Stunt Rock (1978)

Director: Brian Trenchard-Smith

Starring: Grant Page, Monique van de Ven, Margaret Gerard, Paul Haynes

More info: IMDb

Tagline: Death Wish At 120 Decibels

Plot: Australian stuntman Grant Page goes to Los Angeles to work on a television series. He uses his spare time to lend his expertise to rock band, Sorcery, whose act features duels between the King of the Wizards and the Prince of Darkness, with his cousin playing the Prince. Page helps the duo develop pyrotechnic magic tricks for their shows, and also finds himself in a budding romance with a magazine writer as he recounts to her his own exploits as a stuntman and daredevil as well as various stunts by other greats.

My rating: 6.5/10

Will I watch it again? Yeah, I can see that happening in another twenty years.

#43 on my on-going quest to watch every film from the amazing documentary, NOT QUITE HOLLYWOOD: THE WILD, UNTOLD STORY OF OZPLOITATION! (2008)

If you dig the whole stuntman scene then this is right up your alley. You almost wouldn't suspect that Grant Page is not an actor but a stuntman (well, until he starts doing a shitload of stunts). He does a great job on both fronts. He's very charismatic and his enthusiasm is contagious. There's enough stunts to keep anyone like me happy but that's only half the picture.



It's split between two worlds, the stunts on and off the set and the band Sorcery (a real rock group with a Spinal Tap vibe) as they perform on stage. They put on quite a show. Their rock music is fine but it's their wizard show, complete with smoke, fire and magic, that take the focus. Sometimes it can feel overstayed but overall, STUNT ROCK is an unusual and interesting film that I'm sure I'll have to check up on in a few years.