TURBULENCE 3: HEAVY METAL   
2001, Trimark Pictures
DIRECTOR: Jorge Montesi   PRODUCER: Ogden Gavanski

STARRING:  Craid Sheffer,   Gabrielle Anwar,    John Mann,    Monika Schnarre,   Mike Dopud,   Hrothgar Mathews,   Alex Zahara,    Michelle Harrison,   Marlowe Kaufmann,  Rutger Hauer,  Joe Mantegna

TURBULENCE 3: HEAVY METAL begins in front of LAX airport, where a crowd of controversial death metal singer Slade Craven's fans have gathered.  The occasion is none other than Mr. Craven's -- shock rocker extraordinaire -- "farewell concert", which is to be held aboard a 747 jet en route to Toronto, Canada from Los Angeles, and is being broadcast via internet by Z-Web Internet TV.   The occasion has also drawn a crowd of "conservative right and religious" protesters, who object to Slade's musical message of violence and death.

Meanwhile, the band and the crew at Z-Web are preparing for the festivities on board the specially designed, tricked- out flying music station:   A 747 which has been reconfigured just for Slade's farewell concert.  This concert is a very big deal for Z-Web, who have set a goal for themselves of ten million viewers for the event.   At the same time, the FBI Computer Crime Division are setting up a sting operation to catch a prolific hacker.  They determine the physical position of the hacker, but upper management decides to wait until tomorrow to nab him.   However, agent Kate, who has put two years tracking the hacker down, decides that isn't good enough and puts a tap on the hacker's phone.   Then we get a shot of the hacker -- Nick-- comfortable and unsuspecting in his condo, preparing to hack into and record the Z-Web TV broadcast, whilst ordering a pizza.  Kate hears the call, and decides this is the opportunity she's been waiting for!  

Back at the airport, boarding of the plane is going somewhat slowly, and no wonder: Most of Slade Craven's fans are wearing studs on their leather clothes and bondage gear, not to mention body jewelry in places that would require a "private" visual inspecton.   Nevertheless, security seems mostly unfazed, while it appears to be the fans who are getting antsy.    But they all get boarded, and then the band have to go through security.   Believe me, this is a scene you just HAVE to see!  Anyway, with everyone seated, the plane takes off, and the fun begins!

Naturally, there's trouble, and it starts immediately.   The tempermental artist Craven decides, against aviation rules, to begin his show before the plane has reached cruising altitude.   The Z-Web reporter covering the event is showing herself to be a major b*tch, and there is a bad storm in the plane's path, which -- and I'm only guessing here -- is going to be a problem.   And we haven't even gotten to the REAL trouble yet!   As Craven's show unfolds, he takes a hapless fan from the audience, straps him into an electric chair, and turns on the power!!   But never fear, because the fan is unharmed, and the electrocution was just a frightening effect.  But right after the electrocution, Craven walks off stage, which causes Z-Web to lose viewers and Z-Web's acting manager, Bernie, to become panicked.   Meanwhile, Slade Craven is accosted in the john by some unknown party.  And things aren't going so well on the ground, either, as Nick admits the izza delivery girl who is actually FBI agent Kate.    Naturally, she sees what he's up to and attempts to arrest him.

Okay, and NOW we get to the REAL trouble:  As he's getting busted, Nick notices what appears to be a murder on one of the monitors.  And while he knows Craven's show is about all about the simulation of death, this body is being viewed on a hidden camera, one that isn't seen by the general public.  He wonders what is the point of that, and rewinds the footage to show Kate.   And onstage, Craven has returned, and is acting unpredictably, even for him.  He shoots the co-pilot who has come out of the cockpit to tell the crowd to "settle down", but the bullet proves to be a blank.  However, shortly afterwards Craven shoots the co-pilot again, and this time the he is really dead.  And EVERYONE starts to panic, right as the plane is entering the bad storm. How convenient!

Upon seeing the shooting of the co-pilot, Kate realizes something is wrong, calls her superior at the FBI, and uncuffs Nick so together they can see what they can do about the situation.  The "situation" turns out to a complicated and extremely flimsy plan involving celebrity-switching, murder, and satanism by a radical group calling themselves the "Guardians of the Gateway".   In contrast to the protesters outside LAX, the "Guardians" apparently feel that Craven's music isn't REALLY evil and creepy, among other things.   So, will the Satanists have their way?  Will a plane load of hapless metal fans be killed by an opera-loving pilot?  Or will the day be saved by the FBI, the hacker, and...,OOPS?!!  Almost gave away one of the plot twists!!  Anyway, rent "TURBULENCE 3: HEAVY METAL" and find out for yourself!

RATING:      

While TURBULENCE 3: HEAVY METAL isn't really a horror movie, it IS a relatively well-acted, decently entertaining movie.   It's a little weak on plot -- the cult's reason for hijacking the plane is a major stretch, to say the least -- but in the grand scheme of things it didn't make that much difference.  And while the dialog did get incredibly cheesy at times, in what action movie does it not?  Oh, but just don't expect Slade Craven's music to sound like true death metal -- mainstream movie-going America is not yet ready for THAT.

None.

SCENES THAT MAKE ME GO "HMMM...,":


1. Now, maybe it's just me, but the thought of a death metal concert -- and mind you, I'm a death metal fan -- taking place on board an in-flight plane seems REALLY BLOODY STUPID.  I mean, NO WAY am I getting on a plane with a hundred Dimmu Borgir fans, for example.  And at the very least, you wouldn't want to use the lavatories!

2. Why is it that, when a movie features a pair of female friends who are fans of a band, one is a total bimbo type and the other is the less attractive, but smarter one?

3. Slade Craven's repetitive use of the phrase "let's do the hustle" does not sound very satanic, does it?   No, indeed -- not very satanic at all.

DID YOU KNOW...,:

 -   John Mann, the actor who portrayed Slade Craven in TURBULENCE 3: HEAVY METAL, is a real-life musician in his native Canada?   You can visit his website at: Acoustic Kitty.

 -   Bernie Coulson, who played drummer Shred, was also the actor behind Pipe Fitter, drummer of the brilliant fictional Canadian band HARD CORE LOGO and movie of the same name!  His credits also include the character of Ken Joyce in the blockbuster "The Accused", which starred Jodie Foster.

 -   Actor Craig Sheffer, who has an impressive resume of movie roles, also starred in the lead role of Aaron Boone in Clive Barker's excellent fantasy/horror flick, NIGHTBREED.

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