The new horror-thriller The Retaliators has an official release date. From Better Noise Films, the movie has been acquired by CineLife Entertainment for its North American release with Trafalgar handling international screenings. The movie, which has garnered an impressive perfect score at Rotten Tomatoes, has been set for a worldwide theatrical release on Sept. 14, 2022.
In the film, per Better Noise Films: "An upstanding pastor uncovers a dark and twisted underworld as he searches for answers surrounding his daughter's brutal murder. A high-octane original soundtrack and cameos from some of the biggest names in rock music set the tone as this horror-thriller reveals a game of revenge played using a new set of rules."
The Retaliators stars Michael Lombardi (Rescue Me), Marc Menchaca (Ozark), and Joseph Gatt (Game of Thrones). Papa Roach frontman Jacoby Shaddix also makes his acting debut as one of the film's main stars. The Retaliators also includes cameos and music by Mötley Crüe’s Tommy Lee, Five Finger Death Punch’s Ivan Moody, Zoltan Bathory, and Chris Kael, Papa Roach, Jaya of The Hu, Spencer Charnas of Ice Nine Kills, Eva Under Fire’s Amanda Lyberg, Matt Brandyberry, Danny Case, Lance Dowdle, and Matt Madiro of From Ashes to New, Cory Marks, and Dan Murphy and Miles Franco of All Good Things.
Emmy-winning composers Kyle Dixon and Michael Stein (Stranger Things) also provide an original score. The original soundtrack will be available from Better Noise Music on Sept. 16. It is led by the Mötley Crüe single “The Retaliators” (written by the band's cofounder and bassist Nikki Sixx, featuring Danny Worsnop from Asking Alexandria, Spencer Charnas from Ice Nine Kills, and Matt Brandyberry from From Ashes to New); that releases on Aug. 5. Four singles from the film have reached #1 on Rock Radio since 2020, including: Papa Roach’s “The Ending,” Five Finger Death Punch’s “Darkness Settles In,” All Good Things’ “For the Glory featuring Hollywood Undead,” and Bad Wolves’ “Lifeline.”
Horror and Music Meet in The Retaliators
The summer tours for Mötley Crüe, Asking Alexandria, Five Finger Death Punch, Nothing More, The Hu, Papa Roach, Bad Wolves, and Eva Under Fire will all be featuring promotional materials for The Retaliators to help market the film. This strategy is an attempt to get fans of these bands to head out to the theaters with this music coming to the big screen.
“When combined, music and film create powerful emotional connections with audiences that go even deeper when combined with social media, radio and touring,” said Founder and CEO of Better Noise Allen Kovac in a statement. “As shown by Rocket Man, Bohemian Rhapsody, and The Dirt, social media, music streaming, radio and touring drive those connections even deeper, creating three to five fold increases in music consumption which, in turn, drives back to film and video streaming to complete the cycle.”
"We are excited to bring this critically-acclaimed thriller to cinemas,” added Bernadette McCabe, EVP Event Cinema and Exhibitor Relations at CineLife Entertainment. “This highly-anticipated release will give horror film fans the chance to experience the adrenalized, gore-soaked crowd pleaser that film festival audiences across the globe have been screaming about."
Kymberli Frueh, SVP Programming and Content Acquisitions of Trafalgar Releasing, also said, “How unique to see some of your favorite metal and rock idols perform in a horror film that’s destined to be a cult classic. We are thrilled to be a part of this ‘must see’ horror flick that’s sure to send audiences on a cinematic roller coaster ride and provide great Halloween costume ideas.”
The Retaliators will be released in theaters on Sept. 14, 2022.