For anyone old enough to remember, “Satanic panic” thrived in the US in the ’80s and ’90s — but that’s mostly what it was, unfounded hysteria. The founders of Norway’s supposedly Satan-worshiping black metal scene actually delivered on some nightmarish acts, though, as depicted in the fascinatingly grim “Lords of Chaos,” adapted from the 2003 book.

Jonas Akerlund's latest film is based on the sordid true-life rise and fall of the Norwegian black-metal band Mayhem.

Rory Culkin stars in this story of True Norwegian Black Metal, which is truly not for the faint of heart

Bloody killings and Satanic rituals more than black metal are the focus of Jonas Akerlund's "Lords of Chaos."

R • 1 hour 58 min • 2018

Based on real events, this story of the angry and excitable players in Norway’s extreme rock scene is a terrifying ordeal

Talk to "true" Norwegian black metal fans and they'll tell you Michael Moynihan and Didrik Søderlind's book about the scene's origins and criminality is a bunch of baloney (but in much harsher words). It's interesting because the facts behind a series of church burnings, the suicide of a lead singer, and two subsequently high profile

Despite decent performances from its two leads, "Lords of Chaos" fails to give proper gravity to the horrific, true story of Norwegian black metal.

As a general rule, biopics fall one step below porn in film hierarchy. They purport to tell factual stories about real people and events, while brazenly changing significant elements for convenience and dramatic effect. All as if the caveat of “based on” absolves the filmmakers of accuracy. It’s not what happened; it’s some writer’s interpretation

Norway's most infamous musical export gets it due in Jonas Åkerlund's drama.

The true crime story that made black metal truly sinister

Hail Åkerlund! The Swedish director has made a pitch-perfect black metal dramedy about real-life head-bangers who lost their minds.