May contain spoilers:
I wrote a column about BlobFest 2015 in which I reviewed the Ghastly Love of Johnny X.
Here was the gist of it...
I went to BlobFest because I love "bad" movies. These aren't movies that are going to change cinema and they don't feature incredible special effects or life-altering dialogue. What they do do is entertain.
And that is what Johnny X was for me. Pure entertainment.
After spending the prior hour and a half watching a reddish alien blob take over small town America, I was primed and ready for more tacky yet superb entertainment.
My ticket admission for the Blob included a viewing of The Ghastly Love of Johnny X, and director Paul Bunnell was on scene to answer questions and meet his public.
Someone had described the movie as a mix between Crybaby meets the Creature from the Black Lagoon, so I knew whatever I was going to enjoy what was ahead of me.
Here is what I wrote for the column in The Reading Eagle, which was unfortunately cut out due to length issues.
"The movie poster for Johnny X stated "They sing. They dance. They're juvenile delinquents from outer space." Who wouldn't love that? I missed the first few minutes because I was chatting up the movie's director, Paul Bunnell, but when I took my seat again and began digging in to my enormous tub of popcorn, I knew I had come upon something special. It's hard to describe the plot of Johnny X, but I'll give it a try. Johnny Xavier is banished to earth with his buddies, the Ghastly Crew, for causing a ruckus on his orderly home planet. He is chasing down his ex, Bliss, who stole a resurrection suit. His ex hooks up with a sweet, simple soda jerk Chip while Johnny agrees to help out the slick agent, King Clayton, with resurrecting rock star "Mickey O'Flynn, the man with the grin." O'Flynn, who spends half the movie dead and the other half alive and decomposing, also happens to be Johnny's dad, but hangs out with Johnny's former friend Sluggo, who wants the suit and power for himself. Still following? All of this is mixed in with "daddy-o's" and musical numbers that will have you tapping your feet and singing along. I couldn't make this stuff up if I wanted to. I left the theater with a big grin on my face. I couldn't help it. I was genuinely entertained. For the lowest grossing film of 2012, it definitely ranked high on my list of awesome, campy, sci-fi musicals, right up there with the Rocky Horror Picture Show. I had bought the DVD before I watched the movie and was a bit nervous, but it's definitely one of the best things I've ever dropped $10 on. So thanks Paul Bunnell, for passionately getting this movie made, despite 10 years and no salary. It was totally worth it."
So that was my take on the film. I didn't know any of the actors going in to the film, but thought it was pretty well performed, and I look forward to checking out some of the other things the actors have performed in. The plot had some holes and was a bit dodgy at times, but despite that, I had a blast watching this movie. I laughed so hard, and I've already watched it again since getting the DVD.
So whomever reads this review, don't expect cinematic genius and you'll love it. This film is all about having a good time. And it's beautifully shot in black and white, which for me is a total bonus.
I wrote a column about BlobFest 2015 in which I reviewed the Ghastly Love of Johnny X.
Here was the gist of it...
I went to BlobFest because I love "bad" movies. These aren't movies that are going to change cinema and they don't feature incredible special effects or life-altering dialogue. What they do do is entertain.
And that is what Johnny X was for me. Pure entertainment.
After spending the prior hour and a half watching a reddish alien blob take over small town America, I was primed and ready for more tacky yet superb entertainment.
My ticket admission for the Blob included a viewing of The Ghastly Love of Johnny X, and director Paul Bunnell was on scene to answer questions and meet his public.
Someone had described the movie as a mix between Crybaby meets the Creature from the Black Lagoon, so I knew whatever I was going to enjoy what was ahead of me.
Here is what I wrote for the column in The Reading Eagle, which was unfortunately cut out due to length issues.
"The movie poster for Johnny X stated "They sing. They dance. They're juvenile delinquents from outer space." Who wouldn't love that? I missed the first few minutes because I was chatting up the movie's director, Paul Bunnell, but when I took my seat again and began digging in to my enormous tub of popcorn, I knew I had come upon something special. It's hard to describe the plot of Johnny X, but I'll give it a try. Johnny Xavier is banished to earth with his buddies, the Ghastly Crew, for causing a ruckus on his orderly home planet. He is chasing down his ex, Bliss, who stole a resurrection suit. His ex hooks up with a sweet, simple soda jerk Chip while Johnny agrees to help out the slick agent, King Clayton, with resurrecting rock star "Mickey O'Flynn, the man with the grin." O'Flynn, who spends half the movie dead and the other half alive and decomposing, also happens to be Johnny's dad, but hangs out with Johnny's former friend Sluggo, who wants the suit and power for himself. Still following? All of this is mixed in with "daddy-o's" and musical numbers that will have you tapping your feet and singing along. I couldn't make this stuff up if I wanted to. I left the theater with a big grin on my face. I couldn't help it. I was genuinely entertained. For the lowest grossing film of 2012, it definitely ranked high on my list of awesome, campy, sci-fi musicals, right up there with the Rocky Horror Picture Show. I had bought the DVD before I watched the movie and was a bit nervous, but it's definitely one of the best things I've ever dropped $10 on. So thanks Paul Bunnell, for passionately getting this movie made, despite 10 years and no salary. It was totally worth it."
So that was my take on the film. I didn't know any of the actors going in to the film, but thought it was pretty well performed, and I look forward to checking out some of the other things the actors have performed in. The plot had some holes and was a bit dodgy at times, but despite that, I had a blast watching this movie. I laughed so hard, and I've already watched it again since getting the DVD.
So whomever reads this review, don't expect cinematic genius and you'll love it. This film is all about having a good time. And it's beautifully shot in black and white, which for me is a total bonus.