Shudder Secrets: Destroy All Neighbors Is a Prog- Rock Blast
2023 saw the release of several horror comedies, including Renfield, The Blackening, Totally Killer, Sorry about the Demon, just to name a few. To an extent, this was a nice contrast to the likes of A24 films. This isn’t a diss against such films, but horror is a wide genre. There’s plenty of room for films like Talk to Me alongside the likes of Thanksgiving or The Blackening.
It’s far, far too early to say if the trend of horror comedies will continue in 2024. That said, Shudder’s first release of the new year is a wild horror comedy trip entitled Destroy All Neighbors. It’s a movie about a misunderstood prog-rocker who kills his neighbors and ultimately forms a band with them. It’s pretty far out indeed. Destroy All Neighbors showcases some well-known comedic actors, including Jonah Ray of Mystery Science Theater 3000 fame, who plays the protagonist William Brown. He stars alongside Alex Winter, best known for Bill & Ted’s Excellent Adventure and The Lost Boys. There’s even a brief appearance by Kumail Nanjiani. This is a stacked cast indeed and an entertaining feature by director Josh Forbes.
Destroy All Neighbors and a Tale of a Misunderstood White Dude
On the surface, Destroy All Neighbors does have a fairly familiar premise. Jonah Ray is a prog-rock hipster who feels misunderstood by well, everyone, including his girlfriend Emily (Kiran Deol). Initially, I feared this film would tread the familiar ground of too many films from the late 90s and early 2000s that featured a rudderless white dude desperately seeking purpose and direction, only to be saved by the manic pixie dream girl archetype. More specifically, I’m thinking of films like Garden State, Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, and a few others. Thankfully, this film isn’t that.
It’s true that Jonah feels lost in a world that really doesn’t give two hoots about prog-rock. He’s laughed at by other musicians. He’s shunned by music producers. Even Emily tires of his obsession. However, this film never takes itself too seriously. It is a horror comedy after all, with a bit more comedy than horror. Just consider the cast.
It revels in the absurdity. Jonah accidentally decapitates his neighbor Vlad, played by Winter. Vlad plays EDM music at all hours of the night. After deciding he’s had enough, Jonah confronts Vlad, accidentally murdering him, along with a few other of his neighbors during the runtime. Somehow, they come back as zombies, ghosts, or whatever you may want to call them and form a band with Jonah. Finally, he and his prog-rock love are understood.
Destroy All Neighbors Has Heart and Gnarly Effects
Despite all of its silliness, Destroy All Neighbors isn’t without its more serious and touching moments. There are scenes in which Jonah explains why prog-rock means so much to him. You come to learn he digs the music so much because he wants to find meaning in life. He wants to understand life’s chaos and absurdity and maybe even control it, despite the impossibility. Prog-rock gives him meaning and anchors him in a world that often feels out of control, including his personal life. This film would have benefited from more scenes like this, really exploring Jonah’s obsession and why music means so very much to him. They provide a good counterweight to the over-the-top moments, but there aren’t enough of them.
In terms of effects, the creatures and practical effects look really, really cool. It’s obvious the team behind this feature was heavily influenced by special effects of the 1980s. One creature in particular reminded me of Tarman from Return of the Living Dead. The effects never look cheesy and give this film added charm. There are also pretty far out music sequences that are really groovy, too.
Destroy All Neighbors is bolstered by its practical effects, cast, and laughs. It’s a farcical premise, to be sure, but it’s a lot of fun and has a lot of heart. It’s also cool to see Winter return to the horror genre, considering his role in The Lost Boys. Thanks to Shudder, we now have our first prog-rock horror movie!
Destroy All Neighbors hits Shudder on January 12. Keep updated on the streaming service’s latest releases this year by following my Shudder Secrets column.
Brian Fanelli is a poet and educator who also enjoys writing about the horror genre. His work has been published in The LA Times, World Literature Today, Schuylkill Valley Journal, Horror Homeroom, and elsewhere. On weekends, he enjoys going to the local drive-in theater with his wife or curling up on the couch, and binge-watching movies with their cat, Giselle.