Heavy Metal (1981) - B-17

From the 1981 Canadian-American animated film Heavy Metal.

VIEWER DISCRETION IS ADVISED, video contains scenes of extreme graphic violence and gore that may be disturbing or distressing to some viewers.

[gridlore]

When the pilot stumbles into the plane graveyard, you see a twin-engine plane with a circular antenna on top of the cockpit. That's a Lockheed Model 10 Electra. The plane flown by Amelia Earhart on he attempt to fly around the world. A nice little touch, I thought.

[Cyberleader]

The plane graveyard appears to exist outside of time as evidenced by the fact that a jet is present. Really adds an extra dimension of weirdness to the scene

[charlesborden]

To this day, even after almost forty years, anytime I hear this song, my first thought is of B-17's flying through flak.

[isaacschmitt]

I love the attention to detail in the B-17 throughout this. The intercom system, the bomb bay, even the navigator station that most people would probably not think to include. Also captures the horror of being a B-17 crew member - before, of course, the orb hits and the dead rise.

[paulvonlettow-vorbeck]

Thing is, even without the supernatural stuff this is horrifying.

[URProductions]

Heavy Metal was made just about as long ago now as WWII was when Heavy Metal was made.

[ArchTeryx]

One of the interesting things to me (besides the horror story, which was excellent) was that these bombers weren't attacking Germany, but were likely involved in the Battle of the Bismark Sea, an attack on Japanese transport ships. While the battle was successful the B-17s were attacked repeatedly by A6M Zeroes and very heavy antiaircraft cover, which wreaked havoc until the defenses could be scattered. That's probably why this bomber was so heavily damaged; they were going up not against Bf-109s but Zeroes. It's also why when the captain abandoned the bomber he landed on a small island.

[dayofthesnakes]

1:59. I love the wind sound effect they did here with no other sounds. Just horrifying.

[whatsitmatter]

I still remember spotting this jewel of a movie as a young adolescent boy in the 90s. I awoke at like 2 am and walked into my stepmoms room to find her asleep and this scene was playing... on HBO I think. I became immediately transfixed. Sitting in the darkness I watched till the end of the film. Became an instant favorite. Now at 38 it makes me nostalgic. A much simpler time that today almost seems like a dream. Sometimes I feel like we crossed into some parallel universe

[jonahfalcon]

It feels like a prelude to a better story than the rest of Heavy Metal.

[HarleyGoat]

I still remember where I lived, seeing the advertising for Heavy Metal. I made it a 'life mission' to see it at the theater. I did, opening day in Denver. Loved every minute of it!

[knucklesdragon]

AT LAST. The full uncut scene as it was originally presented! Thank you!

[peanuts_ma]

Favorite segment from this old gem. Poor guy parachutes from zombies only to end up on an island full of them. Music adds a nice touch.

[torytellstales]

I gotta say even without the zombies, this situation would still be horrifying, that would make me have some serious survival guilt if I was that guy in the plane surrounded by all his fallen comrades 😔

[mr.k]

who else thinks this would be a great concept for a horror movie?

[thoughtfuldevil]

Easily the best part of the movie. Hell, it should've been the whole movie.

[TTony-tudm]

One of the most badass tunes of the 80s

[jassykat]

the entire thing is a Masterpiece but that first minute is... just amazing.

[Lagmaster]

We need more war films with this kind of soundtrack. I think rock 'n roll and heavy metal really emphasises the macabery of war better than huge pompus orchestral scores.

[KaLuno]

This still makes me feel like I did when I first beat CoD:WaW while home alone at night and was scared shitless by the introduction of their “fun new mini game”.