Mind of the Demon: The Larry Linkogle Story

Narrated by Motörhead heavy metal legend Lemmy Kilmister, filmmaker Adam Barker's Mind of the Demon is essentially an antidrug PSA wrapped in an extreme-sports video, combining vintage footage with contemporary interviews to tell the story of how Larry Linkogle rose to prominence in the 1990s as a dirt-bike rider who pioneered freestyle motocross. Inspired by the attention paid to snowboarders and surfers, Linkogle and his two-wheeled co-conspirators would enter races not with the aim of crossing the finish line but rather to break from the pack for daredevil jumps and aerial acrobatics. Linkogle and his “Metal Mulisha” crew set the pace for the new sport, shattered records, wowed fans, and lived the rock-star lifestyle—including drugs and alcoholism, aggravated in Linkogle's case by pain medication after a spleen injury. Ensuing problems jeopardized Linkogle's career and family life, even while he stunt-doubled for Vin Diesel on the action hit xXx (during which he was also badly hurt). A cautionary tale of sobriety-or-else, DVD extras include a short horror film starring Linkogle and a behind-the-scenes featurette. Recommended. Aud: P. (C. Cassady)