Dark Comedy · Road Film · America, 1989
Saving the Metal Man
In development
In the middle of the 1989 Satanic Panic, a fiery evangelical preacher and the frontman of one of the world's most notorious heavy metal bands find themselves on an unexpected journey that challenges everything they believe.
Synopsis
Set during the hysteria of 1989's Satanic Panic, Saving the Metal Man is a darkly comic, emotionally charged road film about performance, belief and the fallout of public spectacle.
Bob Larson is a fiery evangelical radio host whose crusade against Satan made him a religious celebrity — until his empire starts to collapse. Donations fade, his marriage crumbles, and even Bob begins to doubt the devil he built his fame on.
Meanwhile, across the divide, Slayer frontman Tom Araya is in the middle of a thunderous tour filled with mock-Satanic theatrics. Behind the scenes, he is burdened by guilt and the fear that fans are taking the act too seriously.
When Spin magazine orchestrates a stunt — sending Bob on tour with Slayer for a headline-grabbing exposé — the result is a combustible clash of ideologies, egos and image. As the tour unravels, both men start to see through the personas they have been performing. Each has become a symbol for something he no longer fully believes. Each must confront the unintended consequences of his message.
Then tragedy strikes: a teenage girl is murdered in a supposed Satanic ritual, with Slayer's lyrics cited by the killers. The line between art and responsibility disappears.
Saving the Metal Man is about two men forced to confront the damage their words have caused — and whether they have the courage to speak the truth before it's too late.
- Director
- Tony Tilse
- Writer
- William Meade
Director
Tony Tilse
Award-Winning Australian Director
Tony Tilse is an award-winning Australian director whose extensive body of work spans feature films, television drama, crime thrillers, historical stories and science fiction. Recognised for his visual storytelling, strong narrative instincts and ability to draw compelling performances from actors, Tony has established himself as one of Australia's experienced and versatile screen directors.
He received the Australian Directors' Guild Award for Best Direction of a Television Drama Series and Mini-Series for his work on the acclaimed crime series Underbelly in 2008. His association with the franchise continued across multiple seasons, helping shape one of Australia's most successful television drama series.
His directing credits include the feature film Miss Fisher and the Crypt of Tears, bringing the much-loved television detective to the big screen, as well as the acclaimed television films The Postcard Bandit, based on the extraordinary true story of Australian bank robber Brendan Abbott, Murder in the Outback, and Scorched, inspired by Australia's devastating 2001 bushfires.
Tony has also directed episodes of internationally recognised productions including the cult science-fiction series Farscape, Ash vs Evil Dead, Wolf Creek, Harrow and Miss Fisher's Murder Mysteries. His work demonstrates an impressive range, from atmospheric period drama and psychological suspense to action, adventure and dark comedy.
With decades of experience working across Australian and international productions, Tony brings a filmmaker's understanding of performance, pacing, atmosphere and visual composition to every project. His ability to balance complex storytelling with compelling cinematic entertainment makes him a distinctive creative voice in contemporary screen filmmaking.
Writer
William Meade
Screenwriter | Playwright | Storyteller
William Meade is a screenwriter and playwright whose work explores compelling human stories, complex relationships and the extraordinary circumstances that reveal the best and worst of human nature.
With a creative background spanning music, theatre, film and television, William brings a distinctive understanding of storytelling, character development and the emotional connection between an audience and a story. His writing is informed by a lifelong involvement in the performing arts and an instinct for combining thought-provoking subject matter with humor, humanity and commercial appeal.
His current film projects include Saving the Metal Man, a provocative feature exploring the collision between the world of heavy metal and religious fundamentalism, and Invisible Threads, a story of empowerment and personal transformation. He is also involved in the development of Hearts of Stone, a historical drama based on the extraordinary story of Dr. Ossian Sweet and the landmark 1925 Detroit murder trials.
In theatre, William is developing new stage works and adaptations, including the theatrical adaptation of the acclaimed film As Good As It Gets. His approach to writing is rooted in the belief that the most memorable stories entertain while challenging audiences to see the world, and each other, a little differently.
Whether writing for the screen or the stage, William is drawn to stories that have something to say, characters that stay with us and narratives that connect with audiences across generations and cultures.
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