Some modern films get re-released too soon, and some, criminally overlooked at the time, are just ripe for more than worthy of a second look re-appreciation. The latter’s certainly the case with the outstanding redemption rock doc “Anvil! The Story of Anvil!” from 2009. Celebrating its 13th anniversary this fall, Utopia Distribution announced this week it is set to release the remastered “Anvil! The Story of Anvil!” alongside Portobello Electric In Theaters this fall and on digital later this year.
READ MORE: The 25 Best Music Documentaries Of The 21st Century So Far
Directed by Sacha Gervasi (“My Dinner With Hervé,” “Hitchcock“), “Anvil! The Story of Anvil!” is about the triumphant comeback of Anvil, a Canadian ’80s metal band that never got their due, and most people didn’t know unless you were a hardcore ’80s metal fan. Down on their luck, has-beens that are forgotten at the time, the doc centers on them mounting a new tour and attempting a comeback, and it’s just gloriously good, funny, and aspirational; an authentic, soulful, warts-and-all look at clawing your way back into the spotlight.
It’s a film we loved back in the day, and it still stands on our list of the Best Music Documentaries of The Century So Far. The new release features remastered picture and sound, as well as a new exclusive epilogue interview with Anvil’s Steve “Lips” Kudlow and Robb Reiner, moderated by former MTV host Matt Pinfield.
Anvil also get their flowers in the doc, with many metal icons giving them their due, including Metallica’s Lars Ulrich, Guns N’ Roses’ Slash, Motörhead’s Lemmy, Anthrax’s Scott Ian, and Slayer’s Tom Araya, among others.
A special screening event for the film in collaboration with Beyond Fest will be taking place in LA on September 22 in Los Angeles at the Saban Theatre, with a live concert by Anvil and appearances from surprise musical guests. This will be followed by a Q&A with Anvil’s Steve “Lips” Kudlow, Robb Reiner, Producer Rebecca Yeldham, and Gervasi, moderated by Steve-O of “Jackass” fame. Tickets for the event are now on sale.
Here’s the film’s official synopsis:
ANVIL! THE STORY Of ANVIL follows Canadian heavy-metal band Anvil as they delivered a highly influential 1982 album “Metal on Metal” that would inspire the likes of Anthrax and Metallica, and then dropped off the map to begin what would become decades of toiling in obscurity. Director and former Anvil roadie Gervasi follows guitarist Steve “Lips” Kudlow and drummer Robb Reiner as they stumble through a harrowing European tour and reflect on failure, friendship, resilience, and the will to follow even the most impossible of dreams.
“If you’d told me all those years ago at Sundance when we had no buyers that this movie would be released into theatres for the second time 13 years later, I never would have believed you, but here we are. It truly is a miracle,” said Gervasi in a statement. “This is all thanks to Robert and his extraordinary team at Utopia. They’re brilliant to work with because they’re filmmakers, and their support and passion are unmatched. All Anvil and I can say is thank you!”
“Anvil” is tied for 6th place as one of the highest-rated documentaries of all time on Rotten Tomatoes with a 98% certified fresh rating and a 90% audience score with over 5000+ votes. It was named one of 2009’s best documentaries by numerous film critics associations, including Chicago, San Francisco, Toronto, and Las Vegas, as well as the International Documentary Association, the Online Film Critics Society, and the National Society of Film Critics. It also made the year-end Top 10 lists in publications such as the New York Times, Washington Post, Newsweek, Village Voice, and many others.
Utopia has also released a teaser trailer for the occasion, and you can watch that below. Go Anvil!