Johnny Gruesome

A fun revenge story with some really memorable moments and great original music.

Short and sweet...no spoilers.

Most of the reviews for Johnny Gruesome are spot on - THIS MOVIE KICKS A$$!!! To the one knucklehead who said it sucked and that the acting was horrible, you missed the point! This movie thrives on the irony present in what was called "bad acting," and lives on the precipice of over-the-top and underspoken, hence the characters who play Johnny's best friends - one "over-the-top" and one softspoken.

I should correct my review title implication. This isn't really a zombedy, per se. It just so happens, as the synopses states, that Johnny comes back from the dead. He's not really a zombie, but a revenant. But as with all my reviews, no spoilers here, so mum's the word.

So let's talk about content and context. First, the writing is absolutely brilliant! The tongue in cheek quips and one-liners are stellar, and the story is excellent. Initially it seems that Johnny going after those who wronged him will be a short story but the writing is done in a way that makes this really work. It should be noted that the soundtrack is equally as brilliant. While some might not care for the few synth parts, the minimal intervalic writing, utilizing dissonance (especially the tritone, for those musically inclined) as a tool for both thematic elements as well as mood, are very well done. Add to that the metal (sounding) parts and some ironic lyrics and the music is a winner. Pay close attention to the lyrics when the music plays behind dialog...there's a ton of irony here, and contributes to the comedy aspect of the entire film, but could be missed easily. Then again, and referring back to the whole "bad acting" thing, the irony is what totally makes it.

So...the writing...excellent. Personally, I felt the acting was exactly as it was meant to be. Cheesy, over-the-top, or subdued, and fit the movie perfectly. Nearly every character plays a role in the schtick, but in different ways. If someone merely watches this without understanding the history of the whole Johnny Gruesome thing, then yes...it could very likely be interpreted as bad acting, but since you're (obviously) reading this review, now you know better, so pay attention to how each character and his/her quirks fit in to both the story and what the writer wants to achieve.

As for other facets, the editing is well done and allows for a very cohesive piece. Cinematography and sound are all professionally done (unlike so many indie horror-ish flicks) and follow the paths of given expressions in the film. The special fx are "okay," and while I wish they had been better, they certainly weren't bad, and I believe they were done in a way that would celebrate the irony of the film while also not investing thousands in full-blown realistic gore. Don't get me wrong...these aren't the awful, super cheesy CGI things you see in SyFy Channel movies...just different. You'll see what I mean.

Post-production and the final remaining elements of the film are well done. No complaints.

All in all, this is just a fun, goofy flick that doesn't take itself too seriously. With a 25 year process from inception to wrapping production, Lamberson got what he wanted...a really good representation of who Johnny "Gruesome" Grissom really is. It is less horror/comedy and more an ironic comedy of errors with horror as the thematic storyteller.

This is NOT for viewers who take their films too seriously and don't understand irony. Nor is it for folks who are overly critical on every single facet of film making and production. This IS for viewers who enjoy metal, horror without boundaries, and irony. I will totally watch this film again. I might even buy it!

Notes on parental content:

• There is a fair amount of profanity, though not gratuitous or overbearing.
• I would not call ANYTHING about this movie scary or intense, but due to the thematic material being of a comical, horror nature, some viewers might find some parts a bit disturbing.
• Gore is such a subjective thing. Some would say this is a gory film, but I wouldn't necessarily say that is so. There are a few kill scenes that go beyond just blood, including organs and other such things, but they are presented in ways that aren't as "gnarly" as they could be. That said, while the "gore" and violence isn't consistent throughout the film, once the second half of the movie arrives, there are indeed some bloody scenes that some may consider gory. It is NOT a gorefest, nor will it satisfy those of us who are gorehounds, but the violence does rise to a level above "just blood." There are also a few fist fights, but they are tame.
• With regards to sex and nudity, there is one sex scene (in its ironic glory) that shows both a male and female topless. Otherwise, the film has only a couple scenes of kissing (one that is deadly comical, and not sexual).
• There are multiple scenes that involve alcohol or drugs, including cocaine. This is a thread that runs the entire movie, though not glorified in any way.

Watch this movie!!! Just understand the intent that Greg Lamberson has. It's a total blast

Just don't waste your time. No budget and boring, plot is bad too. Weak acting also. Avoid unless a die hard zombie fan like me. Still feel cheated though.

I was looking forward to seeing this upon its initial release, but didn't for one reason or another and finally came across it on Tubi. I dig Lamberson's other films and know the limitations of budget, but this far surpasses any of those limitations. A few of the supporting cast fall flat here and there, but this is a minor gripe as the direction, story and acting from our main characters more than makes up for it. The camerawork and edit are just great and made the pacing in my opinion spot on. Lamberson and cast could have fallen into serious schlock film territory given the scenario, but manage to pull it all together in a realistic and believable fashion with just a touch of dark comedy to take the edge off. The film gave me real 80's vibes for films like Trick or Treat and even Creepshow with the subject matter and shooting style. The makeup effects are cool and didn't rely on gore as filler. You can feel Lamberson's honest intention to just make an entertaining and original fantasy film that has serious 80's genre vibes. Johnny is just a cool character and I'd love to see a sequel or other films in the series. Original, fun and endearing.

The acting is very weak but the movie isn't bad. The makeup/effects etc are decent. I may have given it 5 stars but I'm tired of the no nudity shower trope. If you are going to show a woman showering and no show any nudity there is no point in having the shower scene to begin with.