This is a sequel to Bruce McDonald’s acclaimed 1996 mockumentary about the punk rock band Hard Core Logo which was composed of singer Joe Dick (Hugh Dillon), guitarist Billy Talent (Callum Keith Rennie), bassist John Oxenberger (John Pyper-Ferguson) and drummer Pipefitter (Bernie Coulson). The film also included cameos from punk legends like Joey Shithead, Joey Ramone and Art Bergmann.
That film, which has been characterized as a darker and more ethereal version of the Heavy Metal mockumentary This Is Spinal Tap, culminated with the suicide of Joe Dick. In this sequel, which in contrast to the original has garnered only so-so reviews, McDonald has achieved commercial success as a Hollywood director. But he ditches that to journey to Florida to interview a singer (Care Failure of the Toronto punk band Die Mannequin) who claims to be possessed by Dick’s spirit. From there, they journey to Saskatchewan where Failure and her band are set to record an album.
Yes, parts of this 2010 film were shot in Saskatchewan. And yes, it was produced with the assistance of the now defunct Film Employment Tax Credt. It screens tonight and Saturday at the RPL Theatre at 9 p.m., and Friday and Sunday at 7 p.m. Here’s the trailer: