Deep Dive: Breaking a Monster (2015)
Film Lens
Breaking a Monster is a documentary directed by Luke Meyer that follows the teen heavy metal band Unlocking the Truth during a pivotal year. The film captures their experiences as they take on manager Alan Sacks, known for his work with The Jonas Brothers, and sign a $1.8 million record deal with Sony Music. It chronicles their North American tour and the recording of their first album, providing an observational look at the lives of band members Alec Atkins, Malcom Brickhouse, and Jarad Dawkins.
The film addresses themes such as child-stardom, racial representation, and the realities of the music industry. It is a continuation of a previous short film made by Meyer when the band members were just 11 years old. The documentary was produced by Black Label Media and SeeThink Films, and it premiered at the South By Southwest Film Festival on March 14, 2015.
Why Watch
- •Meet the teen band Unlocking the Truth.
- •Follow their $1.8 million deal with Sony Music.
- •See their live concert at the Museum of the Moving Image.
Did You Know
•Unlocking the Truth signed a $1.8 million record deal with Sony Music.
•The film premiered at the South By Southwest Film Festival on March 14, 2015.
•The documentary won the Jury Prize at Sound Unseen and Best Music Documentary at the UK Music Video Awards.
•The film has a 100% rating on Rotten Tomatoes.
Perfect For
Heavy metal fansDocumentary enthusiastsMusic industry insights