Music on DVD
For the uninitiated Punk Rock Holocaust was a goofy C movie — it couldn’t even muster the professionalism of a B flick — filmed during The Vans Warped Tour a few years back. The basic premise: one particularly bad band wanting desperately to perform on the tour was given a shot but ridiculed for their shoddy performance. In order to vindicate himself said band’s singer makes a pact with the Devil (Belial wonderfully portrayed by Troma visionary Lloyd Kaufman) returning to slaughter bands and crew alike. In the end “The Executioner” as he is known is beheaded and punk rock pleasantry returns to the staple nomadic concert.
One year after that massacre The Executioner is back desperately searching for his head and leaving a trail of blood and sinew in the process. Predictably as the tour unfolds so does the carnage. The Executioner once again wreaks havoc on fans artists and production crew alike.
The thing to keep in mind with either Punk Rock Holocaust flick is that we are witnessing a group of musicians not actors with too much free time no budget and a super-weak premise. The wanton splashing of Kool Aid-ish blood and dollar store Halloween body part props is almost embarrassing but somewhat expected.
However it’s what director Doug Sakkmann does with these limited means that proves the relevance of this second instalment — amping up the kitsch factor and enjoying the downright goofiness he is subjecting bands and audience to. Taking this into consideration PRH 2 becomes a relentless onslaught of hilarity horrific acting and “deaths” that are as laudable as they are laughable. Watching My Chemical Romance’s demise is brilliant on so many levels.
Fleshed out with performance footage of The Casualties Bouncing Souls Aquabats and more and chuckle-inducing extras (director commentary alternate film score and the ketchup versus mustard condiment race) this thinly veiled vehicle for pushing The Vans Warped Tour in the off-season is still enjoyable for a viewing or two.
