Making a documentary about Hole that diverts attention away from Courtney Love must present a headache for any filmmaker. Her divisive media persona and well known history tend to overshadow any coverage of the band. However, telling the tale of a different band member is exactly what Hit So Hard attempts. Thankfully for the documentary, drummer Patty Schemel proves to be a likeable and compelling subject. Already a veteran of several punk bands (an almost-member of Nirvana), Schemel joined Hole in time to be part of their strongest album, Live Through This. Even on the well-trodden path of “rise and fall” rock star documentaries, her subsequent story is unusually shocking. Within the course of just a few years Schemel went from main stage festival performances to wandering the streets as a homeless drug addict. Schemel’s honesty and self-depreciation helps keep her story engaging, and combined with strong directing this could have the makings of a first rate music doc. Unfortunately it’s in the directing that this documentary really stumbles.
In order to liven up the heavy use of talking heads footage, director Peter David Ebersole adopts a chaotic mix of directing decisions. Pointless video filters and crossfades are used in a way that come across less as “punk rock”, and more as unprofessional and uninspired. Likewise the film’s over-reliance on split screen leads to scenes appearing cluttered and unnecessary rather than visually inventive. All of this fails to mask the fact that the film hasn’t quite got enough footage to justify its length. The result is a documentary that frequently feels slow-paced and dull, which is something a Hole documentary should never be. Thankfully, when the film plays to its strengths these directing issues fade away. The live footage of Hole at their peak makes for great viewing even if you’re not a fan of the band, and essential viewing if you are. Nirvana fans will of course also be keen to see the wealth of Kurt Cobain home movies featured, perhaps one of the film’s primary strengths. The film also succeeds when it focuses on the unique elements of Schemel’s story. The scenes focusing on her sexuality and status as a talented drummer in an extremely male-dominated music industry are particular highlights. Sadly such sections feel underdeveloped, and the film typically falls back on a narrative of rock star success-followed-by-addiction that feels all too familiar from a multitude of other much better made music documentaries. While I’m glad that Schemel’s story has been told, the film’s limitations keep it from being essential viewing for anybody who isn’t already a big fan of that early ‘90s music scene.