The Ghastly Love of Johnny X

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Directed by Paul Bunnell
Produced by Paul Bunnell
Written by Steve Bingen, Paul Bunnell, Mark D. Murphy, and George Wagner

With: Will Keenan, Creed Bratton, De Anna Joy Brooks, Reggie Bannister, Les Williams, Jed Rowen, Kate Maberly, Paul Williams, and Kevin McCarthy

Cinematography: Francisco Bulgarelli
Editing: Russell Harnden III
Music: Ego Plum

Runtime: 106 min
Release Date: 03 March 2012
Aspect Ratio: 2.35 : 1
Color: Black and White

Paul Bunnell’s failed attempt to pay homage to 50s sci-fi and greaser movie musicals is notable only for being the final film of the great Kevin McCarthy (star of the original Invasion of the Body Snatchers) and for being the last film shot on Kodak’s Plus X 35mm stock before the company discontinued black and white film. As the movie it’s a misfire with bad songs, a week cast and a missed chance at redemption via a Paul Williams cameo – I wish they could have gotten Williams to write some of the songs!

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How I Rate Films



An All-timer. One of the 5000 greatest films. Usually only awarded after repeat viewings.



One of the year's best. An excellent film. Possibly one of the 5000 greatest and certainly worthy of repeated viewing.



A very good film. Most films I see fall in the two- or three-star ranking. I give an extra half-star to three-star films that could end up on the list of the 5000 greatest.



A good film that fully succeeds at what it sets out to accomplish. Well worth seeing, but less effective than a three-and-a-half stars films and often less consequential than a two-and-a-half star film.



A noteworthy or enjoyable film that I can’t fully recommend. Still, two-and-a-half star films are often some of the most memorable films of a year.



A disappointment, an interesting failure, or just a bad movie. But still worth seeing if you’ve got the time.



A bad, rant-worthy film. Should be avoided regardless of hype or talent involved.



One of the worst films.