Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Brisk
- Intensity
- Strong
- Complexity
- Easy to follow
- Violence
- Mild
- surreal
- irreverent
- campy
- cult movie night
- retro animation marathon
What critics said
Critics generally regard the film as a flawed but highly imaginative and ahead-of-its-time cult animation celebrated for its ambitious visual style and rock-music sensibility.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
The story takes place in an apocalyptic future shaped by punk bands, ruined cities, and underground music culture.
Mok seeks Angel's singing voice specifically to summon a demon from another dimension.
Its surreal animation, grotesque character designs, and maximalist rock aesthetic distinguish it from mainstream animated features.
Angel, Omar, and their band are defined by punk performance, while Mok commodifies music for occult power.
Films like Rock & Rule, and why
Heavy Metal
cult animated science fiction with surreal world-building, punk energy, and outsider musical identity
The Spine of Night
adult-oriented animated fantasy blending rock music, dystopian imagery, and supernatural menace
Wizards
stylized post-apocalyptic animation with irreverent humor, eccentric characters, and heightened visual design
The Point
genre-bending animated fantasy with cult appeal, musical elements, and dark comic sensibility
Movie Details
- Director
- Clive A. Smith
- Release Date
- 1983-04-15
- Runtime
- 77 min
- Rating
- 5.9 / 10 (101)
Cast
- Don Francks
- Lou Reed
- Susan Roman
- Debbie Harry
- Paul Le Mat
- Robin Zander
- Dan Hennessey
- Chris Wiggins
- Greg Duffell
- Brent Titcomb
Common questions
- What is Rock & Rule about?
- A punk band battles a flamboyant occult superstar in a surreal animated wasteland where rock music can open a doorway to another dimension.
- What is Rock & Rule like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of Rock & Rule as brisk, its intensity as strong and its storytelling as easy to follow.
- Is Rock & Rule violent?
- Only mildly. Ember rates the violence in Rock & Rule as mild.
- What did critics think of Rock & Rule?
- Critics generally regard the film as a flawed but highly imaginative and ahead-of-its-time cult animation celebrated for its ambitious visual style and rock-music sensibility.
- Which films are like Rock & Rule?
- Films with a similar feel include Heavy Metal, The Spine of Night, Wizards, and The Point.
- How long is Rock & Rule?
- Rock & Rule runs 77 minutes.
