Co-written by Raymond Burton Estes
On 17 July 2024, punk rock supergroup OFF! screened the world premiere of their psychedelic, punk rock sci-fi film Free LSD at Chicago’s Music Box Theatre. Unlike their sold-out show at Lincoln Hall on 18 July 2024, there were only about 85 attendees in the cinema’s largest room which seats 750. It’s unclear why so few showed up for the movie’s opening night, but they clearly missed out! Much like the band’s existence, the film developed into a trippy, chaotic explosive climax!
The film’s website explains that Keith Morris takes an experimental drug to remedy his erectile dysfunction to satisfy a younger woman, which opened the gate to a parallel universe in which he’s the singer for Off! and the target of an AI species dead set on preventing the band from recording a new album. Oh, and in addition to breaking boundaries with a new record, Off! are responsible for awakening human consciousness and saving the world!
“We had so many roadblocks and hurdles it was like there were points in time where we can’t do this.”
-Morris talks about making the film.
The film is a cinematic reimagining of the band’s formation and importance to the music community but it’s also a coming-of-age tale of four grown men – Keith Morris (vocals), Dimitri Coats (guitar), Autry Fulbright II (bass), and DH Peligro (drums) – escaping the doldrums and disappointments of their lives to achieve their full potential and save the world through the help of the Boner Doctor (David Yow of The Jesus Lizard) and his “antidote” (aka LSD). Like Clerks (1994) meets Altered States (1980) meets Repo Man (1984), this film is sure to become a “midnight movie” cult classic.
After the film, there was a short question and answer session led by local freelance writer David B. Anthony in which Morris, Coats, Fulbright, and actor Chelsea Debo (who plays Keith’s love interest, Cici) shared insights and anecdotes about the making of the film.
“Can you give the background of the film? When the did the idea spark and what of the initial premise is what we just saw on the screen tonight?”
-David B Anthony leading the Q&A.
Coats explained that the film was born out of the dissolution of Off!’s original lineup and previous film-making effort and that they made it because they were determined to do it and Morris declared that “we have to make the movie.”
“When I read a special script, I was like I have to do this movie and how can I make this happen, it’s just not my kind of music but I remember pulling every string to make it happen.”
-Debo expressing her interest in the role of Cici.
Morris explained that they overcame roadblocks and hurdles, including band lineup changes and financial woes, to make this film because they were “reaching for something…and each time we recorded an album, we set a bar for ourselves… and finally we set a bar we that probably won’t ever get to again but…we had to reach even higher to make the movie. And, for me, it’s like my proudest moment.” Fulbright added, “my only prerequisite was that I would get shot in the movie.”
Off! drummer at the time, Justin Brown, was unable to appear in the film due to other commitments, so longtime friend Peligro stepped in to complete their mission. The film is dedicated to their longtime friend and cast member, Peligro, who endured chemotherapy for lung cancer during the shooting of the film and later died in 2022 due to head trauma.
“My only prerequisite was that I would get shot in the movie.”
-Fulbright
Coats, the director, credits the team of veteran filmmakers, actors, and musicians with making it possible. And, “in all honesty, Christopher Raymond‘s beautiful cinematography coupled with Paul Buhl‘s and Jonathan P. Shaw‘s editing, makes the film actually worth viewing and spending time with” Coats states. It’s also worth noting that Coats’ directing shows he has a promising future in film, should he decide to continue down this path. The movie has a slow start but picks up and mixes scripted narrative and music performance to showcase the band and their potential to save all of us.
“I promise we will make the movie even if we have to shoot it on an iPhone”.
-Coats talking to Morris.
But if being an Off! fan is not enough to entice you to watch this film, then the cast of punk rock luminaries surely will! You’ll see Chris D. (The Flesh Eaters), Don Bolles (Germs), Davey Havok (AFI), Angelo Moore (Fishbone), DH Peligro (Dead Kennedys), David Yow (The Jesus Lizard), Rob Zabrecky (Possum Dixon), and Zander Schloss (Circle Jerks). Comedian and musician Jack Black also features in the movie, as he has in several of the band’s music videos.
If you’re a punk rock and midnight movie junkie, this film will get you Off!
Go see them as they continue their screening with Q&As through 7 August in California.
Music Box Theatre in Chicago hosted OFF!’s premier screening of FREE LSD.