meredithbrown

You haven't seen drug use, until you've watched Black Metal Veins. This is a raw and in-your-face depiction of several young adults who are clearly and admittedly self-proclaimed slaves (to heroin, cocaine, crack, oxycontin…basically, whatever is available.) The powerful infliction of non-stop drug ingestion is relentless from beginning to end. We are introduced to Brad, who immediately describes himself as a "walking, f**king abomination." This once-handsome young man has physically, and psychologically condemned himself to die from drugs. That is, if suicide doesn't work upon his next try. Raven is the other "star" – a perky, pretty and talkative girl who loves her pet rat, Templeton. Her childhood, (according to Raven) was great! She takes complete ownership and responsibility for her addictions and has no ambition to quit. Her South African Navy boyfriend is an enabler to the 1000th degree. Everyone documented in this film is working fast to their personal demise, which comes as no surprise to us. Director Lucifer Valentine invites us to share in this real life nightmare. That's what this documentary is…one complete morbid, suffocating, sad nightmare. You may want to wake up from the filth and grime, but I dare you to shut it off before running into the shower. Heaven is found in heroin. Life, continuation, meaning and the escape in black metal music is all found in drugs. Valentine is ruthless. Without missing a beat, we learn about the addicts' upbringing, loss, pain, pleasure, sexual preferences, and euphoria. He captures the decay of their bodies, the infections that accompany long term use, and the dissension into hell. This is a not for the squeamish. As Lucifer Valentine has proved through his previous films, The Vomit Gore Trilogy, there is nothing he WON'T show. Prepare to be left numb and empty. But with accolades to all for opening up to the true horror of drug use.