Johnny Firecloud

Johnny Firecloud (1975)

*** (out of 4)

Johnny Firecloud (Victor Mohica) is an Indian who returns home from the Vietnam War where he expects to live a good life. That isn't the case because the local town is full of racist trash and being led by a man named Colby (Ralph Meeker) who pretty much calls all the shots. After his family is attacked Johnny decides to seek vengeance against everyone.

JOHNNY FIRECLOUD comes from producer David F. Friedman and I must admit that I was really shocked at how much I liked it. The film certainly borrows from various "revenge" pictures out there but it pretty much does what any good film like this should do and that's make you care for the hero and hate the bad guys. There's no question that your blood will boil with each passing moment as this group of bad guys are really great.

What's so entertaining about this film is that director William Allen Castleman really nails the mood of this small town and I thought he created a believable atmosphere. The hatred in this small town just stinks so bad that you can sit in your living room and smell it. The director perfectly makes the rednecks people you can hate and you can't help but cheer when they finally go up against Johnny. As far as the Johnny character, he's just an all around good guy and someone you want to root for.

The film contains some pretty bloody violence at times including one guy who gets scalped! This bloody effect actually looks quite good in its gory details. There's also a rape sequence that doesn't show too much graphic material but it's shot so well that the impact is still there. Finally, both Mohica and Meeker are so great in their roles that you can't help but enjoy the film even more.

JOHNNY FIRECLOUD deals with a serious subject matter, for the most part, in a serious way but it also throws in some gory action for exploitation fans. It's certainly an enjoyable picture.

Gritty, pulpy but professionally handled 70s revenge exploitation that could have easily been a Western. It has a familiar selection of characters, plot themes and set-pieces that could easily have been set 100 years previously, substituting horses for cars.

The performances are more than adequate for this sort of thing, the redneck hicks coming across as bug-eyed, one-dimensional and evil, whereas the more sympathetic characters are given more sensitive treatment. It does have a real comic book feel interspersed with some very nasty action, which may sit awkwardly with those unfamiliar with grindhouse cinema from this era. If you're used to films like 'Fight For Your Life' or 'Gator Bait', you will probably love this.

The pacing is pretty good. It threatens to drag a little towards the end but redeems itself with some strong dialogue between Johnny and the sheriff character. One of the unexpected things about this film is the dialogue - it's hardboiled stuff but cleverly done. The cinematography and score are also effective, again with some clever touches that elevate this movie above many of its ilk. Recommended.

Indian Johnny Firecloud (Victor Mohica) lives in a small Western town. He's constantly being tormented by Colby (Ralph Meeker) and his gang of friends who basically run the town. Things escalate--Johnny is beaten up repeatedly and whipped, his grandfather is publicly humiliated and lynched and a female friend of his is raped to death. Johnny explodes and hunts down Colby's friends and extracts some very bloody revenge...

Hard to believe that 20th Century Fox released this--basically it's a drive-in exploitation flick. It has some huge problems--the acting isn't really good (Mohica yells all his lines, Meeker appears indifferent); the violence against the Indians is more than a little disturbing--the rape scene was just too savage and the script is WAY overdone and does nothing with its racism storyline. Still this is very good OF ITS TYPE.

It's well-directed and when Johnny takes his revenge it's exciting and extremely bloody--but these guys all deserve it. Also it has a subplot involving a gay man that's treated sensitively--that's pretty daring for a 1970s movie. Also the DVD print is in great shape--letter boxed with bright, strong colors.

I recommend it but it is very violent and unpleasant--it's definitely not for everybody. I give it a 7.

The opening credits feature a truly great 70s font and some kinda cheesy music and you know you are in for a good time. Johnny is pulled over by the police and is needlessly harassed and the clichés begin. What happens is mostly unsurprising and the middle of the movie is by far the best stuff, the beginning and end are just so-so.

The story focuses between a rampaging Johnny and a lawforce that is split between wanting justice and just wanting to scalp Johnny before he scalps them. There are some great kills amidst a lot of racism and rape... not for the faint of heart. The best scene here is a scalping, and that kinda says it all.

Johnny is a much picked-on Native American in a small desert town that is "owned" by a bigoted rancher. When Johnny is is pushed to his limit after the murder of his grandfather, he exacts a brutal and bloody vengeance...Red Man style! This exploitive vehicle doesn't approach its sensitive race issues with the greatest of tact or respectability, but it certainly provides some good trashy thrills in that distinct 1970s drive-in fashion. Production values are slightly above average for this type of fare, and most of the performances are surprisingly strong. Interesting to note the presence of lovely Sacheen Littlefeather(famous for controversially representing Marlon Brando at the '73 Academy Awards ceremony).

Overall, quite enjoyable. 5.5/10.