I saw this movie at the Chicago Underground Film Festival and must admit that the movie was a big disappointment from what I expected. I figured with the stars involved in this it would have been a little more tasteful. I mean I'm not the type to be offended by movies but this thing was over the top and just made the movie not as enjoyable. That being said it does have its share of quotable, funny lines; which are a nice thing I guess. I'm not a film buff by any means... but I'm a huge fan of Green Day and maybe I'm biased but Billie Joe was the best part of this movie. And his opening song was just so catchy and I can't wait for the soundtrack to be released.
34 Reviews
not what i expected
bcwray9 February 2006
Let me start off by saying I am a huge Green Day/Blink 182/Transplants/Rancid. I am also very fascinated by the Manson family. Having said that, I was very disappointed by this movie. I expected to see more of what happened with the nomad that found the book (that is what the summary of it mentions).In fact the summary is false, it says "Their search will soon be over when Charles Manson returns to save them." Unless I missed a major part of the movie, this never happened. This movie was entirely mocking the past, and barely mentions the future. I would like them to make "Live Freaky Die Freaky II" and go in depth with the future. The Soundtrack is good though. It is probably worth the $20 dollars just to be shocked by the movie and to enjoy the original music.
Benji
gothika_rine1 December 2005
it was really different from what i expected but in liked it cause it had some sort of Benji Madden in it and thats all i really care about! Benji Madden is such a great actor and person in general that i love him all the way around. He doesn't even have to be famous I would still love him, with everything in me :P Anyway back to the movie. It was an okay movie thought it could be a lot better but it was still good............................. ......... ............ ........ ............. ..... ................ ................. .......... ....... ............ ..... ........................................ ... ........ ......................... ....... ........... .......... ............. .............. ......
A Fun and Morbid Idea, Great Cast, Horrible Execution
gavin694219 December 2006
In the distant future, life as we know it has been completely wiped out. Man is hungry for answers... and one day when a book -- "Helter Skelter" -- is found, some answers are given. Just maybe not the right answers.
I am unclear how the people in the future connect to the primary story, a claymation retelling of the Charles Manson story. The suggestion is that reading the book would make them think Manson was a god, but the book would actually do quite the opposite. So I'm confused.
And also, we have some of the biggest names in modern "punk" music: Billie Joe Armstrong, Tim Armstrong (no relation), Davey Havok. We have Kelly Osbourne and Sean Yseult. We have the erection-inducing Asia Argento. For those of us who like these people, this film would seem to be one of the greatest things to happen. It's not.
The story is told in a bland manner, the claymation is poorly done. The songs are lame and carry on for too long. You would expect the music to be the selling point, but it's not. And for some reason all the names have been changed to things with the letter H: "Charles Hanson", "Susan Hatkins", "Hex Watson"... it's pointless and stupid.
The best scene involves a group of The Family in a dumpster exchanging quips with Sharon Tate and her gay hairdresser. Another memorable scene is the claymation sex scene, which starts out shocking and funny but gets drawn out. People who liked "Team America" might like this, but I didn't think it was that outstanding.
How to make this film better: get better music, cut out the future story and just tell the Manson epic in a unique way (which is already done thanks to clay). Films shouldn't make you say to yourself, "I can do this so much better", but that's how I felt about this junk.
My interest in Charles Manson was dealt a blow from this mediocre adaptation. If you're like me, you'll know it's awful but watch it anyway. But I hope you're not like me.
I am unclear how the people in the future connect to the primary story, a claymation retelling of the Charles Manson story. The suggestion is that reading the book would make them think Manson was a god, but the book would actually do quite the opposite. So I'm confused.
And also, we have some of the biggest names in modern "punk" music: Billie Joe Armstrong, Tim Armstrong (no relation), Davey Havok. We have Kelly Osbourne and Sean Yseult. We have the erection-inducing Asia Argento. For those of us who like these people, this film would seem to be one of the greatest things to happen. It's not.
The story is told in a bland manner, the claymation is poorly done. The songs are lame and carry on for too long. You would expect the music to be the selling point, but it's not. And for some reason all the names have been changed to things with the letter H: "Charles Hanson", "Susan Hatkins", "Hex Watson"... it's pointless and stupid.
The best scene involves a group of The Family in a dumpster exchanging quips with Sharon Tate and her gay hairdresser. Another memorable scene is the claymation sex scene, which starts out shocking and funny but gets drawn out. People who liked "Team America" might like this, but I didn't think it was that outstanding.
How to make this film better: get better music, cut out the future story and just tell the Manson epic in a unique way (which is already done thanks to clay). Films shouldn't make you say to yourself, "I can do this so much better", but that's how I felt about this junk.
My interest in Charles Manson was dealt a blow from this mediocre adaptation. If you're like me, you'll know it's awful but watch it anyway. But I hope you're not like me.
Stops being shocking or funny after about ten minutes - and there's an hour to go
adam111729 January 2006
I saw a midnight screening of this movie in Chicago last night, and had to fight very hard to stay awake. The idea of a remarkably vulgar stop motion musical about Charles Manson isn't such a bad one in and of itself, and there's about a ten minute stretch after the opening sequence that's really quite funny. However, once the novelty of seeing explicit puppet sex wears off, it's not shocking, it's not offensive, it's not subversive, and and it's not funny - it's just boring, and there's a good hour left to go. Once you've established that the real agenda is to shock and offend by any means necessary, it's hard to find anything really offensive. One or two of the songs is kinda catchy, in that "here's a show tune written by the drama teacher from the local high school," Guffman-esquire sort of way, but most are instantly forgettable. About the only thing to break the monotony of puppets trying their hardest to be shocking and offensive is when they take breaks to let Charlie do some ranting - and then it's even more boring. The movie even jokes about how dull Manson's rants would get, but makes you sit through them anyway. The live action sequences from the 31st century at the beginning and end seem pointless - could the guy in them even read in the first place? Would he sit through all of Helter Skelter if he could? I'm not sure which kind of people are going to get a thrill out of this - some might see Manson's scenes and feel really rebellious, like they're questioning authority and "seeing something they don't WANT me to see." Who's the "they," exactly, that would find this so threatening? While there's a segment of the population that will always be ready to object to people seeing violent and/or naked puppets, you can disturb those people just as much by watching CNN - and that would be a much better way to spend your time than watching puppets try to offend you.
Trying too hard
amateur1619 August 2005
It's easy to see why some of the animators flaked out on director John Roecker. Once you see what a pile of crap you're devoting your time to, how can your work seem worth it? Don't be surprised when you see this DVD on the discount racks at Hot Topic. Once you see the cast list, it is apparent that this film was tailor made for the mall-punks who clamor to buy clothing with pre-inserted safety pins that don't open. But indeed the vocal performances are the only reason to sit through this annoying little movie. The cast list is impressive--impressive enough to lure in the curious before they demand their money back.
The program notes for the Chicago Underground Film Festival inform the audience that every line in the film is calculated to offend. It actually should have read "mis-calculated to offend." Every joke misses the mark and most end up being really lame. I almost felt embarrassed for everyone involved. It's really hard to be offended by something that's obviously trying WAY too hard to offend. I get the feeling that Roecker was the kid in your classroom who uncontrollably blurted out random bits of unfunny, snickering to himself while everyone else wish he'd just shut up.
There's no doubt that people will be lining up to see this. I'd also wager that most who do will walk away disappointed. Does this film push boundaries? Yes. But that doesn't mean that it doesn't suck.
The program notes for the Chicago Underground Film Festival inform the audience that every line in the film is calculated to offend. It actually should have read "mis-calculated to offend." Every joke misses the mark and most end up being really lame. I almost felt embarrassed for everyone involved. It's really hard to be offended by something that's obviously trying WAY too hard to offend. I get the feeling that Roecker was the kid in your classroom who uncontrollably blurted out random bits of unfunny, snickering to himself while everyone else wish he'd just shut up.
There's no doubt that people will be lining up to see this. I'd also wager that most who do will walk away disappointed. Does this film push boundaries? Yes. But that doesn't mean that it doesn't suck.
One of the Worst Films I Have Ever Seen
carljessieson20 September 2010
This was a horrible film. Thank goodness it was short or I would feel long-lasting regret over spending significant time on it. It's about Charles Manson and his "family," and how they come to murder the pregnant actress and her friends.
The only reason that I laughed during it is actually a bad reason to laugh at a film, so it doesn't really deserve points. There were plenty of times when the director tried to get me to laugh, but every time I sat silently. I only laughed because it's a poorly done stop motion. Some of the scenes were absolutely ridiculous! I can't believe they even put them in the final project. They are so funny because they are so awful! Haha. I laughed at the movie, not its jokes, because honestly, the jokes were twisted. There are a few different types of twisted humor: there's twisted humor that's funny, and there's twisted humor that goes too far and is just disturbing. This movie has the latter. It has so much of it that I was getting tired by the end of the film. It was never funny, and as the movie kept going it became less disturbing, so it was just there, taking up time. I was bored, and frankly, annoyed that these characters were still on my screen. It is a short movie, but it felt long because it's just so damn not funny. It tries too hard, and it fails.
I am going to give the movie a 10% because it actually had one good thing about it. When the scenes weren't absurdly sloppy, they were actually visually fascinating. The director used good colors, unique angles, and really kinda just trips the viewer out. During a couple of the scenes, I couldn't look away because the director's techniques were so interesting. I appreciate his work for those scenes, but the rest of the movie is so bad that I almost forgot his good points.
It's dialogue is original, yes, but it's not funny. It tries too hard and just ends up disgusting and pathetic. If I had any affiliation to this film, I would change my name and pretend like I had no idea what it was. It's really that awful. It's a portrait of the horror of the human mind, that's for sure. It has one good point that is overshadowed by its many failures. I would never buy this movie. I would never even watch it again. Waste of time.
The only reason that I laughed during it is actually a bad reason to laugh at a film, so it doesn't really deserve points. There were plenty of times when the director tried to get me to laugh, but every time I sat silently. I only laughed because it's a poorly done stop motion. Some of the scenes were absolutely ridiculous! I can't believe they even put them in the final project. They are so funny because they are so awful! Haha. I laughed at the movie, not its jokes, because honestly, the jokes were twisted. There are a few different types of twisted humor: there's twisted humor that's funny, and there's twisted humor that goes too far and is just disturbing. This movie has the latter. It has so much of it that I was getting tired by the end of the film. It was never funny, and as the movie kept going it became less disturbing, so it was just there, taking up time. I was bored, and frankly, annoyed that these characters were still on my screen. It is a short movie, but it felt long because it's just so damn not funny. It tries too hard, and it fails.
I am going to give the movie a 10% because it actually had one good thing about it. When the scenes weren't absurdly sloppy, they were actually visually fascinating. The director used good colors, unique angles, and really kinda just trips the viewer out. During a couple of the scenes, I couldn't look away because the director's techniques were so interesting. I appreciate his work for those scenes, but the rest of the movie is so bad that I almost forgot his good points.
It's dialogue is original, yes, but it's not funny. It tries too hard and just ends up disgusting and pathetic. If I had any affiliation to this film, I would change my name and pretend like I had no idea what it was. It's really that awful. It's a portrait of the horror of the human mind, that's for sure. It has one good point that is overshadowed by its many failures. I would never buy this movie. I would never even watch it again. Waste of time.
A movie that had the balls to be made in this area
topthugla16 November 2005
I have read some of these comments on this website ad please do not be fooled by some of the reviews. was at The Chicago screening and it was amazing everyone loved it. The person was a small minority if at all he or she was even there. Be warned there are lot of people that do not want you to see this movie. Because it questions everything the government does not want you to question!!!! What you are reading ( the negative reviews) are people trying to stop this movie from being seen. Please make up your own mind if you have enough sense. It is beyond John Waters, beyond anything you can believe and the cast is just the icing on the top. And for all you right wingers on this site trying to do damage on this site please go somewhere else...See this movie it is heartfelt, sleazy, funny and a laugh riot!!!
If actually watched, totally disturbing. If paying more attention to the meaning, very good.
Paradox-Revealed15 May 2011
Warning: Spoilers
When I first found out about this movie, I was automatically intrigued. As a Green Day fan, I wanted to see Billie Joe playing Charles Hanson. I finally got to see it this weekend, and as disturbed as it is, it was lower in quality than I thought it would be in aesthetics. However, I'm the type of person where if I'm in not in a theater, I won't necessarily watch it, but will listen to the movie, especially if it's on a computer and I'm doing class work at the same time. Look past the gore and sex, the disturbing scenes, and listen to the words and you'll see that it's one huge commentary on murder in Hollywood, as the judge says at the very end, "You just don't (mess) with Hollywood!"
Granted just listening to it does have its drawbacks, as I noticed right before the Hate murders that there was a moment of slowness in terms of story. I had to skip that part and just go into the moment. Other than that, it was good.
Simply put, if you're offended easily don't bother. If not, if you laugh at the most obscene things, then go for it.
Granted just listening to it does have its drawbacks, as I noticed right before the Hate murders that there was a moment of slowness in terms of story. I had to skip that part and just go into the moment. Other than that, it was good.
Simply put, if you're offended easily don't bother. If not, if you laugh at the most obscene things, then go for it.
See it if you want
outofplaceimage28 January 2006
Warning: Spoilers
If you want to see this movie you should go ahead and see it. After seeing it I wouldn't suggest wasting your time with it. Someone posted a review saying that bad reviews are from people that don't want you to see it. All I can say is that I'm just offering my opinion on the movie.
Yes it does have some elements of questioning authority, but is carried out very weakly. That's not the reason why I didn't like it personally. I found it rather boring. At times I thought about leaving, because it was so boring.
People saying it goes beyond John Waters are right, but being someone that likes John Waters I was greatly disappointed. Almost all the jokes seem to be variations of the same jokes told repeatedly one after the other. I laughed a few times, but that didn't make up for the rest of the film.
Another repetitive element is the songs. They begin funny but just end up being just as repetitive as the jokes. The chorus of the song is repeated more times than I could stand personally.
It's not too offensive. At least to me it wasn't. Cartoons on adult swim are probably more offensive than this movie is. Many gay jokes that are told might be offensive if you are gay. Other than that if you're wanting to see this film you've probably heard all the jokes already.
Yes it does have some elements of questioning authority, but is carried out very weakly. That's not the reason why I didn't like it personally. I found it rather boring. At times I thought about leaving, because it was so boring.
People saying it goes beyond John Waters are right, but being someone that likes John Waters I was greatly disappointed. Almost all the jokes seem to be variations of the same jokes told repeatedly one after the other. I laughed a few times, but that didn't make up for the rest of the film.
Another repetitive element is the songs. They begin funny but just end up being just as repetitive as the jokes. The chorus of the song is repeated more times than I could stand personally.
It's not too offensive. At least to me it wasn't. Cartoons on adult swim are probably more offensive than this movie is. Many gay jokes that are told might be offensive if you are gay. Other than that if you're wanting to see this film you've probably heard all the jokes already.
Brilliant Pop Culture Satire
gnrationfo28 June 2005
I'm one of the lucky few who has seen this film. Although it may frighten the meek, this film is full of pop culture and social satire that borders on genius. From the opening musical homage to Paul Schrader's "Patty Hearst" to all the familiar faces of those Bass/Rankin claymation holiday specials that made you feel drug induced as a child. But the most memorable thing is the portrayal of The Brady Bunch from Hell..The Manson Family. The voice talents of many well known musicians give there all to bring this Macabre musical to life. John Roecker has done his research well and slips in many symbolic messages in the film that will make people take a second look at the world around them, while flashy and fun..evil can just be around the corner. This film is destined to be looked at for a long time just like John Water's Pink Flamingo has. This is a film that has a lot to say...once you're over the shock of nearly havin a heart attack watching it..you're gonna wanna talk about it !
Unfunny juvenile piece of crap!
Hoohawnaynay2 May 2006
True it had some attempt at social satire but failed miserably. I thought this movie was made by 12 year olds for 12 year olds and younger! I was deeply offended at the portrayal of the victims as people that didn't care about society. Truth be told Abigail Folger worked in the ghetto trying to help low income families. Everyone associated with this should hide under a rock the next 25 years.
Tries way to hard to be shocking and just comes across as vulgar! I have no problem with c**k and p**sy jokes but this just wasn't funny at all. If I were a preteen maybe I would have laughed a bit. After renting this I not only wanted my money back I also wanted to walk through a car wash to get the filth off of my soul!
Tries way to hard to be shocking and just comes across as vulgar! I have no problem with c**k and p**sy jokes but this just wasn't funny at all. If I were a preteen maybe I would have laughed a bit. After renting this I not only wanted my money back I also wanted to walk through a car wash to get the filth off of my soul!
This thing is wild.
matthewssilverhammer16 August 2021
A pornographic puppet show that makes Team America look like the Neighborhood of Make-Believe. Equal parts oddly comforting and supremely disturbing, it has a true punk energy: cheap, weird, offensive, and hates hippies and yuppies with equal vigor. But do I hate it, or do I love it? I think the answer is 'yes'.
what happened here?
DarkDraven36 May 2007
When someone comes up to you and tells you there is a claymation musical about the Manson murders you have a certain expectation built up by the time you actually track the movie down. for me that expectation was that i would be watching an irreverent dark comedy farce containing humorously gory puppet death and at the least some palpable music. sadly the only part of that sentence that holds true is the farce. the movie plays like a bad art school project from a far to pompous student body. the music was bland at best and gratingly annoying at worst. the portrayal of the characters mad absolutely no sense. the Sharon Tate character was possibly the most annoying performance ever captured on any media ever and as if that wern't bad enough, they have the gal to allow her to continue talking even after decapitation. let me say that again to get the point across. you will find yourself waiting and eventually begging for this character to be killed to silence her poorly written and voiced rants. it finally happens. she is killed along with her equally annoying friends and as your are about to slip into a joyous tirade at the prospect of never hearing that voice again... the severed heads start talking, and continue talking far longer than necessary. when the creators of the film express their confusion and distaste for what they have made on the commentary of their own film, you know you have witnessed something beyond the bouds of bad cinema. in spite of all that i have said i fully encourage you, the reader, to see this movie. by no means should you purchase it! simply view it in a quiet room. it is a life experience that no one should miss. afterwards jump in the shower, cleanse your body of its taint and go to bed knowing that you have looked into the void and you never have to do it again.
Edit out 75% and release as a short...might be great then
Hobgoblin527111 July 2007
I had high hopes for this one. A stop action animated film about the Manson murders? Hell yes. Unfortunately after 10 minutes you realize that the creative forces behind this film bit off far too much for them to chew. I have a basic sense of what Mr. Roecker was striving for, and it's a shame that the richness of the ideas didn't have a chance to be properly realized here. The concept that history isn't always what happened, but how people perceive what happened is an important and mind-blowing concept to lot's of folks however, I doubt many will walk away from "Live Freaky
" with much more than a headache and a strong sense of wasting 75 minutes. The "outrageous shockiness" of seeing puppets do things that puppets normally don't do on screen wears off after the scene in which Charlie is introduced, the songs sound like they were written during the car ride to the recording session, and the voice acting is atrocious. I can't totally blame the actors, though. The script could have used some serious editing.
Very disappointing, considering the caliber of the folks involved with this project.
Very disappointing, considering the caliber of the folks involved with this project.
The Claymation Episode of Conan O'Brien Had Better Animation than This Piece of Crap
jefeparigi28 January 2006
Before I begin my review, I would just like to point out that I am quite the purveyor of underground, campy, and tastless entertainment. Even though I just turned 30, I still have an adolescent sense of humor: I loved Team America and I watch South Park religiously. Based on the clips from the website, I didn't have very high expectations of Live Freaky Die Freaky, but was hoping at least for something along the lines of Meet The Feebles: some trashy obscene fun in a medium typically reserved for children's entertainment.
My main problem with this movie is just how low budget and amateur it is. This movie should be a lesson to not attempt stop motion animation unless you actually have the money and talent to back it up. As mentioned in the title of this review, the animation is about as bad as the Late Night with Conan O'Brien special that was done in claymation form. They put no effort whatsoever into sculpting the characters' bodies. It basically looked like a second grader rolled clay really fast in his hands to form arms and legs. Perhaps I would have found the pornographic scenes to be more shocking and offensive if they hired real artists to do the job. Instead it was just kinda silly and immature, like the "naked lady" bodies I'd make out of clay when I was 7. I think in any given scene there is never more than one thing moving on the screen, this includes eyes blinking and mouths moving. And in some scenes NOTHING is moving. You're just looking at still pieces of clay.
I'll admit, I did laugh a couple of times, but for the most part the scenes were way too drawn out. It was kind of like a high school play where everyone involved is more concerned about getting through their lines vs. actually making the scenes work. After the 50th time Sharon Tate's gay friend makes a "c*ck joke", it gets really tiresome.
Other random complaints: -The music is not very good at all. I like musicals, but only when they put real time and effort into making good songs. -This movie was not filmed, it was made with a videocamera. The theater just screened it on a projection TV. This always kinda bugs me when I pay $10 to see a movie. -What's the deal with this being in black and white? The trailers on the website were in color. Kind of misleading. -Why did they decided to start and end the movie "in the future" (the future is basically a man in a robe wandering the desert for a couple of minutes). It seemed like another pointless plot element.
I think anyone who has written a good review about Live Freaky Die Freaky is either an employee of Hellcat Records (who otherwise produce some fine bands) or in someway connected to the production of this film. Either that or they are too young to have seen enough bizarre cinema that is actually good. This is the type of movie that at the most will be watched by stoners in the background of their college dorms....for about 5 minutes before they say, "This sucks, let's watch Dead Alive". Meet the Feebles was very low budget and very trashy and I wouldn't say it's a great movie, but at least you can see a certain level of talent in Peter Jackson's directing.
Instead of watching Live Freaky Die Freaky, I recommend finding the bootleg video of Davey and Goliath episodes in which someone redubbed the audio to have more vulgar content. That is probably 10 times funnier and has better animation.
My main problem with this movie is just how low budget and amateur it is. This movie should be a lesson to not attempt stop motion animation unless you actually have the money and talent to back it up. As mentioned in the title of this review, the animation is about as bad as the Late Night with Conan O'Brien special that was done in claymation form. They put no effort whatsoever into sculpting the characters' bodies. It basically looked like a second grader rolled clay really fast in his hands to form arms and legs. Perhaps I would have found the pornographic scenes to be more shocking and offensive if they hired real artists to do the job. Instead it was just kinda silly and immature, like the "naked lady" bodies I'd make out of clay when I was 7. I think in any given scene there is never more than one thing moving on the screen, this includes eyes blinking and mouths moving. And in some scenes NOTHING is moving. You're just looking at still pieces of clay.
I'll admit, I did laugh a couple of times, but for the most part the scenes were way too drawn out. It was kind of like a high school play where everyone involved is more concerned about getting through their lines vs. actually making the scenes work. After the 50th time Sharon Tate's gay friend makes a "c*ck joke", it gets really tiresome.
Other random complaints: -The music is not very good at all. I like musicals, but only when they put real time and effort into making good songs. -This movie was not filmed, it was made with a videocamera. The theater just screened it on a projection TV. This always kinda bugs me when I pay $10 to see a movie. -What's the deal with this being in black and white? The trailers on the website were in color. Kind of misleading. -Why did they decided to start and end the movie "in the future" (the future is basically a man in a robe wandering the desert for a couple of minutes). It seemed like another pointless plot element.
I think anyone who has written a good review about Live Freaky Die Freaky is either an employee of Hellcat Records (who otherwise produce some fine bands) or in someway connected to the production of this film. Either that or they are too young to have seen enough bizarre cinema that is actually good. This is the type of movie that at the most will be watched by stoners in the background of their college dorms....for about 5 minutes before they say, "This sucks, let's watch Dead Alive". Meet the Feebles was very low budget and very trashy and I wouldn't say it's a great movie, but at least you can see a certain level of talent in Peter Jackson's directing.
Instead of watching Live Freaky Die Freaky, I recommend finding the bootleg video of Davey and Goliath episodes in which someone redubbed the audio to have more vulgar content. That is probably 10 times funnier and has better animation.
If You Find Mass Genocide Hilarious, You'll Love "Live Freaky! Die Freaky!"
D_Burke8 January 2013
Could anyone make the story of Charles Manson, his followers, and their crimes funny by way of parody? Maybe, but not the people at Hellcat Pictures, the movie studio that released the first class junk that is "Live Freaky! Die Freaky!".
A film that is mostly stop-motion animated and features voice talent from some notable modern punk rock icons (Billie Joe Armstrong of Green Day, Tim Armstrong of Rancid) packs a lot of promise. Unfortunately, the filmmakers do every conceivable thing wrong in this movie's delivery and execution.
The end result is a shoddy film that is highly vulgar but mean-spirited and consequently unfunny. Additionally, the film's pacing is mind-numbingly slow when it tries desperately to be funny, the animation is terrible, and the material that is supposed to pass as acceptable in the realm of storytelling is so appallingly bad.
In one of the worst framing devices ever put on film, we're taken to the year 3069 (I'm guessing the filmmakers put "69" at the end of that year as a joke they were sure would get a laugh), when Earth is depleted of its natural resources and therefore deserted. A lone man wandering in the desert spontaneously comes across a copy of the book "Healter Skelter" (sic). Desperate for a messiah in this post-apocalyptic world, he begins reading it.
Every fan of true crime stories probably knows that "Helter Skelter" was a groundbreaking true crime novel (after it was a Beatles song) written by prosecuting attorney Vincent Bugliosi. The book strongly condemns the Manson family and their crimes, and understandably so considering Bugliosi was responsible for putting Manson and his savage minions behind bars.
However, as you find throughout this movie, the desert wanderer either misinterprets the book, or the parts where the Manson family's crimes are condemned are torn out of this ragged, aged copy. Another possibility is that a Manson devotee wrote this copy of the book, which would explain why "Helter" is misspelled "Healter" as you see on the cover. No explanation is ever given.
Regardless, the Manson family story, as read by this nomad, is shown through stop-motion animation, which should be the film's saving grace. Instead, the animation is so bad that if you look closely, hands can be seen moving the figures in some shots. A six-year-old playing with his action figures can produce better animation than this movie.
Even worse, rather than the remainder of the movie parodying the Manson family murders, it actually seems to condone and fully support their actions. Interrogating cops have the heads of pigs, and Sharon Tate and her doomed friends are depicted as shallow, wasteful, and stupid celebutantes.
To even suggest that Manson's victims had it coming is so disrespectful that it doesn't merit words. Sadly, that is precisely what this film intends us to believe.
Even worse, a later courtroom scene has a character that is supposed to be Bugliosi revealing to a reporter how he will write a book about the trial while donating no proceeds to the victims' families. For writer and director John Roecker to have the audacity to suggest Bugliosi's bestselling novel was made solely for profit makes me wonder just how much of the profits from this movie were intended to be donated to any good cause, let alone victims of savage murders.
Everything about this movie doesn't work. You can tell when the movie is trying to be funny, and it's painful to just listen to every attempt at humor. Every joke in this movie is poorly timed, and is often mean and shallow.
There are also repellent scenes where the stop-motion figures have sex, and they're not funny either. The notorious puppet sex scenes in "Team America: World Police" (2004) were funny because they were so over the top and outrageous, similar to the Michael Bay-like action movies the filmmakers were parodying. In "Live Freaky! Die Freaky!", the sex scenes are about as clever as a real porn film, with money shots and all.
I don't think I have ever hated a movie as much as I hate "Live Freaky! Die Freaky!". The potential in its promise, and its failing on all cylinders, just adds to the disappointment. The filmmakers may be skilled at making great punk rock music, but when it comes to making movies, they are true rebels without a clue.
A film that is mostly stop-motion animated and features voice talent from some notable modern punk rock icons (Billie Joe Armstrong of Green Day, Tim Armstrong of Rancid) packs a lot of promise. Unfortunately, the filmmakers do every conceivable thing wrong in this movie's delivery and execution.
The end result is a shoddy film that is highly vulgar but mean-spirited and consequently unfunny. Additionally, the film's pacing is mind-numbingly slow when it tries desperately to be funny, the animation is terrible, and the material that is supposed to pass as acceptable in the realm of storytelling is so appallingly bad.
In one of the worst framing devices ever put on film, we're taken to the year 3069 (I'm guessing the filmmakers put "69" at the end of that year as a joke they were sure would get a laugh), when Earth is depleted of its natural resources and therefore deserted. A lone man wandering in the desert spontaneously comes across a copy of the book "Healter Skelter" (sic). Desperate for a messiah in this post-apocalyptic world, he begins reading it.
Every fan of true crime stories probably knows that "Helter Skelter" was a groundbreaking true crime novel (after it was a Beatles song) written by prosecuting attorney Vincent Bugliosi. The book strongly condemns the Manson family and their crimes, and understandably so considering Bugliosi was responsible for putting Manson and his savage minions behind bars.
However, as you find throughout this movie, the desert wanderer either misinterprets the book, or the parts where the Manson family's crimes are condemned are torn out of this ragged, aged copy. Another possibility is that a Manson devotee wrote this copy of the book, which would explain why "Helter" is misspelled "Healter" as you see on the cover. No explanation is ever given.
Regardless, the Manson family story, as read by this nomad, is shown through stop-motion animation, which should be the film's saving grace. Instead, the animation is so bad that if you look closely, hands can be seen moving the figures in some shots. A six-year-old playing with his action figures can produce better animation than this movie.
Even worse, rather than the remainder of the movie parodying the Manson family murders, it actually seems to condone and fully support their actions. Interrogating cops have the heads of pigs, and Sharon Tate and her doomed friends are depicted as shallow, wasteful, and stupid celebutantes.
To even suggest that Manson's victims had it coming is so disrespectful that it doesn't merit words. Sadly, that is precisely what this film intends us to believe.
Even worse, a later courtroom scene has a character that is supposed to be Bugliosi revealing to a reporter how he will write a book about the trial while donating no proceeds to the victims' families. For writer and director John Roecker to have the audacity to suggest Bugliosi's bestselling novel was made solely for profit makes me wonder just how much of the profits from this movie were intended to be donated to any good cause, let alone victims of savage murders.
Everything about this movie doesn't work. You can tell when the movie is trying to be funny, and it's painful to just listen to every attempt at humor. Every joke in this movie is poorly timed, and is often mean and shallow.
There are also repellent scenes where the stop-motion figures have sex, and they're not funny either. The notorious puppet sex scenes in "Team America: World Police" (2004) were funny because they were so over the top and outrageous, similar to the Michael Bay-like action movies the filmmakers were parodying. In "Live Freaky! Die Freaky!", the sex scenes are about as clever as a real porn film, with money shots and all.
I don't think I have ever hated a movie as much as I hate "Live Freaky! Die Freaky!". The potential in its promise, and its failing on all cylinders, just adds to the disappointment. The filmmakers may be skilled at making great punk rock music, but when it comes to making movies, they are true rebels without a clue.
Really Bad
Graham-joey2 April 2006
I don't usually gripe about movies on IMDb, but this deserves the exception.
This is a terrible film, with terrible animation and a terrible story with terrible characters and terrible singing and terrible everything. It's one thing to be presenting some sort of point of view, it's another to make the the worst tripe imaginable. It would seem to me this movie got major distribution because the people who saw it don't like good movies and kept telling other people it was really intelligent, and that if they didn't see it and think the same thing they were somehow stupider than this other group of people. And wow, the animation is so terrible and often boring. Someone should have let the animators know that clay can't act unless you make it act (and blinking doesn't count).
Also, it claims to have a lot of punk rock sensibilities, but if you think Billy Joe Armstrong and Tim Armstrong have any punk rock left in them , you won't think so after this movie...
If you are looking for something that looks funny, and think this is going to be it, you will be furious to find out this movie is not funny, despite what it thinks.
After the first big scene, you will be bored for 70 minutes.
This is a terrible film, with terrible animation and a terrible story with terrible characters and terrible singing and terrible everything. It's one thing to be presenting some sort of point of view, it's another to make the the worst tripe imaginable. It would seem to me this movie got major distribution because the people who saw it don't like good movies and kept telling other people it was really intelligent, and that if they didn't see it and think the same thing they were somehow stupider than this other group of people. And wow, the animation is so terrible and often boring. Someone should have let the animators know that clay can't act unless you make it act (and blinking doesn't count).
Also, it claims to have a lot of punk rock sensibilities, but if you think Billy Joe Armstrong and Tim Armstrong have any punk rock left in them , you won't think so after this movie...
If you are looking for something that looks funny, and think this is going to be it, you will be furious to find out this movie is not funny, despite what it thinks.
After the first big scene, you will be bored for 70 minutes.
Not for those who don't love camp
animegirl1218218 March 2011
This is the sort of movie that you choose when you want to scar your friends for life. Having a contest to see who can find the worst movie? This is your pick. Put it on and MST3K it until your sides hurt. There are so many memorable lines to repeat for years to come.
A lot of people talk about being disappointed by this film. Listen, this is not a film that is meant to be watched seriously. This is up there with Vegas in Space. You watch a movie like this for the groans and tears of blood that you get from your friends. It's bad, epically bad, and that's why it's awesome.
If you need a Worst Present Ever (White Elephant Gift) for Christmas or just like groans, this is the movie for you. If you want a movie to enjoy, don't bother. This is a gem and deserved to be appreciated for its epic badness.
A lot of people talk about being disappointed by this film. Listen, this is not a film that is meant to be watched seriously. This is up there with Vegas in Space. You watch a movie like this for the groans and tears of blood that you get from your friends. It's bad, epically bad, and that's why it's awesome.
If you need a Worst Present Ever (White Elephant Gift) for Christmas or just like groans, this is the movie for you. If you want a movie to enjoy, don't bother. This is a gem and deserved to be appreciated for its epic badness.
Worst Movie Ever? Possibly.
billzeppy5 February 2006
I saw this tonight at a mid-night show at the Alamo Drafthouse in Austin, TX. The theater was about half full, and had a good mix of Austinites (from mall-punk kids to grad students to grunge slackers, yay Austin!). All told, I think the theater laughed out loud twice during the entire film. If a midnight movie crowd in Austin isn't moved, then I don't know who would find this film amusing. Even more disconcerting than the images on the screen was the silence in the theater during this unfunny film.
The filmmakers try so hard to be offensive, but along the way they forgot to check if it was actually funny. And after hearing twenty-five variations for "c0ck", "p0le", "meat drapes","hatchet wound", "a$shole","anus", etc the movie stops being funny or offensive, and merely turns into a painful joke that goes on for too long, until the point that you feel sorry for the person telling it.
The filmmakers try so hard to be offensive, but along the way they forgot to check if it was actually funny. And after hearing twenty-five variations for "c0ck", "p0le", "meat drapes","hatchet wound", "a$shole","anus", etc the movie stops being funny or offensive, and merely turns into a painful joke that goes on for too long, until the point that you feel sorry for the person telling it.
Amazing flick
joshroush21 January 2006
This movie is messed up, if you are easily offended stay away. However, if you like the punk culture, cult movies, or even are a fan of claymation....this movie rules.
I got a chance to catch about half (i was working)of the film at the LA party screening, and oh my god, this film is amazing. This is easily the best and most original cult film thats came out since Shaun of the Dead.
The one thing that scared me about watching the film, was that i was worried that Manson was gonna be painted as a hero. However John Roecker did a excellent job of making fun of everyone (and making great points about Manson, the investigators, and the media) while keeping the film a comedy.
Do your selves a favor, go to both of the screenings, buy the DVD, hell buy it for a friend. I just really cant say enough about this flick.
I got a chance to catch about half (i was working)of the film at the LA party screening, and oh my god, this film is amazing. This is easily the best and most original cult film thats came out since Shaun of the Dead.
The one thing that scared me about watching the film, was that i was worried that Manson was gonna be painted as a hero. However John Roecker did a excellent job of making fun of everyone (and making great points about Manson, the investigators, and the media) while keeping the film a comedy.
Do your selves a favor, go to both of the screenings, buy the DVD, hell buy it for a friend. I just really cant say enough about this flick.
Sycophants and Dumb Rock Stars
hopefullend9 March 2006
A deadly combination of ill conceived ideas (Roecker) and clueless rock/music/personalities without taste or boundaries. Let's face it, shock value died in the 70's. The only point to this fiasco was to cause a hopeful stir in circles too bored to make anything happen in this artless society of underground film making. Nothing artful here and certainly a waste of time. To use the Manson crimes in the 60's as a catalyst for this Dumb Rock Puppet show is tacky at best, humorless and completely stupid. All those involved can take pride in learning of their own stupidity. The one thing this dumb puppet show offers is a list of who fell for this ridiculous idea and decided to take part and lent their names. I'm overwhelmed by the immense ignorance of this lot of people. Not that any of them mattered to begin with...but it's still unbelievable! This isn't a film, a cult item or anything worthy of time or money. I am insulted by the invitation to see it and even more saddened that it got any publicity. However, this piece of celluloid junk speaks for itself.
i think i'm know dumber for watching this piece...
no_cash8 February 2006
i think these people should stick to playing music......well maybe they should quit that too. id say that tim armstrong sounds like a retard in this movie but at least retards can read. i understand these people aren't actors but were talking about voice overs for stop motion characters...... and they can't even read the dialogue without sounding like they belong in special ed. the animation was awful and the characters where poorly crafted. i understand that this thing didn't have much of a budget but i don't think saying that they maxed out at about the $20 mark is a bad guestimate. i think I've made better movies on VHS when i was 10. all in all, it's an all-star cast of non reading, non acting wannabe punks.....and asia argento is as lame as ever. i cant believe this thing was ever released much less now getting reviews. i already thought that tim armstrong should stop producing crap music and now i think he should stop producing crap movies.
Look what they did to you Charlie!
geo_oroska1 April 2005
Warning: Spoilers
This movie was a reel let down. I got to see the LA screening at the Vista and I can honestly say this made Team America look good. Charles Hanson (not manson for copyright rules) sounded like a young Don King, I sat waiting to heat the phrase "Only in America!" which is exactly what i was thinking. It was a cheap attempt to be gory and an even cheaper attempt to display what Charlie had done. I felt that the story was basically a guy with too much time who say something on Charles Manson and decided to make a serious comedy on his life. The entire who is your Messiah has no real part in the movie, which is evident in the end. The roomed was filled with mainly the people who helped film the movie an d giddy little hot topic punkers who loved the 10 minute trailer of Sum 41, I mean Green Day. In general it was not worth the money but proves once more any one can get a movie made/produced.
Well, the earth basically "dries up" and the guys have to save it.
froggynutcase25 October 2006
Well, I really don't care if the movie sucked, Billie Joe Armstrong and Davey Havok were in it and even though this may sound shallow, THEY ARE SO FRIKEN HOT! Haa, its just too bad Jade isn't in it ... :-( But whatever, I liked the movie just to hear them. That's okay isn't it? Movie quality doesn't matter to this movie, Davey's in it *drool*.
I know this probably isn't a helpful comment. I just think its cool that Davey's in a movie ...
Um, sorry? Well, the movie's not that great, but for someone like me, who really doesn't give a flying crap, just cares that Davey's in it :-) Oh! And Billie Joe!
I know this probably isn't a helpful comment. I just think its cool that Davey's in a movie ...
Um, sorry? Well, the movie's not that great, but for someone like me, who really doesn't give a flying crap, just cares that Davey's in it :-) Oh! And Billie Joe!
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