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Freakscene: The Story of Dinosaur Jr.

Play trailer 2:30 Poster for Freakscene: The Story of Dinosaur Jr. Released May 31, 2022 1h 22m Documentary Music Play Trailer Watchlist
Watchlist Tomatometer Popcornmeter
67% Tomatometer 15 Reviews 75% Popcornmeter Fewer than 50 Ratings
FREAKSCENE THE STORY OF DINOSAUR JR. is a homage of one of the most influential bands on the American East Coast, which inspired the rock scene -- including Nirvana and Sonic Youth -- in the 1990s. Their style and unmistakable sound, later referred as "Grunge", laid the foundation for the entire "Slacker" culture of Generation X. It is also the story of the eloquent and eccentric guitarist and bandleader J. Mascis, the bassist Lou Barlow and drummer Murph and a band that insanely does not talk to each other. Communication takes place exclusively through music. Philipp Reichenheim nevertheless manages to make the closed and shy icons speak. An emotional, tragically funny and sometimes noisy rollercoaster ride by a dysfunctional family -- Dinosaur Jr. Through several decades, the film offers rare insights into the crazy everyday life of the band and illuminates the inner workings of a cult band from its beginnings in the 1980s and 90s to the present day.

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Freakscene: The Story of Dinosaur Jr.

Critics Reviews

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Noel Murray Los Angeles Times Since Dinosaur Jr. was always a band for alt-rock connoisseurs, perhaps it’s fitting that this movie about them is equal parts heartfelt and ungainly. Jun 3, 2022 Full Review Glenn Kenny New York Times The band is a noteworthy one. But this treatment feels skimpy. Jun 2, 2022 Full Review Phuong Le Guardian Amid such intense ups and downs, what makes Freakscene so engaging is its decision to put Dinosaur Jr's music front and centre, with numerous audio and live performance excerpts. Rated: 4/5 Oct 5, 2021 Full Review Christian Gallichio The Playlist The faded videos of them playing on Letterman and hanging with Matt Dillon — who directed the video for their 1992 single “Get Me” — make up for the film’s insular and grainy approach. Rated: B- Jun 16, 2022 Full Review Stephen Silver Tilt Magazine Will likely appeal to both Dinosaur Jr. diehards and those with little knowledge of the band. Rated: 3.5/5 Jun 16, 2022 Full Review Jim Laczkowski Director's Club Plays more like a slapdash home movie with musical interludes to fill in the gaps but for fans of this groundbreaking band, there are still pleasures to be had throughout particularly when Mascis and Barlow do speak their minds. Rated: 3/5 Jun 9, 2022 Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

View All (1) audience reviews
Matthew Awesome! So fun to take my 15 year old daughter and wife to see a movie about a band and the music they made that really moved me when I was her age and still to this day. Great time Rated 5 out of 5 stars 06/01/22 Full Review Read all reviews
Freakscene: The Story of Dinosaur Jr.

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Cast & Crew

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Movie Info

Synopsis FREAKSCENE THE STORY OF DINOSAUR JR. is a homage of one of the most influential bands on the American East Coast, which inspired the rock scene -- including Nirvana and Sonic Youth -- in the 1990s. Their style and unmistakable sound, later referred as "Grunge", laid the foundation for the entire "Slacker" culture of Generation X. It is also the story of the eloquent and eccentric guitarist and bandleader J. Mascis, the bassist Lou Barlow and drummer Murph and a band that insanely does not talk to each other. Communication takes place exclusively through music. Philipp Reichenheim nevertheless manages to make the closed and shy icons speak. An emotional, tragically funny and sometimes noisy rollercoaster ride by a dysfunctional family -- Dinosaur Jr. Through several decades, the film offers rare insights into the crazy everyday life of the band and illuminates the inner workings of a cult band from its beginnings in the 1980s and 90s to the present day.
Director
Philipp Reichenheim
Producer
Stephan Holl, Antoinette Köster, J Mascis, Philipp Virus, Philipp Reichenheim
Screenwriter
Philipp Virus, Philipp Reichenheim
Distributor
Utopia
Production Co
Rapid Eye Movies, Virus Films
Genre
Documentary, Music
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
May 31, 2022, Limited
Release Date (Streaming)
Jun 3, 2022
Runtime
1h 22m
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