The preeminent but sensationalistic book on black metal, Lords of Chaos, is being made into a movie. Black metal lovers will cringe upon hearing that Jackson Rathbone, best known for his role in Twilight, will play Varg Vikernes, also known as Count Grishnackh.
Vikernes, if you’ve never heard of him, is founder of black metal band Burzum and a church arsonist currently serving time in prison for the murder of his bandmate Euronymous (born Øystein Aarseth). He also is a fairly prolific writer, with numerous books, stories and articles espousing his controversial ideologies.
Funny, then, that the film “will be a story of youth and youthful energy” and “will fall under the teen film category,” according to producer Stuart Pollok (via Blabbermouth via The Daily Swarm). Wait – it will also be “a psychological horror film.” Okay.
Per Blabbermouth, Vikernes was less than pleased about the contents of Lords of Chaos; in a lengthy 2004 statement, he described the book as “a pool of mud” and said “the authors have managed to fill the heads of a generation of metal fans with lies. What could have been a righteous revolt has been made into some pathetic, embarrassing, brain-dead, impotent and traditional poser-culture best exemplified by bands like DIMMU BORGIR — and indeed VENOM!”