Nine months after its premiere at Sundance and mere hours before it screens at Fantastic Fest,Jonas Åkerlund’s heavy metal movieLords of Chaoshas been acquired by indie distributor Gunpowder & Sky, sources tell Collider.
A spokesperson for Gunpowder & Sky cautioned that the deal is not done yet, though they ceded that the company is in final negotiations for the film. A release date was not immediately available, but a fall release seems likely.
Set in 1987,Lords of Chaoschronicles the birth of Mayhem, the notorious Norwegian black metal band that wore corpse paint, burned down churches and was involved in brutal murders.Rory Culkinstars as the group’s leader, Euronymous, who meets his match in Varg (Emory Cohen), a disturbed young man with a taste for extreme violence.
Åkerlund was the original drummer for black metal band Bathory, so he knows this world quite well and it shows onscreen. This movie does not mess around. It is super intense and frighteningly realistic, and I would advise those callingMandy"the most metal movie ever made" to watchLords of Chaosbefore making that bold proclamation.
Åkerlund co-wrote the script withDennis Magnusson(Let the Right One In), based on the book byMichael MoynihanandDidrik Søderlind. The film was produced by Vice Films, Insurgent Media and Eleven Arts Productions in association withRidley Scott’s entities Scott Free and RSA Films. Sigur Rós provides the music for the film, and it provides a nice contrast to Mayhem’s heavy sound.
In addition to Culkin and Cohen, the film starsJack Kilmer,Valter Skarsgård,Anthony De La Torre,Wilson Gonzalez,Sam Coleman,Jonathan BarnwellandSky Ferreira.
Gunpowder & Sky is the indie distributor behind the fun throwbackSummer of ‘84and theNick Offerman-Kiersey Clemonsmusic dramaHearts Beat Loud. The company’s upcoming releases include theChristopher CaldwellandZeek Earl’s sci-fi movieProspect, which starsPedro Pascaland was a hit with audiences at SXSW.
Lords of Chaosis one of the best, most authentic true crime movies I’ve ever seen and I urge those of you with strong stomachs to give it a chance. Los Angeles-based readers can catch it at Beyond Fest on Sept. 27. Don’t say we didn’t warn you!
