A documentary about the sibling rivalry of Matt and Luke Goss
When you select a film called After the Screaming Stops at Fantastic Fest, you’re probably expecting some gruesome affair to unfold. This year, however, attendees were treated to something slightly different but no less enthralling. Most Americans will be unaware of the spectacular rise of Bros in the 1980s, a Wham-esque group led by twin brothers Matt and Luke Goss, who at the height of their fame dominated the pop charts across the globe, selling out stadiums and reaping sponsorship agreements, all before conflict between the pair precipitated their split. Nearly thirty years later, each of the brothers agree to try and reconcile to put on a reunion gig at the O2 in London (the former Millennium dome); they just have to find a way to rediscover the bond that was once so strong between them.
The film title stems from a question asked of the brothers in an interview, “What will you do after the screaming stops?” When the cries of the crowd fade away, what will become of this pair? We actually find out here, with Matt going on to become one of the most successful entertainers to hold a residency in Las Vegas, while Luke went into acting, notably as a favorite of Guillermo del Toro (featured in Blade II and Hellboy: The Golden Army), and recently writing and directing his own feature. Filmmakers Joe Pearlman and David Soutar build the film around this reunion event, chronicling the 30 days of rehearsals after the pair reunite, a period putting more stress on an already fractious relationship. Throughout are interviews and footage, fleshing out the success of the band in the ‘80s, their split, and the paths taken since the pair diverged.
We deftly gain an insight into the psychology of the pair. The more emotional Matt is the singer/frontman with all the pressure and expectations that come with it. As drummer, Luke was less in the limelight, much to his chagrin, and positioned in a way that his contributions and opinions were often marginalized. He has a somewhat more pragmatic edge, but is as equally vulnerable to his brother as his brother is to him. Time has caused some of the issues that forced their split to simmer, with personal growth prompting them to reflect and try to overcome these issues. Emboldened by reflection, the pair are more open to their feelings; but as they speak their voice, it precipitates more conflict. They gingerly step around each other but inevitably clash over something. A request as simple as changing the timing of a piece can set in motion a chain of arguments that runs over into the next day. Much of the drama in the film stems from this combustible relationship and the question of whether they’ll hold it together through rehearsals, let alone pull off the show.
The film isn’t as emotionally fraught as it sounds, with plenty of light-hearted and tender moments, too. They dig into their past, showing their humble beginnings in East London by taking them back to their childhood home, reflecting on their lives, and most notably by tenderly sketching their relationship with their mother. The film celebrates their success and (rightly) castigates the harshness of the British press in amplifying criticism and pressure upon the pair despite their adoration by millions. This is not Spinal Tap, although it takes on a flavor of that film at times thanks to the idiosyncrasies of the pair. Matt in particular delivers stories and metaphors that can feel rather David Brent-ish at times, but there is always a genuine quality to them, eliciting a laugh that soon turns to a wry smile.
While the relationship between the pair is often fraught, what is ever-apparent is that there is a genuine love between them. When the Screaming Stops is more than a film about the music industry. It is one about the often-fractious relationship between not just siblings, but twins, that in this instance is magnified by the pressures of fame and the world stage. It treads a fine line between entertainment and intimacy, charting a journey that earns its final moments: brothers on stage, bound by blood and bonded by music.