Studio 666: Review

Studio 666 Synopsis: Members of the rock band Foo Fighters move into an eerie mansion to record their 10th album. Once in the house, singer Dave Grohl finds himself grappling with supernatural forces that threaten both the completion of the album and the band members’ lives.

I am not sure if anyone had a horror/comedy from the Foo Fighters on their 2022 movie bingo card, but the eclectic rock group is presenting their talent to the big screen with Studio 666. Crafted in the vein of gore-ridden B-movie throwbacks like Braindead, Studio 666 represents a playful embrace of the macabre that’s rarely seen in mainstream films today.

To my surprise, Studio 666 elicits crowdpleasing charms in drove. Much of the joy comes from watching the close-knit band play off each other as fictionalized versions of themselves. The band – featuring David Grohl, Taylor Hawkins, Rami Jaffee, Chris Shiflett, and Pat Smear – conjure easy-going comedic chemistry that keeps the generic plotting afloat.

Studio 666 also represents a sincere adoration for its genre inspirations. Director and longtime Camera Operator BJ McDonell embraces cheesy practical effects at every turn without becoming too self-aware of his low-rent techniques. Each kill is hilariously gruesome and over-the-top, displaying genuine creativity and visceral shock at every turn.

Still, the film is admittedly uneven. Screenwriters Rebecca Hughes and Jeff Buhler needlessly drag out the promising concept across a 106-minute runtime. When the comedic barbs aren’t hitting in between kills, Studio 666 feels like it’s in a state of dead air. I also wish McDonell tried more to spice up the film’s standard, digitized look. Outside of the gory kills, the film’s artless appearance is more akin to a straight-to-streaming effort.

It’s admittedly a mixed bag, but Studio 666 delivers the good where it counts most. Grohl and company craft an infectious romp that thankfully never takes itself too seriously.