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Studio 666
Studio 666
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Studio 666
Theatrical release poster
Directed byB. J. McDonnell
Screenplay by
  • Jeff Buhler
  • Rebecca Hughes
Story byDave Grohl
Produced by
  • John Ramsey
  • James A. Rota
Starring
Cinematography
  • Michael Dallatorre
  • Eric Leach
Edited byByron Wong
Music byRoy Mayorga
Production
companies
Distributed by
Release dates
  • February 16, 2022 (2022-02-16) (TCL Chinese Theatre)
  • February 25, 2022 (2022-02-25) (United States)
Running time
106 minutes
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish
Box office$3 million[1][2]

Studio 666 is a 2022 American comedy horror film directed by B. J. McDonnell from a screenplay by Jeff Buhler and Rebecca Hughes, based on a story by Dave Grohl, who stars, alongside his Foo Fighters bandmates Nate Mendel in his film debut, Pat Smear, Taylor Hawkins in his final film, Chris Shiflett in his feature film debut, and Rami Jaffee in his film debut, portraying fictionalized version of themselves.

Whitney Cummings, Leslie Grossman, Will Forte, Jenna Ortega, and Jeff Garlin co-star in the ensemble cast. In the film, the Foo Fighters move into a cursed mansion to record a new album.

Studio 666 is the first non-documentary to feature the Foo Fighters; the band was previously the subject of the film Foo Fighters: Back and Forth (2011) and the television series Foo Fighters: Sonic Highways (2014). The film was released theatrically in the United States on February 25, 2022, by Open Road Films and Briarcliff Entertainment. It received mixed reviews.

Plot

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In 1993 Encino, Skye Willow, drummer of the heavy metal band Dream Widow, is crawling along the floor with a broken leg, followed closely by band's frontman, Greg Nole, who is holding a hammer. Skye sees the body of another band member, who has had his jaw broken by Greg, before Greg drives the hammer through her forehead and repeatedly hits her head with it, crushing her skull. Greg then hangs himself from a window.

In 2019, the Foo FightersDave Grohl, Taylor Hawkins, Rami Jaffee, Nate Mendel, Chris Shiflett, and Pat Smear—are pressured by their manager Jeremy Shill to overcome their writer's block and record a new album. The group move into the mansion, where Grohl becomes fascinated with the house as a source of inspiration. One of their tech helps, Krug, is electrocuted by a wire and the band decides to dedicate their album to him.

Grohl finds a basement containing satanic objects and is possessed by Nole's demonic soul after listening to a demo tape. Under the demon's control, Grohl forces the band to continue production on the album. Later, a delivery man named Darren, who had earlier tried to give Grohl a demo tape, is decapitated outside the manor by an unknown figure with hedge clippers. The next day, as Shiflett is cooking on the grill, the same figure pushes his face onto it. Shiflett attempts to escape but he has his head smashed with the grill cover and is stabbed repeatedly in the neck, before the figure is revealed to be Grohl.

The band later finds Darren's corpse, but Grohl convinces them not to call the police and takes their phones. After watching Grohl eating Shiflett's remains, the band soon learn of the mansion's backstory and Grohl's possession with the help of a neighbor, Samantha. To exorcise Grohl, they need to find a book needed to free him of the possession. As Samantha and Jaffee have sex, they are both killed when Grohl sneaks under the bed and drives a chainsaw through their heads, before cutting them in half. Hawkins is pressured by Grohl to finish the song while Mendel and Smear retrieve the book from the basement. Hawkins finishes the song and is partially decapitated by Grohl with a cymbal.

Mendel and Smear free Grohl from the possession, and the souls of the Dream Widow band members send the demon to hell. However, Jeremy and real estate developer Barb Weems ambush the remaining members, revealing that they planned the whole thing. While Smear is fixing a car from underneath, Mendel is stabbed in the eye, causing him to accidentally hit the gas, which runs over Smear's head and runs over Barb. As Mendel gets out of the car to help Barb, she stabs him through the chin and dies alongside him. Grohl battles Jeremy only to back down in horror when Jeremy tells him of the album's success and the start of his solo career. One year later, Grohl, the only Foo Fighter survivor, prepares to perform a solo concert, with marks of possession around his eyes.

Cast

[edit]

Foo Fighters

Other

Production

[edit]
Writer and lead actor Dave Grohl

In November 2021, it was reported that a film starring the Foo Fighters entitled Studio 666 had been shot in secret. John Ramsey and James A. Rota produced the film, while the bandmates served as executive producers. Hatchet III filmmaker B. J. McDonell directed the film, working from a script written by Jeff Bulher and Rebecca Hughes, based on a story from Grohl inspired by their experiences recording their tenth album.[3]

Filming took place in the same house the band recorded their album Medicine at Midnight.[4] Nearing the end of filming in early 2020, production was shut down due to the COVID-19 pandemic in the United States. Production resumed in Los Angeles months later, becoming one of the first films to do so during the pandemic.[5] Six days of filming were planned to finish the film, but it would ultimately span three weeks due to the regulations put in place to film safely.[6]

Music

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Grohl recorded a whole album of heavy metal songs for the in-movie fictional band Dream Widow.[7][8] John Carpenter also contributed to the film's soundtrack, having co-composed the opening credits.[9] The album was released on March 25, 2022, consisting of eight tracks.[10][11]

Release

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Theatrical and marketing

[edit]

Studio 666 was released theatrically on February 25, 2022, by Open Road Films.[12] The film held its world premiere at the TCL Chinese Theatre on February 16, 2022.[13] According to social media analytic RelishMix, the marketing campaign made 97.9 million interactions online, "in line with horror genre norms".[14]

Home media

[edit]

The film released as a digital rent on March 18, 2022.[15] The film was released to Blu-ray and DVD on May 24, 2022, by Universal Pictures Home Entertainment.[16]

Reception

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Box office

[edit]

In the United States and Canada, Studio 666 was released alongside Cyrano, and was projected to gross $2–5 million from 2,306 theaters in its opening weekend.[17] The film earned $1.54 million in its opening weekend.[18] Men made up 58% of the audience during its opening, with those in the age range of 25–44 comprising 53% of ticket sales and those between 18 and 44 comprising 73%. The ethnic breakdown of the audience showed that 69% were Caucasian, 18% Hispanic and Latino Americans, 3% African American, and 10% Asian or other.[14] The film dropped out of the box-office top ten in its second weekend, finishing twelfth with $342,262.[19]

Critical response

[edit]

On the review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes, 56% of 126 critics' reviews are positive, with an average rating of 5.3/10. The website's consensus reads: "Studio 666 doesn't quite take its horror-comedy hybrid to 11, but if you're in the mood, this cheerfully over-the-top outing is a lot of fun."[20] Metacritic, which uses a weighted average, assigned the film a score of 50 out of 100, based on 26 critics, indicating "mixed or average" reviews.[21] PostTrak reported 66% of audience members gave it a positive score, with 46% saying they would definitely recommend it.[14]

Megan Navarro of Bloody Disgusting called Studio 666 "an entertaining jam session full of gore, laughs, and endearing moments between the band".[22] In Paste, Matt Donato wrote: "It might run its welcome a bit long and struggle with more juvenile gags, but it’s still a proper midnighter that’ll have you barking (in laughter) at the moon."[23] Ed Masley, writing for Arizona Republic, said it was "plenty gory" and "definitely rocks", but criticized the humor.[24] Peter Bradshaw of The Guardian gave the film one star, saying it "sadly conforms to the horror-comedy tendency of being neither properly scary nor properly funny". He found it "disconcerting" that the premise involved "violent and horrible things that happened back in the 90s", including suicide, alluding to the suicide of Grohl's former bandmate Kurt Cobain.[25]

See also

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References

[edit]
[edit]
Revisions and contributorsEdit on WikipediaRead on Wikipedia
from Grokipedia
Studio 666 is a American film directed by B. J. McDonnell from a screenplay by Jeff Buhler and Rebecca Hughes, based on a story by . The film stars the members of the rock band , , , , , and —in their acting debuts, alongside , , , and . It follows the band as they relocate to a cursed Encino mansion to record their tenth studio album, where they encounter demonic forces stemming from the property's dark rock 'n' roll past, leading to possession and deadly chaos during the sessions. The film was produced by Roswell Films and Therapy Studios, with principal photography taking place in Los Angeles, California, including at an actual Encino mansion. Studio 666 premiered at the TCL Chinese Theatre on February 16, 2022, and was released theatrically in the United States on February 25, 2022, by . Running 108 minutes and rated R for strong bloody violence and gore, pervasive language, and sexual content, the movie blends horror tropes with musical performance elements, featuring original songs performed by the .

Overview

Plot

The film begins with a prologue set in at an Encino mansion, where the heavy metal band Dream Widow is recording their debut album. Their lead singer discovers a satanic tome inspired by and uses it to summon a in pursuit of the perfect song, leading him to ritually sacrifice animals and brutally murder his bandmates in a series of gory attacks before committing , leaving the song unfinished and cursing the house with a demonic entity tied to its completion. In the main storyline set in 2019, the —Dave Grohl, , , , , and , portraying themselves—arrive at the same Encino mansion, rented through realtor Barb Weems, to record their tenth studio album amid pressure from their manager Jeremy Shill to deliver quickly. Grohl experiences visions of the past murders and uncovers the cursed book and a Dream Widow demo tape; playing the tape backward possesses him with the lead singer's demonic spirit, which enhances his musical creativity but compels violent acts to "feed" the and finish the 23-minute song, revealing the mechanic where the is bound to the unfinished music and uses possession to propagate through rock artists. As the band records, supernatural horrors escalate with the sequential deaths of its members, orchestrated by the possessed Grohl: is burned alive on a grill after confronting Grohl, and neighbor Samantha are dismembered with a during an intimate encounter, is decapitated by a hurled when he attempts to destroy the song recording, and is impaled by the band's van during an escape attempt. Supporting characters, including the delivery man Darren Sandelbaum decapitated with hedge clippers earlier and a crew member electrocuted in a pool accident, fall victim first, heightening the mansion's role as a portal to hellish forces. In the resolution, surviving bassist and rhythm guitarist discover the book's exorcism passage and perform a with blood sacrifices, temporarily expelling the demon from Grohl, but the song's near-completion reactivates the curse. Jeremy Shill and Barb Weems reveal themselves as Satan-worshipping conspirators who manipulated the band's arrival to unleash the demonic song and revive through means; Mendel is stabbed by Weems, Smear dies in a van crash, and Grohl, reclaiming control but retaining , kills Weems and Shill before emerging as the sole survivor. One year later, Grohl performs the completed song solo onstage, his eyes blackened by the enduring demonic influence.

Cast

The cast of Studio 666 prominently features the members of the portraying exaggerated versions of themselves, a meta-casting choice that merges their authentic band dynamics with fictional horror elements to heighten the film's comedic and autobiographical tone. This approach allows the band to draw on their real-life experiences while embodying heightened personas amid supernatural chaos. The principal cast is as follows:
ActorRoleDescription
Dave GrohlHimself (lead singer)The band's frontman and central figure in the story's possession arc.
Taylor HawkinsHimself (drummer)The band's longtime drummer.
Nate MendelHimself (bassist)Founding bassist of the Foo Fighters.
Pat SmearHimself (rhythm guitarist)Rhythm guitarist and longtime band member.
Chris ShiflettHimself (lead guitarist)Lead guitarist since 1999.
Rami JaffeeHimself (keyboardist)Keyboardist and multi-instrumentalist.
Notable supporting roles are filled by a mix of comedians, actors, and musicians, adding to the film's eclectic ensemble:
  • Whitney Cummings as Samantha, the quirky neighbor with a fascination for the band.
  • Leslie Grossman as Barb Weems, the enthusiastic real estate agent who sells the band their haunted mansion.
  • Will Forte as Darren Sandelbaum / Restaurant Delivery Guy.
  • Jenna Ortega as Skye, a key member of the fictional 1990s band Dream Widow central to the backstory.
  • Jeff Garlin as Jeremy Shill, the demanding executive from the record label.
Additional guest appearances include musicians like as Krug, a Dream Widow member, and in a cameo, alongside actors such as as venue person, enhancing the film's rock-centric cameos.

Production

Development

The story for Studio 666 was conceived by in 2019 during the Foo Fighters' recording sessions for their Medicine at Midnight at a reputedly haunted Encino mansion, drawing inspiration from horror tropes and legends. The screenplay was written by Jeff Buhler and Rebecca Hughes, who expanded Grohl's initial concept into a horror-comedy that intertwines demonic possession, the creative process of production, and interpersonal band dynamics. Key creative decisions included adopting a meta format featuring the playing heightened versions of themselves, while weaving in elements of the band's real history for authenticity. The project had an estimated budget of $20 million and was produced by John Ramsay and James A. Rota through Roswell Films and Studios. Director B. J. McDonnell was chosen for his expertise in the horror genre, including his work on the Hatchet film series. The process emphasized to maintain surprise for audiences, with principal band members in lead roles and guest appearances by actors such as and recruited discreetly. Production planning was disrupted by the , extending initial filming schedules.

Filming

Principal photography for Studio 666 commenced secretly in February 2020 at a historic mansion in Encino, —the same location where the had recorded their album in late 2019, lending authenticity to the film's haunted recording studio setting. Production advanced through much of the initial four weeks of a planned five-week schedule before halting in March 2020 due to the shutdowns in the United States. Filming resumed later that year amid strict pandemic protocols and wrapped over three weeks in October 2020 in , allowing the production to adapt to ongoing health restrictions while minimizing disruptions. The primary shooting took place on at the Encino to capture its eerie, rock history-infused atmosphere, while effects-intensive sequences—such as exorcisms and murders—were filmed on soundstages in for controlled practical work. Key challenges included preserving the project's secrecy to prevent leaks, as the production operated with a small, trusted crew and no public announcements until late 2021, even as balanced filming with tour rehearsals and commitments. Coordinating the ' schedules proved demanding given their active touring, requiring shoots to align with brief windows of availability. The gore-heavy practical effects, including decapitations and sequences, were crafted by a makeup team led by of Alterian Inc., emphasizing old-school prosthetics and over digital enhancements for visceral impact. Director B. J. McDonnell focused on a fast-paced horror-comedy tone, drawing from influences like and to blend scares with humor, while encouraging improvised interactions among the band members to heighten their natural chemistry on screen. This approach fostered a collaborative, fun environment despite the logistical hurdles, resulting in unscripted moments that amplified the film's rock 'n' roll energy.

Music

Dream Widow album

In the film Studio 666, the Dream Widow album functions as a pivotal narrative element, depicted as the cursed and incomplete self-titled recording of a fictional heavy metal band whose tragic legacy unleashes supernatural possession on the as they attempt to finish it at the Encino house. Tracks from this demonic project, including "March of the Insane" and "," are shown shaping the band's increasingly unhinged compositions amid the influence. The real-world Dream Widow EP was composed, performed across all instruments, and produced primarily by , with contributions from guitarist Jim Rota of on lead guitar and keyboardist on keys, alongside engineering by Darrell Thorp and others; the eight tracks were recorded at Grohl's Studio 606 in Encino, , after the film's production wrapped. Released digitally on March 25, 2022, through and , the self-titled EP shifts stylistically to , featuring blistering riffs, pounding drums, and occult-themed lyrics evocative of 1980s extremity.
No.TitleLength
1Encino1:38
2Cold5:13
3March of the Insane3:30
4The Sweet Abyss4:19
5Angel with Severed Wings4:32
6Come All Ye Unfaithful5:34
7Becoming5:32
8Lacrimus Dei Ebrius7:13
As a tie-in to Studio 666, the EP extends the film's promotional reach with official lyric videos and visualizers for tracks like "March of the Insane" and "Cold," while limited-edition vinyl pressings, issued on Record Store Day Black Friday November 25, 2022, incorporate horror-themed artwork drawn from the movie.

Film score

The original score for Studio 666 was composed by , a drummer known for his work with bands such as Ministry, , and . Mayorga's contributions provide tension-building cues throughout the film, particularly in possession and chase sequences, featuring a brutal backbeat that infuses modern horror with heavy metal intensity. The opening credits theme, titled "Studio 666," was co-composed and performed by , , and Daniel Davies, blending Carpenter's signature synth-horror style with rock elements, including distorted guitars, eerie synthesizers, and percussive rhythms to underscore the film's gore and comedic horror. This approach evokes the atmospheric tension of 1980s slasher films while echoing the ' rock sound, enhancing key sequences such as the 1993 prologue and the climax. Carpenter's involvement serves as a homage to his horror genre legacy, and he also appears in a cameo role. The score was developed post-filming in 2021, during the production's secretive phase amid the , with no full album release issued; however, the opening theme is included on the Studio 666 EP alongside select tracks. Diegetic uses of songs from the in-film Dream Widow album are distinct from these non-diegetic elements.

Release

Theatrical and marketing

The world premiere of Studio 666 occurred on February 16, 2022, at the TCL Chinese Theatre in Hollywood, , with attendance from the band members and key cast including , , and . The event was followed by an after-party concert at the nearby Fonda Theatre, where the band performed select tracks to heighten excitement for the film's release. The film received a wide theatrical release in the United States on February 25, 2022, distributed by and Briarcliff Entertainment across more than 2,000 theaters. A limited international rollout followed in select markets, including the and on the same date through UK. Rated R by the for strong bloody violence and gore, pervasive language, and , the 106-minute feature targeted rock and horror enthusiasts with its blend of and elements. Marketing efforts centered on building hype through digital and experiential channels, including an official trailer released on January 11, , that showcased band cameos and demonic possession themes to draw in fans of the ' . contributed personally via interviews and social media posts teasing the production's behind-the-scenes chaos, while the campaign featured spooky merchandise lines like themed apparel and posters tied to the film's haunted mansion aesthetic. Tie-ins with the fictional Dream Widow from the story included a EP of original songs, released digitally on March 25, , and as a limited-edition vinyl on November 25, , for Black Friday, which amplified between the movie and the band's discography. Additional engagement came through Spotify-curated playlists highlighting the soundtrack's heavy metal tracks, fostering audience interaction among rock and horror communities.

Home media

Studio 666 became available for digital rental and purchase on March 18, 2022, through platforms including , , and Vudu. The film was released on physical media in the form of Blu-ray and DVD on May 24, 2022, distributed by . These editions included a gag reel featuring outtakes and behind-the-scenes moments from the production, as well as a of the film. For streaming, Studio 666 was added to on November 10, 2023. It later became available on starting October 25, 2023, and on Peacock. The film did not receive a major awards-season re-release. Home media sales contributed to the film's ancillary revenue, with worldwide theatrical earnings reaching approximately $3 million.

Reception

Box office

Studio 666 opened in 2,306 theaters in the United States and on February 25, 2022, earning $1,540,543 during its debut weekend (February 25–27). The film experienced a sharp decline in its second weekend, grossing $342,262 from 2,208 theaters, representing a 78% drop from the opening. This steep fall was attributed to ongoing restrictions limiting theater attendance, strong competition from wider-appeal releases such as and , and the movie's niche draw primarily to fans rather than a broader horror audience. Over its entire domestic run, Studio 666 accumulated $2,513,963, while international earnings totaled $492,993 across limited markets including the ($181,603) and ($256,233). This brought the worldwide gross to $3,006,956, marking the film as a commercial flop given its modest performance relative to expectations for a wide theatrical release.

Critical response

Studio 666 received mixed reviews from critics, with praise for its gore effects and the ' on-screen chemistry tempered by criticisms of its pacing and tonal inconsistencies. On , the film holds a 56% approval rating based on 129 reviews, with an average score of 5.3/10. The site's critics consensus states: "Studio 666 doesn't quite take its horror-comedy hybrid to 11, but if you're in the mood, this cheerfully over-the-top outing is a lot of fun." On , it has a score of 50 out of 100 from 26 critics, indicating "mixed or average" reviews. Critics frequently highlighted the film's practical gore and makeup effects, created by Alterian Inc., as a standout element, with inventive kills that added energy to the horror-comedy blend. The ' natural band dynamics brought humor to the proceedings, with Dave Grohl's charismatic performance anchoring the group's amusing attempts at acting. Cameos, such as Jenna Ortega's early appearance, were noted for injecting fresh appeal into the narrative. Reviewers appreciated the film's commitment to old-school horror tropes, describing it as loud, gory, and occasionally silly. However, many found the pacing uneven and the 106-minute runtime overlong by about 20 minutes, leading to dragged-out sections amid forced banter. The heavy reliance on rock and horror references was seen as alienating to non-fans, limiting its broader appeal. Some critiques addressed sensitivity concerns, particularly a comedic setup involving band tragedies like , which felt disconcerting in light of real events such as Kurt Cobain's death. In a representative review, Nick Allen of awarded the 2 out of 4 stars, praising its "bountiful and surprising" gore while noting it "could certainly stand to be a little scarier, a little funnier, and more clever overall," held together by "the amusing sight of rock stars trying to act." of gave it 1 out of 5 stars, calling it an "insufferable vanity project" with "terrible wooden acting" and a tone-deaf approach to grim historical references. Liz Shannon Miller of Consequence described it as "nearly always constant fun" despite its silliness, though tailored to a specific audience.

Legacy

The death of Foo Fighters drummer Taylor Hawkins on March 25, 2022—just one month after Studio 666's theatrical release on February 25, 2022—lent the film a profound tragic undertone. Hawkins' on-screen character suffers a graphic , a scene that resonated hauntingly with audiences following his real-life passing from cardiovascular collapse amid traces of multiple substances, including opioids, marijuana, and antidepressants, as detailed in the Colombian authorities' toxicology report. This coincidence prompted fans to revisit and rewatch the movie, transforming it into an unintended memorial that captured Hawkins' infectious energy and the band's tight-knit camaraderie during what would become his final major project. Post-release, Studio 666 underwent a reappraisal as a bittersweet testament to the ' spirit, emphasizing themes of creative collaboration and resilience amid loss. While some fringe online theories attempted to connect the film's plot elements—such as demonic possession and ritualistic deaths—to Hawkins' passing, band guitarist publicly condemned such conspiracy speculation as "disrespectful" and irrelevant to honoring his bandmate's memory. The movie's enduring appeal lies in its preservation of Hawkins' lively performance, now viewed through the lens of , without altering its core as a lighthearted horror-comedy. Culturally, Studio 666 earned a nomination for Best Longform Video at the 2022 MTV Video Music Awards but secured no major wins, reflecting its niche status rather than broad acclaim. It exemplified the Foo Fighters' pre-Hawkins-era push into multimedia ventures, blending music with film to diversify their output beyond albums and tours. The band's 2023 album But Here We Are, their first release following Hawkins' death, echoed this creative ethos by paying tribute to him through introspective rock anthems, indirectly extending the film's celebratory vibe. By 2025, the film has solidified as a cult favorite among rock and horror enthusiasts, appreciated for its gory nods to genre classics and as a snapshot of the band's joyful dynamic before profound change.

References

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