Film Snail

6.7

Detroit Rock City

R·1999·95m

Comedy

Music

Comedy

Music

Summary

In 1978, a Kiss concert was an epoch-making event. For the three teen fans in Detroit Rock City getting tickets to the sold-out show becomes the focal point of their existence. They'll do anything for tickets -- compete in a strip club's amateur-night contest, take on religious protesters, even rob a convenience store!

Cast

Giuseppe Andrews

Lex

James DeBello

Trip Hurudie

Edward Furlong

Hawk

Sam Huntington

Jeremiah 'Jam' Bruce

Lin Shaye

Mrs. Bruce

Melanie Lynskey

Beth Bumsteen

Natasha Lyonne

Christine

Shannon Tweed

Amanda Finch

Emmanuelle Chriqui

Barbara

Kristin Booth

Cashier

Joe Flaherty

Father Phillip McNulty

Matthew G. Taylor

Chongo

Miles Dougal

Elvis

Nick Scotti

Kenny

David Quane

Bobby

Rodger Barton

Mr. Stewart Bumsteen

Kathryn Haggis

Mrs. Stewart Bumsteen

David Gardner

Detroit Priest

Cody Jones

Little Kid

Joan Heney

Study Hall Teacher

Ron Jeremy

Gene Simmons

Kiss

Paul Stanley

Kiss

Ace Frehley

Kiss

Peter Criss

Kiss

Richard Hillman

Scalper

Kevin Corrigan

Beefy Guy #1

Ryan Letriard

Six Year Old #2

Steve Schirripa

Beefy Guy #2

Julian Richings

Ticket Taker

Rob Smith

Simple Simon

Aaron Berg

Bartender

Paul Brogren

Roadie #1

Allan Clow

Man with Coat

Chris Benson

Mr. Johansen

Colleen Williams

Nun

Stephen Joffe

Six Year Old #1

Joseph Haase

Security Guard

Kevin Corrigan

Beefy Jerk #1

Steve Schirripa

Beefy Jerk #2

Lindy Booth

Girl #1

Christina Sicoli

Foxy Girl

Michael Barry

Nerd

Vic Rigler

Pizza Boy

Eileen Flood

Female Parishoner

Pamela Bowen

Matmok Lieutenant

Johnie Chase

Cop #1

Shane Daly

Chongo's Friend

Noah Dalton Danby

Chongo's Friend

Christopher Lee Clements

Stripper #1

Jonathan Cuthill

Stripper #2

Nemo Vojic

Stripper #3

Rich Coulson

Stripper #4

Michael Kremko

Stripper #5

Derek De Luis

Stripper #6

Tara Elliott

Babe #2

Elissa Bradley

Babe #3

Cherry Flatley

Babe #4

Leilene Ondrade

Babe #5

Hazel K. Anderson

Babe #6

Jessica Kleiner

Babe #7

Nadia Dalchand

Babe #8

Kerri Michalica

Babe #9

Kerry Robinson

Babe #10

Dino M. Sicoli

Really Lucky Hot Tub Dude

Gurjeet Ahluwalia

Smoker (uncredited)

Todd Bendera

Kiss Fan (uncredited)

Jason Biggs

Guy in Red Track Suit (uncredited)

Sonny Bono

Self (archive footage) (uncredited)

Jimmy Carter

Self (archive footage) (uncredited)

Cher

Self (archive footage) (uncredited)

Raven Cinello

Student (uncredited)

Bryan Dunn

It's Raining Men Dancer (uncredited)

Frank Falcone

Roadie (uncredited)

Matt Graver

Mini-Mart Hostage (uncredited)

Gavin Heffernan

Drunken Fan (uncredited)

Kassandra Marr

Groupie (uncredited)

A.C. McCray

Concert Attendee (uncredited)

Brian McGuire

Teenager (uncredited)

Randy Meehan

Concert kid (uncredited)

Rina Nath

Babe #1 (uncredited)

Richard Nixon

Self - in Resignation Speech (archive footage) (uncredited)

Lisa Perkins

Simple Simon's Co-Host (uncredited)

Adam Rifkin

It's Raining Men Billboard Model (uncredited)

Tim Sullivan

KISS Concert Audience Member (uncredited)

Louis Tripp

Nerdy Kid (uncredited)

Andy Warhol

Self - at Studio 54 (archive footage) (uncredited)

Bill Welychka

Man Backstage (uncredited)

Crew

Director

Adam Rifkin

Writer

Carl V. Dupré

Reviews

Wuchak

May 3, 2021

_**Great 70’s songs, sometimes amusing, but basically an insult to KISS fans**_

In 1978, four teenagers from Cleveland plan to go to a KISS concert in Detroit and have many misadventures reaching their goal. The four are played by Edward Furlong, Giuseppe Andrews, James DeBello and Sam Huntington.

“Detroit Rock City” (1999) features great rock/metal from the 70s by KISS, AC/DC, Blue Oyster Cult, Van Halen, Sweet, Thin Lizzy, Nazareth, Styx, David Bowie, Cheap Trick, Black Sabbath, Ted Nugent, the Ramones, etc. There are some fun moments, but the tone is too over-the-top for its own good and the story isn’t very compelling. Couple this with some odious bathroom non-humor, a lack of attractive women beyond Natasha Lyonne and the negative one-dimensional depiction of the protagonists and you have a curiously disappointing teen flick.

The focus on pot-obsessed dudes is disingenuous since Paul Stanley and Gene Simmons were never into the drug culture; their idea of a party was working hard creating music, performing, touring, making money and celebrating gorgeous women. Unsurprisingly, mind-blowingly beautiful females were always attracted to KISS and frequented their concerts; so were dynamic, talented males. I’m not saying pot-worshipping, denim-clad waifs weren’t an element of their fan base, but KISS devotees always involved WAY more than this.

No wonder Paul Stanley lamented: "To call it a KISS movie does it a disservice, because it does a disservice to the KISS fans, which is what it's really about."

The film runs 1 hour, 35 minutes, and was shot entirely in the Toronto area.

GRADE: C-