Metal Retardation: Are You Metally Retarded?

Metal Retardation: Are You Metally Retarded?, a 2009 documentary, is an unabashedly loud, brash, and unabridged exploration of the world of heavy metal music in its most raw and unfiltered form. Directed by Bill Zebub, the film captures an unorthodox view of the realm of heavy metal, where the music is fast, the hair is long and the MTV-led segmentation of musical genres has given way to a subculture where solos, riffs, and screams are celebrated with fanatical enthusiasm.

The documentary features legendary artists such as George "Corpsegrinder" Fisher from Cannibal Corpse and Kim B. Petersen, known as "King Diamond," who not just discuss heavy metal music in a candid manner but also reflect on the culture and ethos that surrounds this high-decibel genre of music. The film extends beyond the usual dichotomies of good music versus bad music and penetrates the more profound regions of art versus commercialism, and community versus mainstream acceptance.

Directed by Bill Zebub, the film is almost a companion piece to his earlier venture "Black Metal: A Documentary," which was lauded for its in-depth exploration of the black metal subgenre. Unlike his earlier documentary, Zebub moves further afield with Metal Retardation. The film is interspersed with interviews, concert footage, backstage access footage, and spur-of-the-moment interactions with a selection of key and respected figures in the genre. The most significant feature here is its irreverence and poking fun at some of the stereotypes associated with the music and the culture.

Zebub's film allows George Fisher and Kim Petersen to candidly share their experiences, opinions and memories. Their humor and observations often teeter on the edge of controversy, while giving viewers astonishing insights into this usually cloistered world. The film also provides answers to long-debated questions about heavy metal music, its origins, its cultural impact, and its survival in a world dominated by more commercially accepted musical genres.

The director has thrown caution to the wind as he seems less concerned with pushing an agenda or any particular view of metal music. Instead, the film offers a conversational feel, as if the viewer was backstage at a concert or part of the tour bus 'after-show' discussions. Bill Zebub isn't afraid to put his subjects in the spotlight and ask them piercing questions, allowing audiences to see the musicians in a more vulnerable and human light.

One of the major highlight of the movie is it's 'tongue-in-cheek' approach. Throughout the movie, Zebub takes potshots at the cliches and stereotypes that rule the heavy metal scene, but always with a love and respect for the craft that underpins it all. The film is teeming with humor, teetering on satire yet never descending into mockery. It manages to straddle the line between respect and irreverence that brings a refreshing change compared to most other documentaries in the genre.

Alongside the laughs and larger-than-life personalities, the film underscores the subject's serious side too. The importance of music as something that transcends language and societal norms becomes evident as Fisher and Petersen reflect on their musical journeys. The film beautifully showcases the paradox that this form of music is both a niche genre, adored by a fanatical following, yet often benignly brushed off in mainstream circles.

In conclusion, Metal Retardation: Are You Metally Retarded? is not just a documentary about music; it is a commentary on society's double standards, commercialism and art's intrinsic power to create a sense of community and belonging. Through humor, frank discussions, and behind-the-scenes tidbits, the film offers an unrated look into the world of heavy metal. Whether you are an ardent fan or someone new to the genre, the film takes you behind the curtain and lets you witness the raw, rugged yet affectionate side of a misunderstood culture.