The Allins

I've always been fascinated by GG Allin. I think if you're familiar with him, or you are now after seeing this documentary, you know why.

I own Hated, I've seen plenty of live footage, interviews and talk show appearances with GG and Merle, as well. I was familiar with their childhood, the existing incarnation of the Murder Junkies, Merle's online presence and merchandise, etc. But I have never seen the actual people behind the sensational, antisocial mystique of GG Allin.

You can't make this documentary and not have GG as a focal point or driving theme, but I appreciated the fact that the story primarily held true to the the tile: "The Allins."

Their mother is what most would hope a mom would be; someone that loves unconditionally. Merle was humanized and I can't believe it, almost vulnerable. I think it could be easy to assume he's been riding his late brother's excrement-soaked coattails, but it seems as though he genuinely wants to keep his legacy alive and just misses his best friend.

I think this is an efficient, tight and surprisingly tender doc about an infamous figure in music history. Great for fans and curious newcomers.

I'm assuming if you're looking at this film you know who G.G. Allin is, if not, suffice to say he's possibly one of the most, shall we say, notorious, rockers of the '80s and 90s. Here, we're given a far more intimate look at G.G. than was seen in Hated, spending quality time with his brother and mother which gives us a better understanding of just what made the Mr. Allin tick.

Focusing more on the man than the music, although there's plenty of performance footage (including prime scatological bits), I came away feeling like I understand what was really going on in those turbulent years prior to his untimely death. From rock icon to posthumous marketing machine G.G. will live with the immortals, which I suppose just might have made him happy.

You might need to know some history of the Allin experience to fully make this movie work but if you do, it's well worth watching.

With apologies to Babs Johnson, GG Allin was basically the filthiest person to ever gain celebrity status. Watching footage of him is stomach churning. But I doubt that would come as a surprise, or a deterrent, to anyone who would watch this doc. If you were able to watch the much more graphic "Hated" documentary you'l be fine with this one. And if you're a fan, for some perverse reason, you'll get a kick out of this. But other than that, this doc really does present some interesting juxtapositions. What goes on in the mind of the relatively normal, mild mannered mother of that filthy person? What happens when the fantasy of "sex drugs and rock and roll" confronts the reality of sitting in a Pizza Hut or paying your rent? How does a mother reconcile her natural love of her child with the fact that that little boy grew up to be GG Allin? For those reasons this documentary is very interesting. This film tries so hard to present him as a 3 dimensional human being with a family and emotions and frailties like all the rest of us, but with someone so thoroughly vile and repugnant and hate filled, it's a difficult sell.

"The Allins" (2017) is surprisingly sentimental film centered around one the most controversial and downright disgusting musicians this world has seen.

If you come across this film you likely have heard of GG and his endeavors, but maybe not looked into his life beyond the headlines. This film brings forth his life from the perspective of his Mom, older brother Merle, surviving bandmates, and the devouted followers who maintain his controversial legacy to this day.

GG was a human being with flaws as this film and his family want you to know. But it never shys away from the foul and egregious acts done by him and towards him. Its a biased and sentimental film but maintains better honesty than GG ever could.

Its worth a watch even you have never liked his music or cared for him as a person as its a good representation of a family of an addict/criminal/outcast. It demonstrates that every person no matter how bad they may seem, have a family who sees them differently no matter what. GG will always be a brother and son to his family despite his foul and abusive behavior.

Mildly interesting as a study of how people cover up their own weaknesses by admiring horrendous sociopaths, but as a documentary this proves pretty inauthentic. With staged segments that resemble more like so-called reality television, and utterly doctored footage of GG Allin, don't expect an honest view of the subject matter.