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Music comedy

Heavy Trip (2018): Cast, Ratings, Box Office & Plot

Heavy Trip (2018) movie poster

Heavy Trip is a 2018 music comedy directed by Jukka Vidgren and Juuso Laatio, starring Johannes Holopainen as Turo Moilanen, Samuli Jaskio and Minka Kuustonen. It runs 1 hour 32 minutes and earned $30,351 worldwide on a $3 million budget. Critics gave it 94% on Rotten Tomatoes and 72 on Metacritic, and IMDb users rate it 7.0/10.

IMDb rating
7.0/10
Rotten Tomatoes
94%
worldwide gross
$30.4K
Echo Score
81
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Heavy Trip (2018) movie poster
Released
Runtime
1h 32m (92 min)
Directors
Jukka Vidgren and Juuso Laatio
Genres
Comedy , Music
Original language
Finnish
Budget
$3M
After the credits
No No extra scene
The story

What Is Heavy Trip About?

The premise of Heavy Trip without spoilers. The whole story is in the plot summary further down.

Stuck in a dead-end life, Turo finds solace in his lead vocals for the heavy metal band Impaled Rektum. A sudden visit from Norway offers a chance to pursue his musical ambitions. He impulsively steals a van and sets off on a chaotic journey with an inexperienced drummer and a peculiar passenger – a corpse. The unlikely group faces unexpected challenges as they chase their heavy metal dreams across the countryside.

Heavy Trip Themes & Keywords

· 50 tags
  • road trip
  • heavy metal band
  • heavy metal
  • small town
  • metal festival
  • band
  • death
  • death of band member
  • reindeer
  • lapland finland
  • norway
  • border
+38 more
  • bazooka
  • friend
  • friendship
  • coffin
  • psychiatric patient
  • music festival
  • border patrol
  • vomiting
  • police officer
  • rock band
  • demo tape
  • blood
  • blood bath
  • viking
  • viking ship
  • grave
  • grave robbing
  • parody
  • rock 'n' roll
  • taivalkoski finland
  • burial
  • northern finland
  • lead singer
  • guitarist
  • drummer
  • bass player
  • northern norway
  • heavy metal singer
  • rock festival
  • funeral
  • song writing
  • van
  • speed camera
  • throwing up on stage
  • stage fright
  • throwing up
  • covered in blood
  • rocket launcher
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Cast & crew

Heavy Trip Cast & Characters

Johannes Holopainen leads the cast as Turo Moilanen, with Samuli Jaskio as Lotvonen and Minka Kuustonen as Miia. Directed by Jukka Vidgren and Juuso Laatio; 14 actors are credited in all.

Also Starring in Heavy Trip

· 10 more
From the directors

More from Jukka Vidgren and Juuso Laatio

One more film directed by Jukka Vidgren and Juuso Laatio: Heavier Trip.

Ratings

Heavy Trip Reviews & Ratings

Critics gave Heavy Trip 94% on Rotten Tomatoes and 72 on Metacritic, and IMDb users rate it 7.0/10. Our Echo Score gives it 81/100, strongest in sensory experience (88) and weakest in story & flow (65).

81 /100

Heavy Trip Echo Score Breakdown

The primary strength of Heavy Trip lies in its spirited fusion of absurdist comedy and ensemble dynamics. Critics note that the film’s playful direction embraces rural Finnish eccentricities through a spunky approach, while users highlight its emotional beats and musical authenticity. Though the narrative arc follows familiar road-movie conventions, its energetic tone and reliable humor create consistent engagement. These elements combine to deliver a broadly appealing, affably goofy experience that resonates with both metal fans and general audiences.

Our own 0–100 rating, built from five aspects: art, character, story, the sensory experience and how well a film rewatches.

  • Art & Craft 78

    In terms of art and craft, Heavy Trip’s direction and production design effectively balance absurdist humor with cohesive visual styling. The film employs measured editing to sustain comedic timing, and its rural Finnish settings are rendered with consistent color tones. A few pacing irregularities emerge in later episodes of slapstick, but overall the craft remains engaging. The net impression is a confidently staged comedy.

  • Character & Emotion 85

    When it comes to character and emotion, Heavy Trip assembles a likable ensemble whose interactions generate authentic warmth. Performances convey sincere camaraderie, and many viewers respond to the earnest portrayal of underdog musicians. The chemistry among the band members feels consistently grounded despite absurd scenarios. In summary, the film’s character work anchors its humor with relatable emotional stakes.

  • Story & Flow 65

    Regarding story and flow, Heavy Trip relies on a familiar road-movie structure that it executes with enthusiastic energy. The pacing alternates between lively set pieces and slower transitional moments, creating occasional unevenness. Originality arises mainly from the absurdist metal milieu rather than plot twists. Overall, the narrative remains engaging but stops short of narrative innovation.

  • Sensory Experience 88

    In terms of sensory experience, Heavy Trip features a robust soundtrack and dynamic sound design that immerse viewers in its heavy metal world. The score and diegetic music underscore key comic and dramatic moments, while the visual style employs an understated color palette accentuating rural landscapes. Together, these elements create a cohesive audiovisual identity that enhances the film’s energetic tone.

  • Rewatch Factor 75

    When it comes to rewatch factor, Heavy Trip offers a consistently playful tone that supports repeat viewings. Audiences frequently cite the film’s memorable comedic set pieces and authentic musical interludes as reasons to revisit it. Although the plot may feel predictable on subsequent watches, the energetic performances and soundtrack sustain enjoyment. The net result is a reliably entertaining rewatch experience.

Plot

Heavy Trip Plot Summary

What happens in Heavy Trip from start to finish, spoilers included, with a timeline of 15 key events. The opening is below; the full summary is a 3-minute read.

Spoilers ahead

Turo Moilanen, an aspiring musician and mental health worker residing in a quaint village in Northern Finland, finds himself tangled in a web of ambition, love, and unexpected misadventures. He fronts a struggling extreme metal band that includes his dedicated friends: the drummer Jynkky, bassist Pasi, and guitarist Lotvonen. Despite their collective aspirations, the band grapples with a range of issues: a lack of agreement on a band name, Turo’s crippling stage fright that hinders their chances to tour, and Pasi constantly pointing out that Lotvonen’s riffs seem borrowed from other songs.

Full summary

The whole story of Heavy Trip, scene by scene

Read the full summary
Box office

Heavy Trip Box Office & Budget

Heavy Trip grossed $30,351 worldwide on a $3 million budget. $10,153 came from the US and Canada and $20,198 (67%) from the rest of the world.

2018 box office

Worldwide gross

$30.4K

US & Canada
$10.2K
International
$20.2K
Budget
$3M
US & Canada 33% Rest of the world 67%
Videos

Heavy Trip Trailers & Videos

The trailer of Heavy Trip.

HEAVY TRIP - Official U.S. HD Trailer
Quiz

How Well Do You Know Heavy Trip?

10 questions about the story, each with a hint if you get stuck. Pick an answer to see whether you were right.

Question 1 of 10

  1. Question 1: not answered
  2. Question 2: not answered
  3. Question 3: not answered
  4. Question 4: not answered
  5. Question 5: not answered
  6. Question 6: not answered
  7. Question 7: not answered
  8. Question 8: not answered
  9. Question 9: not answered
  10. Question 10: not answered

What is the name of Turo's band?

Details

Heavy Trip Also Known As

14 alternative titles, including “Bändi nimeltä Impaled Rektum” and “Impaled Rektum”.

Also known as
  • Bändi nimeltä Impaled Rektum
  • Impaled Rektum
  • A Band Called Impaled Rektum
  • Тяжёлая поездка
  • Хеви метъл пътешествие
  • 重金属囧途
  • 重金屬之旅
  • Heavy túra
  • En heavy resa
  • Ağır Gezi
  • 핀란드 메탈밴드
  • รอวันประกาศร๊อค
+2 more
  • Hevireis
  • מסע כבד

Seen Heavy Trip?

FAQ

Heavy Trip FAQ: Cast, Box Office & Runtime

Runtime, release date, director, cast, box office, ratings, post-credit scenes and language of Heavy Trip, each answered in a sentence.

How long is Heavy Trip?

Heavy Trip runs 1 hour 32 minutes (92 minutes).

When was Heavy Trip released?

Heavy Trip was released on October 5, 2018.

Who directed Heavy Trip?

Heavy Trip was directed by Jukka Vidgren and Juuso Laatio.

More films by Jukka Vidgren

Who is in the cast of Heavy Trip?

Heavy Trip stars Johannes Holopainen as Turo Moilanen, Samuli Jaskio as Lotvonen and Minka Kuustonen as Miia, among 14 credited actors.

How much did Heavy Trip make at the box office?

Heavy Trip grossed $30,351 worldwide ($10,153 domestic, $20,198 international) on a budget of $3 million.

How is Heavy Trip rated?

Heavy Trip has 7.0/10 on IMDb, 94% on Rotten Tomatoes, 72 on Metacritic and 69% on TMDB.

Does Heavy Trip have a post-credit scene?

No. Heavy Trip has no extra scene during or after the credits.

What language is Heavy Trip in?

The original language of Heavy Trip is Finnish.

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