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GO TO HELL
Directed by Michael J. Heagle
Produced by Troy Antoine LaFaye
Written by Michael J. Heagle and RP Whalen
Photographed by M Stachniw and C Besasie
Dario Dare - Rock 'n' Roll Ray
Marion Tango - Renee Werbowske
A'mon - HimselfHow many people remember their first rock and roll concert? Mine was Johnny Rotten and Public Image Limited. For those that don't know, P.I.L. was Johnny's band after The Sex Pistols. That show was loud, rude, dr in your face, and one hell of a raging good time. Just like GO TO HELL. Director Michael J. Heagle's take on life, love, and religion is about as fun as it gets
The film opens with Roman Catholic "Uber-Cardinal" GianCarlo Ponti being attacked by the minions of hell. Months before, Ponti sold his soul in exchange for the power to perform miracles. It turns out that the Cardinal is now destined for sainthood and the powers that be in the underworld figure they had better collect what's due before their time expires. Enter Dario Dare, patsy for the ages.
Dario has a long list of problems. At the head of that list is his life. One time famous pro-wrestling figure, Dario now works for a scandal sheet called the National Explainer. Picture the Weekly World News for the sub-trailer park crowd. Poor Dario can't even drum up a lousy big foot sighting. It's just a matter of time before his boss busts him down to the alien abduction beat.
I somehow doubt that "Rock 'n' Roll Ray" is that actor's real name, but considering the movie the name is very fitting. Watching Ray on screen made me wonder why people like Jason Biggs and Chris Kline are stars. Ray gives Dario true punk attitude and fused it with leading man charisma. He's able to walk that fine line between lovable jerk and major league asshole. Dario isn't Ray's only character, he also delivers a side-splitting turn as A'mon, Dario's effeminate twin brother, a dairy queen clerk turned Warhol wanna-be. With talent like Ray's, I say "to hell with Jason Biggs."
Speaking of Hell, did you know there are at least 27 levels? According to Michael Heagle there are. Did you know that once you die and go to the fiery pits that your soul could live through a nuclear blast? According to Micheal Heagle it can. The director's take on the nether realm is the most interesting I've seen since BILL AND TED'S BOGUS JOURNY. Both are unique in their visions, not relying on established conventions of what hell should be. In BOGUS JOURNEY the condemned created their own personal hells, in GO TO HELL the kingdoms are feudal collectives where the condemned share each other's torment for the better good of the level.
The supporting is comprised of a Scottish wrestling fan turned hotel manager, 2 incredibly gorgeous lesbian Catholic Papal agents, and an oddball assortment of National Explainer employees. Not a single character is wasted and all have at least one great gag, the best being a deliciously tasteless recreation of Kennedy assassination with Ponti standing in the JFK. While the sequence stops the film dead in its tracks, it's worth it to see just how far Heagle will take the gag. The guy has got balls the size of crenshaw mellons.
The race for Best Underground Film for 2001 is on and GO TO HELL is leading the pack straight down the brimstone highway. Made with vigor and a wickedly off-center sense of humor, GO TO HELL delivers the goods with attitude to spare. Check it out.