American Satan

So well, i do not tend to write reviews on movies often. but i just figured i HAD TO for this one. not because it knocked me off my feet, but because after watching it i went on here and saw all these really bad reviews. i had been entertained well for nearly two hours, i got more than i expected, considering "drama, music, thriller" are the lead tags on it, yet i would rather like to see it as a dark comedy about the industry and thus all the cliches and stereotypes explain themselves. so, if you can make fun of yourself or take serious matters with a light heart, go ahead and watch. it got plenty of the "sex, drugs and rock n roll" woven into a story that is not half as bad as other reviewers try to make you think

I was excited for this movie. I'm a fan of Andy, had a fun character actor cast, especially McDowell as the devil himself. That idea alone sounds awesome, but the movie was full of good ideas, but very bad execution. I didn't really hate it, there were parts I liked, not enough to save it. The music was definitely the highlight. The movie coulda been so much more, but it really wasn't. Shame.

I thought this was a horror movie, but it definitely was not. It leaned more on the thriller film side. The soundtrack was actually decent, the acting and actors were great, the story was weak, rough, and tried to go too many places. Take out all the brutal shots and this could have been a lifetime movie.

Also, I had no idea who Andy Biersack was, but he was the only reason I kept watching.

OK so this won't apply to everyone but if you grew up in a certain kind of Evangelical Christianity - the type where every once in a while a "cool" speaker with a casual outfit and an allegedly dark past would come tell you about how Satan lurks in all the things you love - then this movie will seem weirdly familiar. From watching the trailer I expected a rock 'n roll horror movie, what I got was... something else entirely...

Firstly, this is not a horror movie, not even a little bit (there is some decent to good rock in it though). It's basically a sermon about the perils of moral Rock 'n Roll decadence, although much like most of those sermons it does a way better job of making sex, drugs & rock 'n roll seem awesome than in warning you against it.

I'm not using allusions to sermons lightly here. The movie both starts and ends with the same kind of out of context, industry insider quotes to make it seem like the devil is real, runs music and everyone involved knows it. Furthermore the movie has continual infodumps on the illuminati and how Satan supposedly controls everything from rock to hip-hop to Apple Computers. But unlike a sermon, there's not actually a point to any of this. Despite heavy handed character names like "Johnny FAUST", there never seem to be real stakes. Selling out to Satan is... sorta bad maybe? But maybe also no big deal? And maybe nothing matters?

I would say this is like a Chick Tract with more graphic nudity and drug use but honestly a Chick tract has way more punch to it!

I enjoyed the movie for what it was. The acting was decent. It was entertaining. The negative reviews here seem like they were expecting something absolutely life transcending. It's a movie about a rock band and some of the stuff that happens in the lifestyle. Yes there was a evil and good theme there but it wasn't childish or absurd like some of the reviews say. I also don't think it was a "Rock baad, Rock Sataan" type of deal either. It was just a good show. If you enjoy metal and band stuff you'll probably dig it. It's not going to be on any award shows or anything but cult classic maybe. Just hang out and enjoy the ride. No expectations. ....and don't listen to the negative reviews. I'm glad I didn't read any until after the movie.