The SPINAL TAP is flowing with a river of red in the brand-new horror comedy UNCLE PECKERHEAD.
Judy has just quit her job at a local coffee diner. She and her band-mates in a struggling extreme metal band called DUH are about to be kicked out of their apartment at the very moment they are about to be part of a six-date tour across the USA. Things aren’t helped when their tour van is repossessed after Judy attempts to secure a slot at the seemingly prestigious House Of Independents venue.
However, just when things seem to be hitting the lowest of the low, Judy and her bandmate Max plant notices on cars, one of which they plant on the van of a homeless elder who calls himself Peckerhead, but whom likes to be called ‘Peck’ by his friends. Reluctantly, Peck agrees to offer his services as a driver and as a roadie and the gang hit the road.
Their first gig doesn’t go down too well, with the promoter and owner of the venue putting down the band and offering the princely sum of three dollars – and advice to get a better band. However, the owner suddenly realizes that Peck has a hidden talent – and like Cinderella on a bad night when the moon is full (and for a full thirteen minutes, as Peck divulges to Judy and co.) turns into a bad, zombie-fied monster who can be contained if he takes his meds in the van.
Now, this is the open road – and the band need a driver – and before long, Peck’s unique talent seems to have its’ advantages….
A cheerfully funny and very gory comedy that turns the blood quota up to twelve written and directed by Matthew John Lawrence, UNCLE PECKERHEAD is along the same plane as TUCKER AND DALE VS. EVIL, subverting the expectations of the horror genre (the opening images suggest that we are heading into any number of rural horrors), but fans of SPINAL TAP and other metal-head offerings will find some appeal in this very delightful and occasionally satirical comment of what happens when bands go on the road.
Admittedly, it does slow down a little bit in the middle of the film, but it redeems itself as Judy and co attempt to make that next all-important gig. With COVID-19 deferring the joys of live music at present, UNCLE PECKERHEAD is the perfect tonic to those who need a live fix and watch people play their music in the zone.
