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Managing editor & film and television critic with a Bachelor's of Arts in English Literature with a Writing Minor from the University of Guam. Currently in graduate school completing a Master's in English Literature.
Several years have passed since Chester Bennington’s death on July 20th, 2017. The tragic suicide of Linkin Park’s lead singer has been a loss for so many people across the globe, including his family and his bandmates. Throughout the years, one thing that matters profoundly about a sound as unique as theirs is the impact that music holds in the minds and hearts of fans. A collective like Linkin Park can be difficult to replicate, especially when dipping into movie soundtracks and the part they play in the overall narrative of cinema.
For my birthday, what I have wanted to do for many years now is comment on the influence that the lead singer has had on the state of motion pictures since the band’s conception in the mid-to-late 1990s. Linkin Park and Chester Bennington have appeared in various films of a diverse array of genres. Of course, I don’t think their work is ever done, and there is something to celebrate about their physical time here on Earth.
“Session” X The Matrix Reloaded (2003)
Warner Bros. Records, now Warner Records, is one of the first record labels to hit the jackpot with the band. The inclusion of their second-to-last track off their sophomore studio album, “Meteora”, in a string of four songs during the end credits to Lana and Lilly Wachowski’s The Matrix Reloaded is fitting work at play. This full-length instrumental is congruent with the sound, tone, and vibes that the two sisters’ action sci-fi film is enveloped in. The mixture of Mike Shinoda’s piano, DJ Joe Hahn’s turntable, Dave Farrell on the bass guitar, and more truly belong to a soundtrack such as this, especially when they’ve got Rage Against the Machine on there too.
I have brief memories of watching Reloaded and Revolutions in theaters, with Revolutions having been on the big screen around the same time as the iconic children’s cult classic, The Cat in the Hat. It wasn’t until I watched some reruns of this original trilogy several years later that the music came to me. There is nothing like the idea of being and existing inside of the system with all its twists and turns… and then desiring to transcend its confines!
Crank (2006)
Chester Bennington plays a stoner who suggests the hitman protagonist, Chev Chelios (Jason Statham), steal nasal spray from the hospital’s pharmacy. It’s a small cameo role in this scene, as is Glenn Howerton’s appearance as a doctor, but really, you just have to enjoy the little things.
Writer-directors Mark Neveldine and Brian Taylor’s action crime thriller flick, Crank, is quite the mid-2000s ride. To keep his heart racing, Chelios must snort a dime bag of cocaine, get jolted by a defibrillator, and engage in coitus surrounded by passersby in Chinatown. These are all normal and necessary elements to the narrative, so to have the lead vocalist of Linkin Park in the movie only makes sense. Suffice it to say, it’s a must-watch… if you can tolerate it!
“What I’ve Done” X Transformers (2007)
Being introduced to the Transformers world on the big screen as a child, along with others, also meant being introduced to Linkin Park. “What I’ve Done” does not appear in the background of this film much—once faintly when Mikaela Banes (Megan Fox) is dropped home in the first act and then at the conclusion when leader Optimus Prime (voiced by Peter Cullen) delivers his home-run monologue/ message to surviving Autobots in the cosmos.
The sixth song off of their third studio album, “Minutes to Midnight”, plays well into the narrative conflict of the action flick. Like the plot of Watchmen, Transformers sees the probable threat of a war between the United States of America and Earth’s other political superpowers. The otherworldly arrival of the Autobots and Decepticons from the planet Cybertron is perceived as a weapon wielded by one country against another when, in actuality, that isn’t true.
“What I’ve Done” is this powerful alternative hard rock song whose lyrics are about salvation and redemption from all the wrongs done by another party. More recently, the song has made its way back onto the Internet and was received with much love. Through the viral meme, “But It Was Made in 2007”, this is a song that shall not be forgotten. The world hasn’t been this united in a while.
“Leave Out All the Rest” X Twilight (2008)
This third track off of “Minutes to Midnight” plays during the end credits of the infamous fantasy romantic-drama adaptation. The movie has aired in reruns on television many times, but a part of me mainly remembers the song on the soundtrack (alongside Paramore’s “Decode”).
On the one hand, this song fits the narrative of Bella Swan (Kristen Stewart) discovering an attraction to Edward Cullen (Robert Pattinson). The final scenes of the movie find the protagonist running away from home to sacrifice herself and save her loved ones from danger. On the other hand, it’s Bennington’s strong, poignant letter to the world to forgive him for his imperfections. This hits home for many who are going through a hard time, but it shows that we are not alone in what can feel like a pain.
I will admit, though, of all the movies on this list, I have not seen Twilight as much as the rest. Paired with “Leave Out All the Rest”, it has its merits. Otherwise, I don’t think it would be my cup of tea…
Crank: High Voltage (April 2009)
Bennington makes another cameo in the small-budget action movie series, this time as a racehorse track spectator. At the command of a rival gang member, Chev Chelios’s human heart is replaced by an artificial heart. As a result, the main character of Crank: High Voltage must keep his blood flowing with constant electric charges to his body. This means having to attach jumper cables to his right areola and tongue, shock his crotch with a taser, and rub bodies with other human beings—including the lead singer of Linkin Park—, whether consensually or not.
With lead actor Jason Statham having gone on to work on other action projects, especially the Fast & Furious franchise, as well as filmmakers Neveldine and Taylor having been away from directing and screenwriting since Gamer in 2009, writing credits for DC’s Jonah Hex in 2010, and Ghost Rider: Spirit of Vengeance in 2012, there hasn’t been much of an update on a sequel in the past several years. Even if a third movie never happens, what a way to end things!
“New Divide” X Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen (June 2009)
This original song for the Transformers sequel soundtrack is more upbeat than the last. This time, Earth is faced with the revelation of the Autobots’ existence within the vast cosmos, along with a closer confrontation with death. “New Divide” is about how the truth comes to light rather than keeping matters secret and esoteric between the first witnesses of the Cybertronians.
Rob Bourdon’s drums and Farrell’s bass in the theme can be heard in the background of some scenes of the film. Bennington’s voice on the track is what drives this whole thing home, This song contains a few messages to it, but one thing is for sure: it’s about how to prevent from experiencing that emptiness due to a lack of understanding.
Saw 3D, or Saw: The Final Chapter (2010)
Bennington plays the role of Evan, a white supremacist in Kevin Greutert’s then-concluding entry in the Saw horror franchise. Here, the minor character is tasked with sacrificing his fellow racist friends to save his own skin. However, given the main antagonist of the movie, things do not go as according to the apparent plan.
It is awkward to see the vocalist tap into such an acting role. Such a sweet guy in real life… with such unbelievable character traits! What is it? The lack of hair? The skinhead look?
Needless to say, Evan is perhaps one of several puzzle pieces in this horror-mystery movie. SPOILER ALERT: The antagonist swaps bodies with one of the skinhead cadavers and sneaks into the police department via body bag… and he succeeds in his revolting mission for revenge!
“Iridescent” X Transformers: Dark of the Moon (2011)
Just what might be the last inclusion of Linkin Park on a Transformers soundtrack, “Iridescent” delivers a sense of finality with a search for completion. As the twelfth of fifteen songs off of “A Thousand Suns”, the track plays a key theme in the narrative, now with vocals from co-lead singer, Mike Shinoda.
At their core, the Transformers movies, as well as this specific LP album, center on war and machines as the literal narrative devices that allow things to progress. Yet, “Iridescent” is about light and hope found within darkness and pessimism. It’s a neat means of sending out a farewell to this collaboration between the band and the film franchise. Not only that but there is an entire universe of stars and realms to explore, so never stop reaching higher. Love is what conquers all.
Honorable Mentions—Miami Vice (2006) & Red 2 (2013)
“Numb”, another song from “Meteora”—or rather the “Numb/Encore” remix with Jay-Z—, makes an appearance in Michael Mann’s action crime-drama film, Miami Vice. While I haven’t seen the film myself, I remember it was all the rage around the time of its release. Now, I have more reasons to see it.
Bennington’s vocals and the instrumental to “Given Up” play in the background for less than a minute in this sequel to the DC Comics imprint adaptation. I wanted to mention this movie despite having not seen it since its release in theaters. Simply put, it’s surely an entertaining action-comedy flick to watch.
I cannot fully express how much Bennington and his band have touched the hearts of multitudes. In character, emotion, and timing, this group has appealed to many, and there are still many who have yet to discover their music. We’ve fallen on hard times, but it’s important to never forget those who lift us all up these low points in life.
We’re pretty sure we’re missing other music from Linkin Park, so let us know if there are some songs from their discography that play in other movies, and even television programs!
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Managing editor & film and television critic with a Bachelor's of Arts in English Literature with a Writing Minor from the University of Guam. Currently in graduate school completing a Master's in English Literature.
