If you grew up as the "weird kid" with a pair of headphones permanently glued to your ears and a wardrobe consisting entirely of black band tees, Netflix’s 2022 film probably felt like a personal call-out. Directed by Peter Sollett and scripted by D.B. Weiss (of Game of Thrones fame), this R-rated dramedy is more than just a "School of Rock for metalheads"—it’s a surprisingly sweet, albeit loud, exploration of friendship and identity. The Core Duo: Hunter and Kevin

From Black Sabbath’s "War Pigs" to the original banger "Machinery of Torment" (produced by Tom Morello), the music is the film's beating heart.

The band’s dynamic shifts when Kevin discovers Emily (Isis Hainsworth), a cellist with serious anger management issues and even more serious talent. Hunter’s initial rejection of her—claiming a cello "isn't metal"—serves as the primary conflict, forcing the characters to decide what "being metal" actually means: following a rigid set of rules or embracing raw, authentic expression.