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THE ART OF DESTRUCTION

By Ili JELUSIC, Denise DÖRNER

UCM.ONE GMBH - as SALES All rights, World / DISTR Theatrical, TV, DVD-video, VOD, Airline, World, GERMANY

Documentary - Completed 2025

Destruction, founded in 1982, is one of Germany’s oldest and most active thrash metal bands. As part of the “Big Four” with Kreator, Sodom, and Tankard, they shaped the genre. The Art of Destruction, a documentary by Ili Jelusic and Denise Dörner, offers a unique behind-the-scenes look.

- Year of production
- 2025
- Genres
- Documentary, True Story
- Countries
- GERMANY
- Languages
- GERMAN, ENGLISH
- Budget
- N/A
- Duration
- 71 mn
- Director(s)
- Ili JELUSIC, Denise DÖRNER
- Writer(s)
- Ili JELUSIC, Denise DÖRNER
- Cast
- Mike SIFRINGER, Martin FURIA, Randy BLACK, Damir ESKIC, Tom ANGELRIPPER, Thomas SUCH, Marcel SCHIRMER
- Producer(s)
- Ili JELUSIC (HeavyMedia)
- Synopsis
- For decades, Destruction has been a defining force in thrash metal. But as singer Schmier and guitarist Mike enter their mid-50s, their journey is nearing its final chapters. Before the curtain falls, they dream of one last grand tour, a worldwide spectacle alongside their legendary peers: Sodom, Kreator, and Tankard. Yet, as they chase this ambition, fate intervenes with unforeseen challenges, putting not only their careers but their very livelihoods at risk.
  "The Art of Destruction," directed by Denise Dörner and Ili Jelusic, provides an intimate, unfiltered look at Schmier and his bandmates as they navigate a path fraught with struggle and determination. Over five years, the filmmakers shadowed Destruction, capturing a story beyond the conventional documentary approach. Rather than relying on interviews, the film immerses the audience in raw, vérité-style footage, portraying the highs and lows of life as a heavy metal musician.
  From the sweat-drenched intensity of underground clubs to the electrifying magnitude of open-air festival stages, the documentary showcases the unrelenting passion that fuels Destruction. Schmier, ever the steadfast leader, remains committed to his convictions, even as obstacles mount.
  The genesis of this film traces back to 2018, when Denise and Ili were filming an aftermovie for the "Dong Open Air" festival under the banner of "Heavy Metal Home TV." It was there that they first crossed paths with Schmier, leading to an in-depth exploration of the band's world. Initially envisioned as a testament to Schmier’s ambition to unite the titans of German thrash metal for a historic tour, the documentary took an unexpected, more poignant turn as real-life struggles emerged.
  Despite these challenges, the decision was unanimous: the story had to be told. "The Art of Destruction" is not just a film about music—it is a testament to perseverance, resilience, and the unbreakable spirit of those who refuse to fade away quietly. It is the raw, undiluted chronicle of a band that refuses to surrender, proving that metal is more than just music—it is a way of life.