Rubber Johnny

the hard back book that the DVD arrives inside is worth the price alone. if you want to see genuinely grotesque and yet alluring photo realistic images then this is a good place to start.

i think it's safe to assume that Photoshop or some other high end editing software was used to manipulate the images, but it's also obvious that a great deal of care has gone into the lighting and angles used whilst photographing the model.

the quality of the imagery really is outstanding and i think it fair to say i've never seen anything like it before.

i know it's odd to talk about a book on a film review site but it has to be pointed out that the masterwork here is in the printed form rather than in the moving image.

as for the 'movie' itself, well, it's good but it is little more than a music promo for Aphex Twin. not a bad thing by any standards but understandably a shame when even a 30 minute 'film' with a little more narrative would have been greatly appreciated.

a full length feature film from Chris Cunningham, when it finally arrives, will certainly be a disturbing, spectacular journey if this or any of his other video masterpieces are to go by.

Rubber Johhny is the latest effort from British film maker, Chris Cunningham. Cunningham has extensively worked with electro music legends, Aphex Twin, together they have created some of the most disturbing music videos ever, including 'Come to Daddy'.

Rubber Johnny is a disturbing trip into the mind of a isolated, disfigured misfit who is locked in a basement. His only company is a dog.

Using rapid editing and distorted camera work, Cunningham has created a visceral nightmare which manages to shock during it's six minute running time. Cunningham obviously has a lot of confidence when it comes to combining music with vision, and this is Rubber Johhny's genius. The film will undoubtedly leave a sick taste in your mouth, but the running time is disappointing. I was left wanting a lot more.

Please give Chris Cunningham a big budget so he can create a 90 minute nightmare.

Wow. This has to be one of the finest pieces of non-feature film-making I have ever seen. The best way to describe would be: The baby from EraserHead having grown up and become professional dancer.

The opening scene is one of the creepiest things ever put to screen. I could barely even watch. It lessens once Aphex Twin's music kicks in, but then your fear is replaced by wonder at the truly incredible editing techniques and visual effects.

The whole things screams for Chris to do a feature film, a truly twisted and bizarre film in the style of the aforementioned EraserHead.

Also recommended: Windowlicker and Come To Daddy.

This is a 7 minute short film by Chris Cunningham, about a shape-shifting, mutant child named Johnny, who is kept in a basement with only his dog and his imagination for company.

It has also been suggested that Johnny is merely a hallucinating drug addict, because at one point in the film you can see him snort a line of white powder.

However, the original concept was for a video of a raver morphing as he danced, which eventually evolved into the concept of a music video/short film about a mutant child keeping himself occupied.

While incredibly disturbing, it's definitely worth a few watches. Once the initial shock of the images wears off, a vastly creative video shows itself through all the creepiness.

Filmed almost entirely in night-vision, the film has a grainy, documentary feel to it, which is why upon first watching it, some people concluded it was actual footage of a mutant.

With original music by Aphex Twin (inserted into the film as a remix done by the director himself) the latter part of the video does more resemble a music video than a documentary, and you'll almost certainly find yourself watching the last 2 or 3 minutes again.

In all, disturbing and unforgettable. Not for the easily scared or sensitive.

Altogether this is an enjoyable little movie but you can really enjoy it if you imagine it as real life footage. Chris Cunningham and his crew make this out as if they are filming actual footage of a deformed teenager and if you know the back story it can strike your brain as fairly disturbing. They do it well.

This shows footage of a severely deformed super flexible teenager living in solitude in his dark basement where his parents keep him due to being ashamed of him. All he has for company is his frightened dog. This will show his reaction to someone trying to get through to him and a little dance number to keep himself occupied in his dull life.

Overall this is a great little enjoyable film and spooky at that. Bravo Chris Cunningham, you rock.