METALLICA's Four-Million-Dollar 'Monster' Hits The Road

METALLICA's much-anticipated documentary, "Metallica: Some Kind of Monster" — an unusual look at the heavy metal band undergoing group therapy to help its members through addiction, fatherhood and "near-total disintegration" while recording their first original studio album in six years — cost a whopping $4 million to produce, according to a recent article in the New York Times.

Elektra Records, who were initially backing the film financially, pulled out of the project after filming stretched into two years as METALLICA frontman James Hetfield left the band for rehab, the album was on hold and the filmmakers kept shooting. "The budget kept escalating," Joe Berlinger, one of the filmmakers, told the paper. "What was going to be a one-hour special of them in therapy continued for two years."

The band bought out Elektra's ownership for $2 million and let the filmmakers complete the film. The band had ultimate control over the finished work but changed almost nothing, the filmakers said. "We've really grown to love them," Berlinger's partner Bruce Sinofsky said.

Following its triumphant premiere at the Sundance Film Festival in Park City, Utah two weeks ago, "Some Kind of Monster" will be shown at the following festivals:

European Film Market - Berlin, Germany

Friday, February 6 - Cinestar 1, 17:30
Sunday, February 8 - Cinestar 7, 09:30
Wednesday, February 11 - Cinestar 6, 12:00

Santa Barbara International Film Festival
Saturday, February 7 - Metro, 11:00pm

True/False Film Festival
Saturday, February 14 - Missouri Theater, 4:00pm

South By Southwest Film Festival
Times TBA

San Francisco International Film Festival
Times TBA

Athens International Film Festival
Times TBA