SPILL FILM REVIEW: SUBVERSIVES | THE HISTORY OF LOWEST OF THE LOW

SUBVERSIVES | THE HISTORY OF LOWEST OF THE LOW

APOLOGUE PRODUCTIONS

SEPTEMBER 20, 2023

Named from a track of the Lowest Of The Low’s absolutely legendary 1991 debut album Shakespeare My Butt…, the documentary Subversives – The History of Lowest Of The Low has finally made its debut. The independently produced, directed, and funded film from Simon Head, the first featuring the Toronto band, was years in the making.

Subversives begins at the inception, pre-LOTL, giving insight into the foundations of the band and original members. It begins with punk-rock based Social Insecurity and then pop-forward Popular Front, where Head digs deep, unearthing interviews with past and present members and supporters, providing details that even the most dedicated, well-read fans will find a surprise. Head injects many short interview and performance clips throughout the film, avoiding lengthy drawn-out portions which many documentaries are guilty of, which can be just plain uninteresting and bland. Instead, Head bounces from clip to clip at a steady pace that helps to keep the audience on its toes, which works quite well for this documentary.

Head extracts a lot of really great insight, stories, and details from LOTL’s initial foursome, Ron Hawkins, David Alexander, Stephen Stanley and the enigmatic John Arnott. Head also recruits an impressive, wide array of promoters, fellow musicians, producers, supporters, and managers for their personal memories of their involvement with the band over the years.

Subversives documents the Canadian indie scene, more specifically the Toronto one, of the early ‘90s in an important historical manner. It demonstrates the independent direction that the band embarked upon, focusing only slightly on the perceived mistakes made with the band’s complicated corporate rock relationship, Head nicely documents the temporary demise and the ultimate resurrection of the band.

The film is rightfully dedicated to the departed Dave “Bookie” Bookman and William “Skinny” Tenn, early supporters of LOTL. Simon Head successfully delivers his well-deserved love letter to Lowest Of The Low, documenting their legacy for posterity, while opening a portal for potential new audiences to experience the majesty of Lowest Of The Low and their unique catalogue of music.

Artist Links

Director/Producer Simon Head Links