Watch Johnny Gruesome

Johnny Gruesome is a 2018 horror movie based on the 1986 novel by Gregory Lamberson. It tells the story of a rebellious high school student, Johnny Grissom, who dies in a drunk driving accident. However, Johnny doesn't stay dead for long as he rises from the grave seeking revenge on those who wronged him in life. The movie stars Anthony De La Torre as Johnny, who delivers a fantastic performance as the eponymous anti-hero. He's joined by Byron Brown II, who plays Johnny's best friend, and Aprilann, who plays Johnny's girlfriend. The three actors have great chemistry and their performances help to elevate the movie beyond the standard slasher fare.

The film is set in a small town in western New York and the setting plays a big role in the story. The town is dying with a struggling economy and boarded up storefronts. The high school is the only thing that seems to be thriving and it's a hotbed of teenage angst and rebellion. The movie does a great job of capturing the feeling of being a teenager in a small town with limited prospects.

The plot is fairly straightforward, but effective. Johnny comes back as a vengeful zombie and starts picking off those who wronged him in life. The kills are suitably gory and the special effects are impressive considering the movie's low budget. The movie never takes itself too seriously and there are lots of fun moments, such as Johnny riding his motorcycle through the halls of the high school.

One of the most interesting aspects of the movie is Johnny's character arc. He starts off as a typical bad boy, but as the movie progresses, we learn more about his backstory and see him struggle with the consequences of his actions. By the end of the movie, Johnny has become a much more complex and sympathetic character than he appeared to be at the beginning.

The movie's soundtrack is also worth mentioning. The music is a mix of punk and metal, which fits perfectly with Johnny's rebellious nature. The original songs by Robby Takac (of the Goo Goo Dolls) are especially good and add a lot to the movie's atmosphere.

Overall, Johnny Gruesome is a fun and entertaining horror movie that's definitely worth checking out if you're a fan of the genre. The performances are solid, the kills are suitably gory, and the movie does a great job of capturing the feeling of being a teenager in a small town. It's not going to win any awards, but it's a great way to spend an evening if you're looking for a low-budget horror flick with some heart.

Johnny Gruesome is a 2018 horror movie with a runtime of 1 hour and 28 minutes. It has received mostly poor reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 3.8.