Out of all the films we’ve seen this semester Detroit Rock City is by fair the one I had the most fun watching. After our reading of Outsider Nostalgia in Dazed and Confused and Detroit Rock City last week, I knew I had to watch Detroit Rock City. So, I was thrilled to learn it was our screening this week. My only regret is that I didn’t get to watch it with the class.

While Dazed and Confused was a more grounded portray of high school life in the 1970’s, Detroit Rock City is a more fantastical.  However, unlike many other nostalgic 70s film, Detroit Rock City still has an element of realism and honesty. This honesty can be seen in the main antagonist of the film, Jam’s overly zealous mother. While disco films focused on only the positives of the 70s, Detroit Rock City centers around the outcasts of that era, (rock and heavy metal fans) and is more truthful in its portrayal of certain prejudice towards these outcasts. Mainly, toward the heavy metal band KISS and their fans.

I don’t know about you guys, but the first time I say KISS was during a Scooby-Doo movie. No joke. I thought they were just another made up band, like the Hex Girls. So, when my father told me that KISS was an actual, real band, I was shocked. More known for their unique style than their music, KISS was loved by some, and hated by the rest. Like cult film, KISS was a cult band. Loved by only a select few individuals who practically worshiped them. Part of KISS’s appeal, I think, was how much religious groups hated them. Just like in the movie, many parents and church groups would protest outside KISS concerts. I did a little research on KISS for this blog. Founded by Gene Simmons (bass player and lead singer) and Paul Stanley (guitar player and singer), who both came from the band Wicked-Lester, the two found their drummer Peter Criss in a Rolling Stones ad before finding Ace Frehely (guitarist). The band debuted on February of 1974. By 1977 KISS was named the most popular band in America. They even had two comic books based off them by Marvel, as well as their own movie, called Kiss Meets the Phantom of the Park.

Now let’s talk about the film. While Dazed and Confused ended with several character going to get Aerosmith tickets, the plot of Detroit Rock City centers arounds a band of four friends desperately trying to retrieve KISS tickets. The shit these kids did for those tickets…

My favorite part about Detroit Rock City is the comedy. It doesn’t take its self too seriously, but never goes too far over into the realm of a mockery or insult towards KISS fans. In fact, it praises the boys’ uniqueness and quirks by reward each them in different ways. Jam stands up to his mother AND loses his virginity to his crush, Hawk confronts his stage fright (and gets rewarded with sex), Trip stops a store robbery and redeems himself by getting back their lost tickets, and Lex saves his mother’s car from being scrapped (and rescues a damsel as an added bonus). All of these scenarios, while not very realistic, were quiet fun to watch. My favorite scene was when Hawk threw up in a pitcher cup (gross, but also, hard core man) and then proceeded to strip like nothing happened. And, of course Jam’s speech confronting his mother and the other protesters was just…so well done. Honestly the whole movie felt like a daydream scenario by a KISS fan, but I loved it. A great cult film for cult rock fans.