Metal fan gets heavy over film

Police were called after a heavy metal fan threatened Hamilton cinema staff with a walking stick when they cancelled a screening of a concert due to technical difficulties.

More than 30 heavy metal fans were turned away at the door of the screening of The Big Four at EVENT Cinemas Chartwell on Thursday night.

The four-hour film featuring performances from heavy metal heavyweights Metallica, Slayer, Megadeath and Anthrax was cancelled due to technical issues the cinema encountered with the "downloading" of the film.

One frustrated fan threatened staff with a walking stick, but was later calmed down by police.

Around 130 fans bought tickets for the screening. Cinema staff were able to contact around three-quarters of them before the scheduled 8pm screening, but about 30 turned up.

Hamilton metal fan Jono Scott was one of those who felt "nothing else mattered" when told at the cinema entrance that the screening would not continue.

"There was a lot of bogans there getting all fired up," he said.

"Everyone was [drinking] before it, so they were pretty gutted."

EVENT Cinemas general manger Jane Hastings said The Big Four was unable to be screened due the late arrival of the screening master copy from overseas, and issues with downloading the film on to the cinema's hard drive.

Ms Hastings said she understood the fans' frustration, but was confident staff "did everything they possibly could" to contact those who had bought tickets.

"We spoke to the majority of the people who had booked in and turned them away."

They were offered a full refund of their $33 tickets, as well as free tickets to a movie of their choice at EVENT Cinemas Chartwell last night and free entry to today's 8pm replacement screening of The Big Four, also at Chartwell.

Mr Scott, however, still had a sour taste in his mouth.

"I've got other plans for Saturday, so it looks like I'm going to miss the concert now," he said.

Another planned screening of the heavy metal concert – at the WestCity EVENT cinema in Waitakere – was also postponed after similar downloading problems.

- © Fairfax NZ News