The Chills: The Triumph & Tragedy of Martin Phillipps

Not since Thor: Ragnorak have I swelled with such national pride as I did during tonight's SXSW premiere of The Chills: The Triumph and Tragedy of Martin Phillipps. It's a fantastic film...

– Film reviewer Dominic Corry tweets his appreciation, at Texas festival South by Southwest, 13 March 2019

With more highlights, bum-outs, insights (yes, and lineups) than your average music doco, Parnell’s film captures the uniqueness of Martin Phillipps in gripping fashion. Enthralling, emotional, and at times bleakly comical, this is a revealing film that also conveys a real New Zealand-ness in both personality and place.

– Reviewer Steve Newall on website Flicks, 1 May 2019

This is a story of a musical genius, honest and insightful and beautifully told, and rounded off with stunning images of the local landscape. If you're a fan of The Chills you'll enjoy this jaunt down memory lane, for others, it's both cautionary tale and great story.

– NZ Herald reviewer Francesca Rudkin in a four star review, 2 May 2019

I remember being terrified the first time I had to get on stage. You’re just not ready on any level, and then suddenly the drummer's counting off the first song, and you just kind of have to do it . . . but at the end of the night, it’s the biggest buzz you’ve ever had, and you want more of it.

– Martin Phillipps on first playing live

Being told I might not live…it's been digging up a lot of stuff. I do have regrets. I’ve made some stupid mistakes. I've told myself the appropriate lies. Particularly as a drug addict, you go to great lengths to create a self-serving reality.

– Martin Phillipps, in the excerpt

If you do keep drinking Martin, you will die.

– Nurse Margaret Fraser, after checking Martin Phillipps' liver function

Sometimes in isolated places amazing things can happen because you sort of believe, that well maybe no one will ever hear this, so we may as well just do what the hell we want.

– Neil Finn on the creative freedom of Dunedin

We encountered Martin and his music very early on. I was pretty taken with the sound of the band, and Martin had such an individual style — both musically but also personally.

– Neil Finn