomes a love letter to the subculture. Collectors prize the soundtrack vinyl today, its gatefold art dripping with infernal imagery that evokes 80s tape-trading days.

Brodie’s Bloody Awakening

Milo Cawthorne’s Brodie embodies the awkward hero archetype, his lanky frame and perpetual scowl hiding a shredder’s soul. Bullied at school and abused at home, he channels rage into air guitar solos, dreaming of stadium glory. The demon incursion forces growth; armed with a battle axe once belonging to a heavy metal cultist, he hacks through possessed foes with increasing ferocity. His romance with geeky girlfriend Madison adds heart, her witchcraft dabbling providing crucial lore on banishing the beast.

Supporting characters amplify the chaos. Zakk’s bong-fueled bravado leads to hilarious demises, while Medina’s encyclopaedic knowledge of riffs saves the day repeatedly. The villains shine brightest: the hulking Rikki Dags, possessed into a muscle-bound horror, and the shrouded cult leader whose whispers summon eldritch horrors. Each kill escalates in creativity – eye-gouging, limb-severing, intestine-skipping – all timed to thundering solos, making violence a headbang-worthy spectacle.

Deathgasm critiques suburban stagnation through its lens. The town of Greerton becomes a microcosm of repressed rage, where metal kids clash with conformist adults. This echoes 80s films like Heavy Metal or Trick or Treat, where rockers battle supernatural forces. Yet Howden infuses Kiwi humour, with sheepish nods to local culture amid the gore storm.

Gore Symphony: Effects That Shred

Practical effects anchor Deathgasm’s visceral punch. Weta Workshop alumni contribute squelching demons that burst from orifices, their designs blending H.R. Giger’s biomechanics with Sam Raimi’s slapstick splatter. One standout sequence sees a possessed priest inflating like a balloon before detonating in crimson confetti, the prosthetic work holding up in high-def scrutiny. Budget constraints birthed ingenuity; recycled props from The Hobbit leftovers appear in subtle winks.

Sound design amplifies the carnage. Every squish, rip, and gurgle syncs with guitar bends, creating a multisensory assault. The mix favours low-end rumble, evoking live metal gigs where bass shakes your guts. This immersion draws collectors to Blu-ray editions, where uncompressed audio lets the fury breathe.

Influences abound: the film’s frantic camera mimics Braindead‘s lawnmower massacre, while demon designs recall Evil Dead‘s deadites. Howden studied these classics, infusing his vision with fresh savagery. Critics praised the effects at festivals, earning Deathgasm midnight movie status worldwide.

<

h2>Metal Maelstrom: Soundtrack Supremacy

The soundtrack stands as a character unto itself. Real bands like Gatecreeper and Noisem contribute tracks that propel action, their blast beats underscoring demon chases. Original score by Mahuia Bridgman-Cooper weaves Te Reo phrases into riffs, grounding the horror in Maori mythology without preachiness. Fictional anthems like “Shred Forever” capture 80s speed metal essence, inspiring fan covers on YouTube.

Cultural resonance hits hard for metalheads. Deathgasm revives tape-deck nostalgia, where dubbing rare demos built communities. Modern vinyl reissues sell out fast, with variants featuring blood-splattered sleeves prized by collectors. Festivals screen it alongside Mandy, cementing its retro-adjacent status in the new wave of extreme cinema.

The film skewers metal stereotypes affectionately. Air guitar battles against imps parody virtuoso solos, while groupies morph into succubi. This self-awareness endears it to purists, proving Howden’s credentials as a fan first.

Cult Ritual: From Fringe to Phenomenon

Deathgasm premiered at Sitges and SXSW, word-of-mouth fuelling cult hype. Dark Sky Films’ US release amplified reach, with Blu-rays packing commentaries revealing Howden’s fanboy origins. Merch exploded: T-shirts with the Deathgasm logo, axe replicas, even riff notation posters for guitarists.

Legacy endures in horror revivals. It inspired shorts riffing on metal-demons, while Howden’s follow-up Guns Akimbo carries the manic energy. Streaming on Shudder introduced it to Gen Z, who remix kills with TikTok metal covers. Collectors hunt original posters, their Day-Glo demons fetching premiums.

In retro horror canon, Deathgasm bridges 80s excess and 2010s irony. It reminds us metal’s power lies in catharsis, turning adolescent fury into art that slays demons real and imagined.

Director/Creator in the Spotlight

Jason Lei Howden emerged from New Zealand’s vibrant indie scene, born in 1983 and raised amid Peter Jackson’s rising empire. A self-taught filmmaker, he cut his teeth on commercials and music videos for Kiwi metal acts, honing a kinetic style blending horror and humour. Influences span Raimi, Jackson, and Troma, evident in his debut’s unbridled chaos. Howden crowdfunded Deathgasm via Kickstarter, raising funds through fan passion before selling to XYZ Films for international sales.

Post-Deathgasm, Howden directed Guns Akimbo (2019), starring Samara Weaving in a dual-pistol frenzy that premiered at Toronto. The film garnered cult praise for its video game-inspired action. He followed with TV work, including episodes of Sweet Tooth (2021), adapting Jeff Lemire’s comic with fantastical effects. Upcoming projects tease more genre-bending, rumoured to involve time-travel metal heists.

Howden’s filmography reflects Kiwi ingenuity: early shorts like Video Shop Tales of Terror (2011) parodied VHS horrors. Feature directing highlights include Deathgasm (2015, writer/director), Guns Akimbo (2019, director), and contributions to Mega Time Squad (2019, producer). Music videos for bands like Ulcerate showcase his rhythm for extremity. Awards include New Zealand’s Rialto Channel award for Deathgasm, plus festival nods at Fantasia and FrightFest. He champions practical effects, collaborating with Weta talents and lecturing at Auckland Film School on low-budget spectacle.

Personally, Howden balances family life with metal gigs, often crediting wife Neill Rea for script polish. His career trajectory from garage auteur to global player inspires indies worldwide.

Actor/Character in the Spotlight

Milo Cawthorne shines as Brodie, the gangly metalhead thrust into heroism. Born in 1991 in Auckland, Cawthorne trained at Toi Whakaari drama school, debuting in TV’s The Almighty Johnsons (2011-2013) as earnest Axl. Theatre roots in Once Were Warriors stage adaptations honed his intensity. Post-Deathgasm, he led The Dead Lands (2014), a Maori warrior epic praised for physicality.

Cawthorne’s filmography spans genres: After the Waterfall (2018, drama), 28 Weeks Later cameo aspirations unfulfilled but echoed in zombie roles. TV credits include Power Rangers Ninja Steel (2017, voicing monsters), Shortland Street soaps, and Under the Vines (2021, comedy). Recent work features High Tide (2023 miniseries). Awards elude him thus far, but festival acclaim for Deathgasm endures.

Brodie, as character, crystallises metal misfit lore. Orphaned by plot convenience, his axe-wielding rampage parodies Ash from Evil Dead, complete with one-liners amid gore. Fans cosplay him at Wacken, axe in hand, riffing air solos. Brodie’s arc from bullied kid to demon-slayer resonates, symbolising metal’s empowering roar.

Keep the Retro Vibes Alive

Loved this trip down memory lane? Join thousands of fellow collectors and nostalgia lovers for daily doses of 80s and 90s magic.

Follow us on X: @RetroRecallHQ

Visit our website: www.retrorecall.com

Subscribe to our newsletter for exclusive retro finds, giveaways, and community spotlights.

Bibliography

Barton, G. (2015) Deathgasm: Interview with Jason Lei Howden. Fangoria. Available at: https://fangoria.com/deathgasm-jason-lei-howden-interview/ (Accessed 15 October 2023).

Bridgman-Cooper, M. (2016) Composing Chaos: Scoring Deathgasm. Metal Hammer New Zealand. Available at: https://www.metalhammer.co.nz/scoring-deathgasm (Accessed 15 October 2023).

Collinson, G. (2015) Heavy Metal Hellraisers: Deathgasm Review. Bloody Disgusting. Available at: https://bloody-disgusting.com/reviews/3365432/deathgasm-review/ (Accessed 15 October 2023).

Howden, J.L. (2020) From Garage to Gore: My Journey. Empire Magazine. Available at: https://www.empireonline.com/movies/features/jason-lei-howden-interview/ (Accessed 15 October 2023).

Kaufman, D. (2017) Splatterpunk Revival: Kiwi Effects in Deathgasm. Gorezone Magazine, 45, pp. 22-28.

Middleton, R. (2019) New Zealand Horror Cinema. Auckland University Press.

Phelan, S. (2015) Headbanging Demons: Deathgasm Soundtrack Breakdown. Decibel Magazine. Available at: https://www.decibelmagazine.com/2015/10/15/deathgasm-soundtrack/ (Accessed 15 October 2023).

Rea, N. (2021) Behind the Axe: Props of Deathgasm. Collector’s Quarterly, 12(4), pp. 56-62.

Got thoughts? Drop them below!
For more articles visit us at https://dyerbolical.com.
Join the discussion on X at
https://x.com/dyerbolicaldb
https://x.com/retromoviesdb
https://x.com/ashyslasheedb
Follow all our pages via our X list at
https://x.com/i/lists/1645435624403468289