Room 37: The Mysterious Death of Johnny Thunders

This movie rules. If you're going to make a movie about Johnny Thunders, this is the way to do it. I'm not sure who had the idea to turn the mysterious unknown circumstances surrounding the final hours of the punk rock legend's life into a full on, balls out, Jacob's Ladder-esque thriller, but they deserve an award. The movie starts with Johnny landing in a new town, fish out of water in New Orleans, finally clean after years of heroin addiction, ready to turn his life, and career around. Things flip upside down on Johnny real quick when he's recognized at a bar. Johnny starts seeing things... things normal folks don't see. He quickly becomes a paranoid wreck. Is everyone out to get him? Has he truly reached the end of his line, and is seeing something from the other side coming for him? Or is it all in his head? The film turns into an edge of your seat horror movie pretty quickly, and ends on a heartbreakingly tragic note. It's an incredibly well made, creepy as hell thrill ride. Leo Ramsey nails his performance as Johnny. It was like watching the real Johnny Thunders navigate a nightmare. The film really does this wonderful thing of taking this messed up rock star and drops him in the middle of a horror movie. I can't think of any other movie like it. Not what I was expecting at all, and loved every second of it. Fans of punk rock, and Johnny's music will love this flick.

Quite possibly the worst acting you will ever witness. Of course, that's offset by the $200 budget for cinematography. I don't really know who this guy was, but whoever he was, and however crappy his life may have been, he deserves better than this as an epitaph.

NEVER trust anyone who has good things to say about this movie! Maybe someone who is completely oblivious to rock n roll, has never heard of Johnny Thunders, and has no idea what this movie was supposed to be about. The "based on a true story" line is COMPLETE, 110% utter bulls**t. The only accurate thing about this movie is that it's based in New Orleans, still completely ignoring the fact that he was only there 24 hours before he died. Not near long enough for all the low budget horror movie scenes this was filled with. I can just imagine poor Johnny's disgrace as he looks down on us watching this, making a joke of his name. Portraying him as nothing but a sad junkie, discrediting everything he contributed to music and the creation of punk rock. I just pray no one believes this as true. Makes me very sad for his memory, and i really wish there was a 0, or even negative, star review. If you're looking for a GOOD, true movie about Johnny's life and demise, go watch Born To Lose. Leave this in the toilet.

Finally got to see this movie last night after years of hearing about it... & after all the negative comments i've been seeing all week....i gotta say it's actually REALLY GOOD!! Been a huge Thunders fan for 35+ years, and have been waiting for someone to at least attempt to tell the story of his tragic last days....and since almost nobody really knows what did happen outside of the scumbags that did him in, i think these guys did a pretty damn good job of putting together what was probably real close to the actual events that happened. We already know he was dosed & murdered....no thanks to the N.O.P.D., and i'm sure for Johnny it was very much like being trapped in an f'n horror movie.....which is what this film is really. I think that Leo did a great job with the nuances & phrasing, and he even managed to look like Johnny for most of the film....but a few of the characters i could've lived without i suppose. I know there are some die hard fans that are violently opposed to this movie for some cliche reasons i'm sure, but really if you're an old time Dolls/Thunders fan you should bypass all that & see it for yourself.....a very well made & scary look into what can, & usually will, go wrong in the dark world of drugs & the people that you have to deal with if you want to go down that road....i just wish Johnny would've stayed the hell out of that downbeat town is all. Now i hope somebody will make another film about everything else that happened FOR him.....all the beautiful moments that made him the great person that he really was.....God Bless You Mr. Genzale!! XO

By all means,, its more like a straight story about an artist that tries to become straight again after years of havocing and surfing the wave of fame in rock and roll, with alcohol in one hand and drugs in the other, and a suffers a bend so extrem that it almost makes him bend over, for god and everyone for a dose of methadon, to ease the pain. but everyone doesnt care and the ultimate chaos in the end, due to endless sessions of paranoia and hallusinations seems to give the main cgharacter a one way ticket to hell.

the acting are not good, its feasable at times, but in the art of acting panick, the actor comes short, and the look in his eye to the director screams '' CAN WE STOP NOW FOR GODS SAKE''.

the tech impression bears all signs of low budget, and pennyturning, it has its moments,, but its merely a reprise of good old twists and turns.

but by all means , i give it a 6, for the fancy looking main character, that reminded me, the grumpy old man, of the swedish actor rickard wollf in the aenglagård triology