Directed by Ryan Wise Music by Christopher Ward | Produced by Ryan Wise, Alan Higbee Edited by Ryan Wise | |
Starring Jon Mikl Thor, Mike Favata, Steve Price, Keith Zazzi, Rusty Hamilton Production
company Blue Lame 61 Productions | ||
I Am Thor is a documentary about the life of bodybuilder and rock musician Jon Mikl Thor of the band THOR. The film was directed by Ryan Wise and produced by Ryan Wise and Alan Higbee and had its world premiere at the 2015 Slamdance Film Festival.
Contents
Plot
I am Thor is the story of Jon Mikl Thor, body builder, actor, and musician. During the "hair metal band" period of the 1980s he was the front man in the band Thor. Thor was known for his over-the-top theatrics with elaborate costumes and props, many of which he used in displays of strength. The band had a tumultuous career, and disbanded in 1987. The film documents the ups and downs of the performer's career, with filming beginning in 2001 when Thor was making a comeback. The film shows his revival when his music has been picked up by Northern European metal fans. In interviews, Thor speaks candidly of his earlier wild and strange career and many record deals.
Release
After premiering at the Slamdance Film Festival in January 2015 the film then went on to screen at film festivals including Florida Film Festival, Calgary Underground FIlm Festival, Brooklyn Film Festival, New Zealand International Film Festival, and the Fantasia International Film Festival where it won the Audience Award for Best Documentary.
It was picked up for worldwide distribution by MPI Media Group where it was released in theaters and video-on-demand on November 20, 2015. To coincide with this release, Jon Mikl Thor went on a US tour of major cities, screening the new film followed by a live concert.
The film was released on DVD and Blu-Ray in the United States on January 19, 2016.
The film was released on DVD, Blu-ray, and VOD in Canada on March 11, 2016.
The film was released on Netflix in USA, Canada, and Scandinavia in June, 2016.
Reception
The film has received high acclaim in many reviews, receiving a 100% rating on Rotten Tomatoes. Screen Anarchy called it "a very winning documentary." Audiences everywhere named I Am Thor one of the 10 Best Documentaries of 2015. The Hollywood Reporter called it "an entertainingly eccentric doc".