Alien Weaponry: Kua Tupu Te Ara

Alien Weaponry are rewriting what it means to be metal, with te reo Māori anthems channelling the power and pride of their culture. This feature-length documentary chronicles the band’s meteoric rise, following brothers Henry and Lewis de Jong from their first jams together as kids to headlining international stages. But this isn’t just music for the brothers—it’s a call to honor their tūpuna, confront colonisation and fiercely champion te reo. Filmed over six years, director Kent Belcher’s debut feature captures raw moments with these young metalheads and their dedication to music, family, and culture. 

After six years of travelling with, living with and filming the Alien Weaponry family, to finally be able to share that with audiences and showcase Māori culture in a vibrant and heartfelt way is just so rewarding . . . What makes our film is the family aspect. The ups and downs, the strains of being on the road with your family and then pulling through because you’ve all got a common goal.

– Director Kent Belcher on the documentary, in a press release for the film

Key Cast & Crew

Kent Belcher

Director, Cinematographer

Nigel McCulloch

Producer, Writer, Executive Producer

Sacha Campbell

Editor

Ryan Hutchings

Executive Producer

Jarrod Holt

Executive Producer

Kevin Gordon

Executive Producer