Synopsis

Having become perhaps the biggest band on the planet, Metallica were imploding: bassist Jason Newsted quit, Lars Ulrich and James Hetfield were butting heads, and Kirk Hammett - well, he just wanted to play some cool solos. What’s a rich heavy metal group to do? Hire a therapist, of course! And if he’s "performance-enhancing coach" Phil Towle, you get a guy who tries to get inside your head, write your lyrics, join your band.

Bottom line: the guy gets icky-close. But things end happily: Hetfield goes to rehab, Lars sells some artwork for big bucks, the band hires Rob Trujillo to play bass and they finish their not-so-good album and gig at a prison. Poor Kirk, however, never gets to play those solos.

Best bit

Former Metallica guitarist Dave Mustaine, kicked out of the band for excessive drinking, confronts Ulrich and speaks his mind.

Metalness

Some Kind Of Monster isn’t a rock-out-with-your-cock out good time. It’s a marriage counseling doc, with Metallica playing the husbands and wives.

Available?

It's on 'collector’s edition DVD' (what does ‘collector’s edition’ actually mean? My kids have a ‘collector’s edition’ of Daddy Day Care!) or you can watch it on YouTube.

Buy

HMV | Amazon