Coming of age comes in all types of stories. They are not just limited to people in their teens, either, though that is the most common variation. They never get old because, at any time, there are those who can relate to the story. With award season over, for now, the movie world goes back to normal, sort of, but what is considered normal has changed.

Nowadays, it is normal to have movies that are not shown on the big screen, but are still viewed and accessed by millions of viewers, thanks to Netflix. When I first began watching original films on Netflix, what I noticed is that they were typically very high in quality, but short on story, in terms of character development and emotional content. As time has gone by, things have begun to shift, in a positive way.

The latest, in the realm of coming of age and straight to Netflix, for immediate streaming, is “Metal Lords.” It is brought to us by the producers of ‘Game of Thrones’ and the “Harold & Kumar” franchise. It is, also, written by D.B. Weiss, who took part in the aforementioned hit series. The direction duties were fulfilled by Peter Sollett (“Freeheld”).

The majority of our story is about a new, metal music duo, comprised of Jaeden Martell (“It Chapter Two”), as Kevin Schlieb, and Adrian Greensmith, as Hunter Sylvester. It appears, at least in the beginning, that Hunter is the true metalhead and Kevin is the novice, still cutting his teeth on the vibe. Kevin is, also, in marching band. Perhaps, he is trying to fit in by remaking himself into a real musician. While he is out and about with the rest of the marching band, he witnesses a tirade from an off-key clarinet player, Emily Spector, played by Isis Hainsworth (“Misbehaviour”). Sooner or later, she will play a significant factor in, not just the metal band, but the relationship between Kevin and Hunter.

As the friendship between Kevin and Hunter evolves, so does the romance between Kevin and Emily. The common theme seems to become the fragility of teenagers, based on upbringing and personal experiences. Kevin has the most normal life and Hunter and Emily have had to endure hardships, which have impacted them greatly. Maybe the intrigue of metal music has served as an escape from reality, for all of them.

As Kevin and Emily grow closer, Kevin and Hunter pull apart. Emily is getting stronger, but Hunter is falling apart. The common denominator, evidently, is Kevin. They have all been acting out in some shape or form, but what happens when those actions become more volatile? It all seemed fine and well when the three were acting in conjunction, but once any of them are left alone, things become more dangerous, especially for Hunter.

As I mentioned before, the trio eventually comes together. I have to admit, the addition of a cello to a metal group is interesting and it, somehow, works. As likable as everyone was, the one I liked the most was Emily. The actress showed a certain vulnerability, which generated a great sense of sympathy. She reminded me a lot of an actress who was prominent from the ‘80s and ‘90s, Nancy Travis.

The story did not always flow as well as it did in certain segments, but the primary actors were consistently easy to root for, even if they were not particularly original, considering the genre/sub-genre. That is the key. If you make a film with relatable characters, whom the audience can connect with, you will provide an enjoyable experience. I am glad that Netflix is progressing with stories like this one.

Director: Peter Sollett
Screenwriter: D.B. Weiss
Starring: Jaeden Martell, Isis Hainsworth, Adrian Greensmith, Brett Gelman as Dr. Sylvester and Joe Manganiello, Sufe Bradshaw as Dean Swanson and Noah Urrea as Clay Moss
Production: Bighead Littlehead
Distributor: Netflix
Release: April 8th, 2022