Hated: GG Allin & the Murder Junkies

Although he passed away in a typical rock star way (heroin overdose) in 1993, nothing else in GG's life could ever be considered typical. Yes, it is true that GG Allin makes Marilyn Manson look like a Sunday school teacher, but to focus on that is missing the point of this movie. As a fan of rock music, I can understand exactly where GG is coming from when he says that there is a great void in rock music today, that there is no soul behind the stars of the music industry. Where is the senseless destruction? Where is the violence? Where is the hyper-obscene sexuality that once offended legions of conservative suburbanites in the 1950's and 60's? Feeling that since he is the only one with the guts to do anything about it, GG took it upon himself to single-handedly compensate for all the boring cookie-cutter rock stars that anxiously collect royalty checks and live in $10 million mansions. GG willingly suffered to be a martyr for rock music, frequently going so far that once, warrants were out for his arrest in at least seven states at the same time! One scene that particularly hit me was this: GG is shown walking out of a court room after being handed down one of the many prison sentences he received in his life. As he walks by the camera, he exclaims triumphantly, "They're trying to destroy rock and roll but they CAN'T DO IT!" It is strange for me to admit that as a touching statement, especially when said by a man who is repeatedly shown sprawled out naked on stage, smothered in his own blood, urine, and feces, but at the same time, you wonder-- does anyone else out there in that nameless faceless monolith of rock give a damn about what they're doing enough to sacrifice their life for the name of it?

This movie is not for casual patrons of rock-- only a true lover of it will be able to transcend the gruesome, appetite-suppressing, often vomit-inducing qualities of the film. Endlessly fascinating, pathetic, disgusting, tragic, and perplexing, Hated is one the greatest rock documentaries ever made.

GG Allin was truly something else. The man had no musical talent whatsoever, yet had probably one of the most loyal fan bases in rock music. This is despite the fact that he beat up, assaulted, and even raped audience members during concerts he gave...and more often than not ended up in jail because of it. His concerts were more of a war zone, filled with bodily fluid, violence, and musical assault. As a "fan", or more an observer of GG's music, I was quick to pick up this documentary about the man, and I must admit, I was thourougly impressed with it. It contains what probably are some of the most disturbing and utterly disgusting images I have ever seen. GG was known for performing shows naked, and defecating on stage...then rubbing the result all over himself. I can bet that most people would have a hard time watching a video of this event...which is shown here...and would find it hard to even imagine seeing GG in concert live. GG was also somewhat remembered as the guy who said he would commit suicide onstage for rock, only to die of a heroin overdose.

Overall, this film was a no holds barred look at the life of this infamous rock 'n' roll "legend", and one that was actually quite revealing into the how and whys of his life through interviews with him, friends, family, and fans. There is quite a few disturbing and absolutely disgusting images, including moments from live shows, as well as a scene a fan talks about with a camera there to document it. This particular scene is just beyond description...and as not to spoil it should you attempt to watch this film, I refuse to comment further.

GG was definitely one of the outlaws and revolutionaries in the rock and roll industry, paving the way for such artists as Marilyn Manson and others doing nasty things on stage and this documentary is worth it to see just what created this rock and roll myth and the "legend" behind it. Recommended, but be prepared for a lot of nastiness going in.

Is the GG Allin seen on-screen in this doco the "real" GG Allin? Frankly, THAT remains to be seen because GG on camera is a different GG to the guy who appeared occasionally at LA's Mondo-Video-A-Go-Go and shot the breeze with The Colonel, the store's proprietor.

The GG essayed on film by Todd Phillips is a force of angry nature, a punk with no discernible talent for music but a blazing talent for notoriety, anarchy and illegality.

What a true warts-and-all docu this is. Its jagged, freewheeling style perfectly mirrors the personal style of its fascinating subject. GG isn't likable in a standard way, but he's a damn courageous nutbag and intensely interesting for the angst he peddles.

Interviews with Deano (the naked drummer), brother Merle (with his Hitler moustache) and ex-members of GG's band, The Murder Junkies, are priceless. Also of bottomless merit is a wild clip where GG gets wasted, heads to a party and pays some skank to urinate into his mouth.

The concert footage is gold, and so is one live performance where a mean-spirited GG (is there any other kind?) slashes himself up and begs a female fan to finish the job. For her efforts, the fan cops a beating.

An interview with GG's old school principal, a vague ex-Hippie, is unforgettable.

One of the best rock docos going and entertaining from beginning to end.

Director Phillips, who also did the disturbing SCREWED, now directs Hollywood forgettables such as ROAD TRIP and OLD SCHOOL.

GG Allin was easily one of the most unpleasant and untalented individuals in the annals of rock music. He was crude, violent and utterly insane. Seeing him live was more like seeing a side-show Geek than going to a show. He hurled feces, he assaulted the audience, he was usually beaten up or arrested before the show even started... yet, there will always be a certain part of me that will miss him.

GG was a force, a wild ride rather than an individual. He demonstrated a total lack of empathy for other human beings and I believe people who say that he probably would have been a serial killer if he had not become an 'artist.'

However, regardless of an of this, Todd Phillips documentary on the man is utterly brilliant. It passes no judgment on the man or his music, but documents a phenomenon. Phillips looks at GG with unflinching honesty and does not try to sugarcoat the reality of the disturbed individual who lashed out at the world around him.

If you have any interest in documentaries and how they SHOULD be done, look no farther than Hated, which is an honest and serious look at the psychopathology of one lone outsider.

There's nothing I could say or any review here that could prepare you for the wild ride documentary of this man's life. Not being a fan, I couldn't appreciate nor see any talent as maybe his admirers would, still though, this is very intriguing. If you want to see a man who lived his life to the very edge of extremity and brink of insanity, I present G.G. Allin. Punk Rock, Death Metal, Satanic or White Supremicist Rock Groups all look like a PBS program for pre-schoolers compared to this man. I suppose the one question we ask ourselves while watching this, as you realize you actually are watching is, "shouldn't this guy be institutionalized?" There's some very deserving folks locked away for lesser reasons, yet because he was classified (by some) as a performer, he was free to be exposed (and expose himself) to the general population and even entertain. Like Lenny Bruce, G. G. Allin doesn't apologize for its shock value. This is serious stuff, not for the weak and yes, you will be disturbed with its content. As a documentary it does pull you in and well presents G. G. to a point where you understand his point of view and in some odd way sympathize with his way of thinking and living. He lived a harsh life and it was his way of expressing outrage and coping in society with equal disgust. Like an animal on display at a zoo, you wonder what the animal thinks of you might better describe his act. If you ever wanted a taste of the wild side this is as close as you'll get without being there and might appreciate your quiet life more once seeing it. It's more than a documentary, it's an experience, one that will haunt and disturb you long after. So before you dismiss this as just a story of an insane and sickening man claiming to be an entertainer, watch it with an open mind and a good stomach, you'll definitely need it, and be happy you survived. This is as gritty as you'll see outside a snuff film.