The Ghastly Love of Johnny X (2013)

If you don't like this, we can't be friends.

I don't have all the words right now but this film is a work of art.

The movie's neither hopeful in contrived ways, nor hopeless in different contrived ways. Somehow it manages to be wonderful

It’s fine. It's literally the definition of a fine movie. You’ve seen it before, you know every beat and outcome before the characters even do. Only question is how much escapism you’re looking for.

A gang of thugs from another planet, led by one Jonathan Xavier, (Will Keenan), is exiled to Earth by an old man in a Devo hat called the Grand Inquisitor, played by Kevin McCarthy, (from "Invasion Of The Body Snatchers"). All he has to do to be allowed to return home is to perform one unselfish act. Along the way we meet a zombie rock star named Micky O'Flynn, (Creed Bratton from The Grass Roots), Johnny's ex girlfriend Bliss, (DeAnna Joy Brooks), talk show host Cousin Quilty, (Paul Williams, "Phantom Of The Paradise") a villain named Sluggo, and a soda jerk named Chip, (Jed Rowan & Les Williams respectively). A few snappy pop tunes by Scott Martin, some dancin', a little finger snappin', a car chase or two, and a terrific score by Ego Plum, make director Paul Bunnell's debut feature film what it is, a 106 minute joy ride. Bunnell has given the movie all of the appropriate nods to the classics like "Grease", "West Side Story", "Porgy & Bess", "The Wild One", and "Hot Rods To Hell", to name just a few. That being said, Johnny X is very much its own thing. However, I couldn't shake the feeling that I've never seen a movie quite like this before. Keenan's performance in Johnny X is notable for it's restraint. Just like Marlon Brando's Johnny in "The Wild One", Keenan's Johnny X plays it way cool. I don't think he raises his voice in the film even once. Even so, there's no mistaking that Johnny Xavier is an angry alien punk. However, there is one very emotional, dark scene, in which we get a glimpse of another side to Johnny, and with a character that turns out to be more important than you may have thought. I'll leave it at that. "The Ghastly Love Of Johnny X" has two very notable "lasts" that I'd like to mention. It is the last film you will ever see that was shot on Kodak's Plus X black and white film. For cinematographer, director Paul Bunnell chose Francisco Bulgarelli. The film looks gorgeous, with rich expressive contrast, and tonalities. This film would still be good in color, but the fact that it's done in such cool black and white, puts you in it's own universe, and locks the door behind you. Johnny X also gives us the last screen appearance of the late veteran actor Kevin McCarthy, who passed away in September 2010. His part is small, but memorable. His career spanned over five decades, in both motion pictures and television, beginning in 1944. But it was his role as Dr. Miles J. Bennell,…(hmmm… Bennell…Bunnell…ain't that weird?) in "The Invasion Of The Body Snatchers", for which he will always be remembered. "The Ghastly Love Of Johnny X" is available on DVD, through Amazon, and Barnes & Noble. The extras are fun to watch. Make sure you look for the two Easter eggs hidden in the menu. Oh, and one final note, there is a limited edition soundtrack CD available at www.kritzerland.com/johnnyX.htm.

I had first head about Johnny X a couple of years ago and had been wanting to see it, as I have been a fan of Will Keenan since TERROR FIRMER. I didn't know too much about the movie going in other than it was a sci-fi, and it was supposed to be the last movie ever, ever, shot on real black and white FILM. Not digital, but true film stock, lots of little pictures in a row, film. I had been meaning to look it up but had kind of forgotten about it until I actually came across it at my local library - which, I have to say, has an awesome taste in movie selections - and immediately grabbed it. Popping it in, we are treated with Kevin McCarthy (aka The Bad Guy from UHF...) sentencing Will Keenan to a horrible punishment for his crimes... Earth! *this is not a spoiler, this is the first minute of the film* I was also super excited to see that JX starred Reggie PHANTASM Banister and Creed THE OFFICE Bratton in juicy roles as well. Overall this is a really fun homage to 50's sci-fi that gets just about everything right, from the costumes to the cars to the sets to the songs. It updates a few things here and there (mostly the effects), but keeps that camp feel that makes watching old films so much fun. If you "got" and enjoyed THE LOST SKELETON OF CADAVRA, JX will be right up your alley. If you like watching MST3K, but sometimes more for the 50's movies themselves, you'll love this. Highly recommended.

I saw this movie last night at the Valley Film Festival in North Hollywood, CA. Warning: aspects of this review could be construed as spoilers, though no plot details are given.While billed as a parody of 1950s low budget sci-fi and exploitation films, I think the filmmakers missed the mark, failing to understand the conventions of those genres that, to a modern viewer, make them campy and funny (e.g., ridiculously naive pseudo-science, archaic technology, outdated sexist, racist social mores, and the laughably unsophisticated pop culture of those times).The filmmakers also failed to understand that even a parody requires solid story structure and fully realized characters with clear desires (and clear obstacles to achieving those desires). The result is muddled and meandering, with no story spine to pull the audience through from beginning to end. Since too little is set up for the audience to anticipate, the ending can't help but be an unsatisfying anti-climax.That said, the music and musical numbers are quite good (the sound design top rate); though I would have liked the musical numbers better if they had also driven the story forward, or at least done more to flesh out the characters. As is often the problem with musical numbers in movies, forward story movement grinds to a halt, and we learn little or nothing new about the characters.The film features several strong performances, particularly from De Anna Joy Brooks as Bliss, Kate Maberly as Dandi Conners, and Les Williams as Chip -- a feat particularly notable since the film was made in bits and pieces over the course of more than ten years. (Kevin McCarthy also turns in a good performance, his last film, despite being 90 years old.)Will Keenan seems miscast as the titular lead. While he had the attitude and the moves, he lacked the gravitas (and strong singing voice) to carry the film. It's clear that he has no idea why Johnny X does what he does, nor carries any history of his alleged bad deeds. (This is also a failing of the script, which doesn't make the case that Johnny is as powerful as we are told.)Creed Bratton works well as washed up pop rock sensation Mickey O'Flynn, but is undermined by the weak script, which fails to provide us even a glimmer of insight into why O'Flynn would be so loved and revered.Reggie Bannister does a credible job as ruthless, self-serving promoter, King Clayton, but he is often undercut by the actress who plays his girlfriend. (Apologies, but I can't seem to positively identify the correct actress here on IMDb.) Though her character is a grotesque cliché, she brings a lot of energy to the role, hitting exactly the right tone -- overbearing, even annoying, yet still funny and, therefore, endearing.As is the case with most celebrity cameos in indie films, Paul Williams isn't on screen long enough to make much of an impression as Cousin Quilty. Though there are indications that there is history between he and other characters in the story, the writing and direction of Williams' character does too little to bring that history to life.Director of Photography, Francisco Bulgarelli, does a beautiful job with the cinematography, a task no doubt made more nerve-wracking by the fact that he was shooting the last of a discontinued Kodak black & white film stock, leaving no margin for error in terms of retakes or waste. Every foot shot was one less foot of a finite amount of stock available.The Art Department and effects team also deserve kudos for the retro practical effects, most of which were done in-camera. Ironically, it's the old school effects that give the film some of its best production values.Overall, the film is a mixed bag. As is so often the case with movies like this, it's too much style, not enough substance, weakened by an uneven and unfocused script. However, I tip my hat to Paul Bunnell and all involved for persevering through ten years of setbacks to finish the film. Given that circumstance, it's amazing the movie is as good as it is.Thus, I have to count myself a fan of the movie, and eagerly await Bunnell's next effort, "Rocket Girl."

It has been many years since I've seen a movie as intriguing, bizarre, and fun as THE GHASTLY LOVE OF JOHNNY X, and that is the truth. This big screen spectacular is a crazy concoction, consisting of juvenile delinquents from outer space, assorted low-budget B-movie plot devices, and a cast of characters prone to bursting into song at a moment's notice. Yes, this is a comedy. In fact, it is actually a sci-fi/musical comedy with film noir thrown in for good measure, a genre (or sub-genre) with very few examples to speak of. The whole thing is beautifully photographed in black and white, and it all comes together thanks to the vision of director Paul Bunnell, who assembled a dedicated team both on and off-screen. The result is a movie overflowing with energy and good old-fashioned showmanship.The plot revolves around Johnny X, just your average leather jacket wearing bad boy from another planet, exiled to Earth with his devoted gang, known as The Ghastly Ones. Bliss is a former girlfriend trying to escape Johnny, and Chip is the naive soda-jerk who gets involved in her plight. These roles are well played by a trio of talented and attractive young actors. De Anna Joy Brooks as Bliss delivers cutting remarks and sultry solos with equal aplomb, while Les Williams is sincere, likable and properly earnest as Chip. Will Keenan as the title character is the glue that holds the plot together, dark and brooding, with tongue firmly in cheek.Other stars include Paul Williams as talk show host Cousin Quilty, and Reggie Bannister, as hapless concert promoter King Clayton. Creed Bratton is very effective as the outrageous and twisted Mickey O'Flynn, The Man with the Grin. Film buffs take note: This movie also includes veteran actor Kevin McCarthy's final on screen performance!A tremendous asset to the movie is the music, an infectious blend of surf-guitar rock and Broadway show tunes. All of the songs are excellent, with my personal favorite being the sizzling "These Lips That Never Lie", performed at an old Drive-In theater. Another number - "Big Green Bug-Eyed Monster" - is exciting as well as dramatic. The musical arrangements are stylized and pleasingly retro, and I hope a soundtrack cd is forthcoming (the music is that good!).No major flaws come to mind, although in my opinion the time period is not immediately evident. It seems to be set in the past, due to certain props, the use of vintage automobiles, and the fact that the Ghastly Ones are clearly fans of 1950s-era clothing. However, other visuals and references place the story in contemporary times. Best to assume the movie takes place in the present, just in its own special universe, and not worry too much about it!Ultimately, the movie works thanks to the efforts of the extremely talented cast and crew, and their obvious love of the various film genres being parodied. They took a truly wacky concept and hammered out their own little cinematic masterpiece. It certainly deserves a healthy theatrical run, and I can easily see it continuing beyond that on the midnight movie circuit. THE GHASTLY LOVE OF JOHNNY X is tuneful, suspenseful, and full of genuinely funny dialogue. Above all, it is entertaining, and that is exactly what a good movie should be.