Finsbury Park’s Club Room is a welcoming, social event space with cabaret-style seating and tables, ready for you to enjoy a curated food and drink menu. Doors will open 30 minutes before your event’s advertised start time, leaving plenty of time to get comfortable and place any orders. Please be aware that table service will take place during your event, and that as each table seats four, you may be seated with other guests.

HEAVY METAL (1981)

• Director: Gerald Potterton
• Cast: Eugene Levy, John Candy, Harold Ramis, Susan Roman
• Film: 90mins | Canada | Subtitles | Intermission
• Event: Doors 6pm | Intro + Film 6:30pm – 9pm [18+]

A glowing green orb from outer space spreads destruction throughout the galaxy until it meets its one true nemesis, warrior goddess Taarna.

“SEX AND CRIME AND ROCK ’N’ ROLL!”

BAR TRASH continues our 12^th sensational season — SATANIC PANIC! —— with HEAVY METAL (1981), an animated anthology for adults based on the cult magazine devoted to dark fantasy, science fiction, erotica, and steampunk.

The ‘Satanic Panic’ of the 1980s sought to blame societal shifts on the widespread worshipping of Satan, imagining demonic cults cavorting behind closed doors and sensing the Devil’s corrupting influence in everything from Heavy Metal lyrics, to fantasy RPGs and Saturday morning cartoons.

HEAVY METAL is an intoxicating cocktail of all those elements, and more, blended together in an otherworldly tale of a glowing green orb from outer space that spreads destruction throughout the galaxy. Only when the orb meets its one true nemesis — warrior goddess Taarna — will goodness return.

Lavishly drawn by a team of animation studios, each eclectic encounter with the orb had a different director. Voice actors include John Candy and Harold Ramis, but the film is mostly celebrated for its soundtrack featuring Black Sabbath, Blue Öyster Cult, Don Felder, and Stevie Nicks alongside a stunning classical score. Co-produced in Canada by Ivan Reitman, HEAVY METAL set the standard for alternative animation, and features plenty of gore amidst its toxic male wish-fulfilment. 

“HEAVY METAL isn’t intended for close scrutiny on a literal level. The film clearly is intended as a trip, and on that level it works very nicely.”

Gene Siskel

Polite notice: We are projecting HEAVY METAL with subtitles from the best available digital source. Certificated ‘AA’ on its original UK theatrical release, HEAVY METAL was ‘Approved for Adults’ only. 

/// BAR TRASH is a celebration of cult and curious cinema, hosted by queer film fanatic Token Homo and friends. Films are served with introductions, intermissions, prize giveaways, and subtitles / captions where possible. Tickets £8 / £5 for PH members. Adults 18+ only. Follow @tokenhomo on Instagram for updates. More info at tokenhomo.com ///