Hated: GG Allin and the Murder Junkies

Hated: GG Allin and the Murder Junkies is a riveting, shocking, and deeply controversial documentary film directed by Todd Phillips in 1993. This film presents an intimate and unfiltered portrait of the seminal punk rock figure, GG Allin, and his band, the Murder Junkies - known for their explicit lyrics and obscene live performances.

The film features GG Allin, his brother Merle Allin, and band member Brian Unk Hunter, among others, capturing the raw essence of the band's chaotic and often havoc-filled gigs. The Allins lived by the ethos of achieving pure freedom through chaos and anarchy, and this documentary doesn't shy away from displaying the extent of their commitment.

GG Allin, whose birth name was Jesus Christ Allin, churned out aggressive, confrontational punk rock that was notorious for its graphic nature, both in terms of the lyrics and GG's onstage behavior. This film prominently showcases his truly individualistic lifestyle and warped sense of artistry, illustrating his animosity toward authority and society.

In Hated, director Phillips conducts in-depth interviews with the band members, where they delve into their motivations, philosophy, and their often disturbing artistic expression. Merle Allin, GG’s brother and bass guitarist, and Brian Unk Hunter, the drummer, provide intimate details about their rebellious lifestyle and their relationships with their fans and the public at large. The interviews build up to a visibly dark and disturbing narrative that probes the underbelly of punk rock, exploring its extremities and its unvarnished truths.

The movie dramatically intertwines the live footage from their shows with the insightful and candid interviews. In doing so, it sheds light on the raw, unhinged, and boundary-defying performances they indulged in, frequently involving self-mutilation and outright violence. Their shows were flamboyant displays of rebellion, and Phillips makes no effort to beautify or glamorize what was so evidently a chaos-filled existence.

Hated also takes the viewers through some pivotal moments in GG’s life, including his early days, his frequent encounters with the law, and his interactions with fans and critics alike. It vividly captures his volatile personality and paints a comprehensive picture of his seemingly aimless rage against the societal norms that he felt so stifled by.

GG's provocative and controversial personality is further highlighted through his raw, insightfully articulated interviews. His candid revelations about his life philosophy, laid bare in these interviews, form the crux of the narrative. They resonate as deeply unsettling, yet thought-provoking commentaries on freedom, rebellion, and the subjective nature of morality.

Beneath the chaos-causing confrontations and the abrasive music, Hated shines a spotlight on the core of GG's beliefs and his perspective on art and life. It portrays him as a complex personality whose unconventional path in life echoes with the searing tones of freedom and resistance.

The imagery captured in this documentary is bound to be shocking for many. Phillips does not spare viewers any details, presenting GG's life and art in its chaotic, messy, and uncompromising reality. The plainly displayed brutality in the performances can be hard to digest, yet it's a true depiction of the band's radical expressiveness.

Essentially, Hated: GG Allin and the Murder Junkies is an exploration into the deepest recesses of punk rock, offering insights into the life and music of one of its most debatable figures. The film is an unapologetic and bold look at the existence for those at the extreme fringe of society, artistically, and personally. The interviews, music, footage, and narrative together create an absorbing film that chronicles a life filled with turmoil, rebellion, and an unyielding quest for unchecked freedom.

Though this film may not be for all, it certainly provides a unique perspective into a life unbound by societal norms. It is an exploration of rebellion and the human search for identity and freedom, however convoluted that path may be. It is a narration of a man and a band that pushed their lives to the extreme and their relentless quest to live by their own rules.

Hated: GG Allin and the Murder Junkies is a distinct snapshot of a moment in punk rock history, a must-watch for fans of the genre, and those who are fascinated by unconventional, offbeat biographical stories. It's a ride into the darkness of anarchy and chaos, and a rare exploration of the unsettling realities of absolute freedom.