2016
Not Rated
Abramorama
1 h 32 m

2016
Not Rated
Abramorama
1 h 32 m

Summary Breaking a Monster chronicles the break-out year of the band Unlocking The Truth, following 13-year-old members Alec Atkins, Malcolm Brickhouse and Jarad Dawkins as they first encounter stardom and the music industry, transcending childhood to become the rock stars they always dreamed of being. [Abramorama]

Directed By: Luke Meyer

Written By: Brad Turner, Luke Meyer

2016
Not Rated
Abramorama
1 h 32 m

2016
Not Rated
Abramorama
1 h 32 m

Breaking a Monster

Name: Breaking a Monster
Genre: Documentary, Biography, Drama, Music
Released: 2016-06-24
Duration: 1 min 32 s
Rating: 72
Cast: Malcolm Brickhouse, Jarad Dawkins, Alec Atkins, Alan Sacks, Annette Jackson

Metascore Generally Favorable Based on 10 Critic Reviews

User Score Available after 4 ratings

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Where to Watch

Directed By: Luke Meyer

Written By: Brad Turner, Luke Meyer

Where to Watch

Critic Reviews

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Metascore

Generally Favorable Based on 10 Critic Reviews

90% Positive
9 Reviews

10% Mixed
1 Review

0% Negative
0 Reviews

All Reviews
Positive Reviews
Mixed Reviews
Negative Reviews

Critic Reviews

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Metascore

Generally Favorable Based on 10 Critic Reviews

90% Positive
9 Reviews

10% Mixed
1 Review

0% Negative
0 Reviews

All Reviews
Positive Reviews
Mixed Reviews
Negative Reviews

Los Angeles Times

Jun 30, 2016

Just when you thought you had seen every permutation of the “making of a band” documentary, along comes Breaking a Monster, a thoroughly engaging portrait of Unlocking the Truth, a heavy metal outfit composed of African American middle schoolers.

By Michael Rechtshaffen FULL REVIEW

The Guardian

Jun 7, 2016

It’s a charming and engaging mix – the antithesis of Metallica’s ego overload, and just as watchable.

By Lanre Bakare FULL REVIEW

Philadelphia Inquirer

Jul 21, 2016

Breaking a Monster is a revealing window into the industry. But it lacks a certain human component.

By Tirdad Derakhshani FULL REVIEW

Consequence

Jun 7, 2016

What unfolds is a transparent example of why the music industry continues to spiral downward toward a fiery hell.

By Michael Roffman FULL REVIEW

The New York Times

Jun 23, 2016

What’s troubling is the film’s slow and steady exposure of a music business machine that gobbles up individuality and spits out a sellable package.

By Jeannette Catsoulis FULL REVIEW

Variety

Jun 7, 2016

What makes Luke Meyer’s documentary interesting isn’t so much the music or even the incipient stardom, but rather the push-pull between high-stakes biz pressure and subjects who — being 13 years old or so — hardly have the attention spans for the drudgery and minutiae a “career” requires.

By Dennis Harvey FULL REVIEW

The Hollywood Reporter

Jun 7, 2016

Meyer...and his easy rapport with the kids and Sacks helps coax sometimes surprisingly candid comments from his subjects. What’s missing however is adequate background on how the boys became such impressive young musicians and why they gravitated toward heavy metal rather than pop or rap.

By Justin Lowe FULL REVIEW

See All 10 Critic Reviews

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Details

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Production Company Black Label Media, SeeThink Films

Release Date Jun 24, 2016

Duration 1 h 32 m

Rating Not Rated

Genres

Tagline A Film About Unlocking the Truth

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Awards

UK Music Video Awards: UKMVA

• 1 Win & 1 Nomination

Sound Unseen

• 1 Win & 1 Nomination

SXSW Film Festival

• 1 Nomination

Breaking a Monster

Where to Watch

Where to Watch

Top Cast

Malcolm Brickhouse

Self

Jarad Dawkins

Self

Alec Atkins

Self

Alan Sacks

Self

Annette Jackson

Self

Kevin Jonas

Self

Gary Adelman

Self

Gloria Atkins

Self

Tracey Brickhouse

Self

Ernestine Charles

Self

Jolene Cherry

Self

Moe Dawkins

Self

Tabitha Dawkins

Self

Jamik Headley

Self

Johnny Karkazis

Self

Q-Tip

Self

Bill Richards

Self

Nile Rodgers

Self

Samantha Sacks

Self

Alex Suarez

Self

Critic Reviews

Critic Reviews

Critic Reviews

Critic Reviews

User Reviews

User Reviews

Details

Details

Awards

Awards

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