Brandon's Cult Movie Reviews: THE GHASTLY LOVE OF JOHNNY X

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I take a look at the the 1950's style sci-fi/comedy/musical/oddity "The Ghastly Love Of Johnny X" (2012).
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[@mohollywood]

Hi Guys, I was lucky enough to be cast in this flick in the earliest of the days of planning. Paul had a vision and still continues till this day (looking forward to Rocket Girl). If You have any question bout this love letter to all things (and I mean all things) Drive in 1950's, Gimmie a reply here. We shot this over ten years and the movie had alot of twists and turns along the way, some known, some lost on the cutting flor. The script was in place at the beginning of filming, ('02)but when a budget dwindles, ideas and subplots get cut. Hence a story line was lost and then reworked.....once or twice. Flawed, oh heck yes, but We are really proud of it, it took a tremendous effort and Paul B should be proud.

[@mistwolf]

mohollywood It is a real shame this came so long after the original post that it won't get seen much. I can feel the passion through the movie, and will take that over the all flash, no sizzle we get in so many modern movies. Even ignoring the big trash heaps like Transformers, this is better than a lot of the low-tier shlock that gets made. Maybe drop Brandon an email? I'm a newcomer to his channel, just working my way (in order ;) ) through the backlog, but he seems like someone who'd love to talk to someone involved in a passion project like this. :)

[@gusframe2259]

This movie has an Ed Wood / John Waters vibe to it. I hope it had/has some staying power at film festivals Also you're the first actor I've had the opportunity to communicate with , which is kinda cool. Great project and if it wasn't for Brandon I wouldn't have known about it. Hopefully more people will be made aware of it

[@porter0138]

mohollywood that’s awesome. I’m actually a fan of Paul Williams. It’s a side effect from medication Burt Reynolds gave me years ago.

[@johnsabotta1288]

mohollywood; I didn't see much of your film because I can't stand the way rhis guy reviews films. What I saw looked visually interesting, very carefully done, and I wish someone could review it without making a lot of irrelevant jokes.

[@sirtalkalotdoolittle]

You have really low standards for being proud of something. Are you proud of the macaroni necklaces that you made at camp? This is crap, my friend, and I would be ashamed to have my name attached to it. (edit) Signed: Anonymous person on the Internet who never made a movie, but knows crap when they see it.

[@echoskolumne1962]

I think the whole _actors in their 30's and 40's play teenagers_ thing here is part of the parody

[@StudioHappyboy]

Ya. In the Blob Steve McQueen was like 37 and playing a 17 or 18 year old.

[@ThatJohnKillion1970]

"I could sure use some hamburger sandwiches and French fried potatoes."

[@v1de0gamr23]

Is it part of the parody, or is it just something moviemakers do? Casting directors love to cast older to play younger: 7-year-olds are played by 12-year-olds, 12-year-olds are played by 15-year-olds, 15-year-olds are played by 22-year-olds, and so forth.

[@tjjamz1174]

Mickey O’Flynn is Creed Bratton from the Grassroots and Creed from the Office! A Legit rockstar honestly 😂

[@mario-mario822]

"This is like if Meatloaf had his own Chuck e' 🧀 🤖" omg.You're hilarious. hahaha ❣️🥰

[@cesiumbob7278]

I watched the premier of this film and met the director and talked to Reggie Bannister afterwards. It was neat to see a black and white film on black and white film stock in a old movie theater. So it was an authentic black and white film experience. The movie itself was shot on black and white film, and I will say it was beautiful to see a true black and white reel to reel film on the big screen.

[@XLuftWaffleX]

I saw this movie and met the director. It was... interesting. The execution sucked in numerous places, but I can respect the amount of passion he put into it. It's bad, but it's Ed Wood bad. You can see the effort and care to make something he could be proud of, and bring a vision to life. I'll watch this over Transformers any day.

[@Theyungcity23]

It's no where near Ed Wood bad. It was competently made by a small team with a small budget. The problems were that the writing wasn't great and they were limited on choices for actors and wardrobe

[@PictureProductStudio]

Alice Cooper was not an inventor of shock rock, btw. That was one and only SCREAMIN' JAY HAWKINS. He even made his entrance in a coffin. Totally drunk because he was claustrophobic. That's dedication.

[@sethlogee]

Alice cooper is a monetary conservative

[@Tamlinearthly]

For the curious, the $117 box office is on account of this played in only one theater, that release secured by placing in a Kansas film festival, make of that what you will. I agree "Johnny X' really isn't very good, but it's sincere and unselfconscious in a way that's really hard to dislike.

[@karriesoo]

Oo, the review has more views than the actual movie.

[@Robert.R.83]

Ouch daddy-o

[@johnbockelie3899]

They should make a hit out of " Do you like my A". It's a catchy song.

[@EasyZee69]

Hey! Sluggo is the cop in "The Amazing Bulk"! I never thought that guy would get another acting gig. Good on him!

[@MrJohndoakes]

He was in both films the same year.

[@ShadeMeadows]

And this one is the More Well Made~

[@afrog2666]

No, not good, not good at all, some people blong far away rfom any and all cameras..

[@loopyloon5401]

Seems Jed Rowan was in a lot of obscure, low budget films, & I mean *low* budget, The Amazing Bulk cost $17,000 to produce.

[@michaelccozens]

@@afrog2666 Knee-jerk cynicism isn't the same thing as accurate judgement. If you can't see the skill involved here, that's on you.

[@tyrantgregcagkaiju71]

Box-office NEVER describes a movie's quality, unless its revenue is equally positive or negative with its critical reception.

[@mohollywood]

Amen.

[@WhiteRhinoPSO]

Holy shit, King Clayton was played by Reggie Bannister. He was the ice cream man in Phantasm!

[@EriktheHeartless]

Also an actual Rockstar

[@Cmach91]

Love it whenever a Devo joke can be made.

[@PictureProductStudio]

It's hard for me not to sympathize with Paul Bunnell: he made very weird movies which were homages to different time periods since mid-80's (counting shorts), while also earning money being virtually everything and everywhere in the industry: production assistant on Phantasm III, extra on Burton's Planet of the Apes, stand-in for Steve Carell, boom operator on My Mom's a Werewolf - this guy went to interesting places trying to finance his own movies and he only has a handful, but they're truly his own.

[@Johnnyxmovie]

Thank you for noticing! :-) P.S. Rocket Girl is coming next!

[@shallendor]

This is one of my favorite musicals! It also took like 10 years to film, since they filmed when they had the money to film.

[@PURPLE_SHADE_SMOOTHIE]

Cinematography seemed artsy and pretty damned good.

[@THEGREATMAX]

This was actually kind of an interesting little flick. It's pretty obvious it was trying to become a cult film like Rocky Horror Picture Show and others... and it'll definitely never get to that level... but still, it's not horrible. Lots of unique ideas and stuff.

[@betelman]

I Love this! I had never heard of the film until this morning, when a poster for it showed up on my FB timeline. seeing Mickey's image on the poster made me begin my search for more info and your review was the first video i found. You have convinced me that i must see it and i'm sure i will be adding it to my cult classic collection. Thank you !

[@WinterSteele]

I was going to leave a comment expressing how I thought the movie was trying too hard to be quirky...until I saw Paul Williams appear. Any and all negatives are completely nullified by the presence of that man, even if he's only there in cameo form.

[@mohollywood]

He was a joy to work with for the one day He shot.

[@NDTexan]

With how weird this movie appears it's incredibly fitting that the role of o'flynn the reanimated zombie was played by Creed Bratton from the office

[@Pantheragem]

The groupie is Kate Maberly from the 1993 version of "The Secret Garden", and later, "The Langoliers".

[@tacotoosday42]

RIP Kevin McCarthy always heard good things about him from UHF to Pandora Directive

[@phunnyphantom]

Took me a bit to realize Johnny is played by Will Keenan (Tromeo & Juliet, Terror Firmer)

[@sgpproductions9016]

Creed Bratton, who plays Creed Bratton on The Office, is in this as Mickey!

[@Tryshba]

Mickey! "You're not real, man!"...Seeing Creed outside of The Office is great...

[@user-zh4vo1kw1z]

That's not McCarthy from Invasion of the body snatchers... That's McCarthy from UHF

[@mborok]

I’m assuming Mickey O’Flynn coming out of the sarcophagus was a reference to Screaming Jay Hawkins coming out of a coffin at his shows. Great movie.

[@MissGreenAgain]

Kevin McCarthy was 96 when he did this film O.O

[@jerkfudgewater147]

Is Mickey O’flynn ‘Creed’ Bratton from The Office? [looks it up on imdb] Ya thats Creed from The Office!!!!!!

[@RandomUserName92840]

Can't believe there wasn't an office joke in here.

[@MrEvanBeta]

You are RIGHT!

[@hconner5541]

Lots of great riffs. Thanks for the laughs Brandon. I really needed it today.

[@sheltonbrightjr.5988]

I actually like movies like this. It reminds me of John Water's "Crybaby". I'm angry that I never heard of it. Thanks for reviewing it.

[@risseer23]

8:07 The love child of Bill Murray and Roy Orbison. You did reference Bill...damn it

[@VerdantRange]

Sluggo would be remembered in the form of a cola. Drink Sluggo Cola: The slimiest cola in the galaxy!

[@archnof0]

Sluggo was also a sidekick character in the old comic Nancy

[@gaillewis5472]

I think this review is going to turn this movie into a genuine cult classic. I would definitely watch this.

[@michaelccozens]

I'm kinda shocked I never heard of it before. This is way better schlock than a lot of what's popular in good-bad movie circles.

[@dreamlandnightmare]

9:45 - actually, the actor playing Chip was 46 in this movie!

[@philipmonihan8222]

Teenagers from Outer Space meets The Beatniks with a dash of Reanimator.

[@grimlyfiendish5579]

yeah and add 1000% suckage. This movie makes Beatniks look great.

[@mohollywood]

ouch! @@grimlyfiendish5579

[@GreatGreyMusic]

Brandon you should totally do a Ralph Bakshi film (like Wizards or Fire and Ice) or Canada's very own "Rock and Rule" from 1983! I know people have been bugging you to do more animated film reviews so maybe those would suit your show?

[@joehansbarger7946]

Hah. Sluggo was the bald detective (and Bulk for one scene) in "The Amazing Bulk".

[@jeremiahestepp174]

The rock star was Creed Bratton who was the guitarist with the grad roots then was on the office U. S

[@MrThankman360]

I knew I recognized his face!! It was Creed!!!

[@TheZoner521]

That "death" scene at the end was a reference to Baloo's "death" in the Jungle Book. Look it up.

[@cartooncritique6625]

Glad I'm not the only person who caught that.

[@terrorcop101]

That's about what I said just now.

[@manicpixiefangirl4189]

Ok, so now I know I’m not crazy. I saw that and was like, “Did they just...?”

[@kyleshiflet9952]

If it wasn't a musical it's not a bad homage to the 50s sci fi movie

[@MasterShake9000]

“Unfortunately for Bliss, Johnny’s playing with power!” 😆🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣 #dead

[@bloodrunsclear]

Is Sluggo the same guy from The Amazing Bulk? Also he’s a nice homage to Tor Johnson.

[@EasyZee69]

Judging just by the clips from your review, this movie looks pretty good. I must check it out. It reminds very much of a movie called 'Alien Trespass', made in 2009.

[@Manda1771]

Personally I think the The Lost Skeleton of Cadavra is a better tribute to 1950s-era B-movies. However I do give this movie credit for being a musical. Also didn't the director specifically ask you to review the movie?

[@philipmonihan8222]

Manda1771 I love the entire Larry Blamire cannon and still hold out hope for Lost Skeleton Walks Among Us.

[@archnof0]

Yeah, from what I see here, lost skeleton was tighter

[@rasellewolf]

The eulogy to Chip references Disney's The Jungle Book...whaaat?

[@cartooncritique6625]

I Know, Right! Glad somebody else caught that! XD

[@ScreamingScallop]

When I opened this thing, I thought it might be something like The Little Shop of Horrors or at least The Lost Skeleton of Cadavra. Within five minutes, all I could think of was Night of the Ghouls with songs.

[@archnof0]

I thought about the lost skeleton of cadavra too

[@MrAlumni72]

Take a good close look at Mickey O'Flynn - that's Creed Bratton!

[@jerkfudgewater147]

MrAlumni72 man I literally just left this same comment!!!!

[@JeffreyDeCristofaro]

Well I'll give it this much - it seems to have something on its mind, even if it's not entirely successful in getting the idea to the big screen the way that it should have been presented... maybe a little less nostalgia factor would have been in its favor, despite the fact it is meant to play on nostalgia for 1950's sci-fi/horror films and musicals. Also, was this Kevin McCarthy's last acting role before his death in 2010? Man, time flies by so fast! And any movie with McCarthy, Paul Williams and Reggie Bannister together can't be half-bad, right?

[@GanonGhidorah]

17:21 - wait a second. That's a reference to the Jungle Book! What the hell? How random is that?

[@MultiCat456]

Mickey in this movie is Creed from The Office. That's how I found it looking at Creed's IMDb page. They had Paul Williams who I love and two other actors from classic sci-fi movies. Was that half or more of the movie's budget. I liked the music .

[@jovo3dsmax]

This movie actually looks good .... even well made with talent in it..... songs good too... a shame really

[@charleskeracher5872]

Speaking of Paul Williams, it be cool if you did a video on Phantom of the Paradise.

[@starlabradshaw2969]

Dude Johnny's sunglasses are HELLA COOOL!

[@timtheskeptic1147]

I actually dug this movie. It's as cheese and schlock as Cecil B Demented. And that's another movie you should watch.

[@ZillMob]

I just joined diamanda hagans patreon for her to do Cecil b. Stay tuned it should come out soon.

[@tolentarpay5464]

Oh Happy Days! 12 o'clock rock, daddio, and...ugh... wow! Ppl really spoke that way? Makes my brain hurt; I LOVE IT!

[@KingPrintmaker]

I live in Visalia Ca. We used to have the oldest standing drive-in. It was demolished and replaced with empty offices.

[@Pantheragem]

We still have an operating one in Sacramento.

[@bertanderson2548]

Thanks, Brandon. Once again, you've done a terrific job.

[@Catherine-lq2dl]

Wait, wait, wait! Are we seriously looking over the fact that Chip's non-death and his eulogy are almost an exact rip-off of Baloo's in Jungle Book! Did only I notice that?

[@Johnnyxmovie]

You are correct; an homage to the very first movie I saw when it was first released! Very few people have picked up on this bit of trivia.

[@waynechapman9823]

I believe THAT is Screaming Lord Sutch.

[@mohollywood]

Well done Wayne!!!!

[@Hannah-vt6uw]

While we are on the topic of Canadian movies. I'd like to hear your review of The Final Sacrifice.

[@mohollywood]

Sorry My Friend, this was American made. I know, I was there.

[@MichaelPoage666]

When I started watching this video, probably the last person I imagined seeing was Reggie Bannister. If only there'd been an excuse for him to whip out that quad shotgun.

[@Johnnyxmovie]

He kept it with him on the set at all times... you know.. just in case!

[@RichardWatt]

@@Johnnyxmovie Just in case the Tall Man turned up on set? What would the odds of that be?

[@PHILBUSHMASTER]

Coming to You Tube via Creature Features, May 6, 2023. Saturday night at 9PM Pacific on KZbin and on-demand at our Roku, AppleTV and FireTV channels. I'll be there just to see Kevin McCarthy wearing a DEVO lid.

[@tylerskiss]

Is this from the same crew who made The Lost Skeleton of Cadavra? I loved that film. There was another film I saw that wasn’t nearly as good, but if this is from that group, I’ll definitely give it a try.

[@robertstuart480]

Check out Larry Blamire's films! "Dark And Stormy Night" "Trail Of The Screaming Forehead" and the Lost Skeleton Of Cadavra films!

[@Robert.R.83]

I'm totally ripping off Johnny X for my cyberpunk persona Silakon

[@Avigorus]

I went out of my way to see this once because I was curious how well the girl from Secret Garden, Langoliers, and Gulliver's Travels could act as an adult lol (and I hadn't seen the other things she'd been in since then)

[@arkayoarkayo4739]

..."Looks like Johnny & his gang are being chased by a commercial break". 😂

[@williammorales-gonzalez1637]

If Quentin Tarantino and Tim Burton got REALLY high and made a movie..😂😂😂

[@halholbrookspussy]

"King Clayton" is played by Reggie Bannister, who plays "Reggie" in all the PHANTASM movies.

[@ConstantineFurman]

I was just going to say, "Hold up... are we really not talking about the fact that Clayton is Reggie Bannister, the four-barrel shotgun toting badass from the Phantasm films?!?!"

[@rusalexander1757]

I know, right! I paused the video just to point that out....

[@Lazarus1095]

It's weird as hell, but honestly it isn't bad enough to justify its low gross.

[@gidkath]

To be fair, the only guy back in the day ballsy enough to refuse to run cigarette ads was en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stan_Freberg - and that cost him his radio show.

[@tolentarpay5464]

Note from the Pedantic-Police: the "you're dreamy" groupie-chick also played the blind-psychic girl in The Langoliers... Oh, & I'm pretty sure she's a Pom, as well...growwwwll!!

[@richardpietroski9263]

Grease 2 meets Plan 9. What can go wrong?

[@stardog62]

In the drawing that accompanies this video the portrait of what I assume to be Brandon looks like Aldo Nova. The same for his video on The Carpenter and some others

[@dAvrilthebear]

Thank you, Brandon, a nice discovery! The badness was intentional and some of the critics got it: www.rogerebert.com/far-flung-correspondents/the-ghastly-joys-of-johnny-x But I really would love this to be a normal movie, reather than a musical.

[@fosknine9]

I'm surprised Brandon didn't work in something about *Creed* from The Office playing the character of 'Mickey' in the movie.

[@swirlershark-dragon8393]

So basically it's Rocky Horror without all bizarre and creepy sex stuff. Though RHPS did have Time Warp, Damn it, Janet, and a few other catchy fun songs and running gags.

[@robotrix]

Why isn"t this not always part of a double feature with Phantom of the Paradise?

[@cheshirepat30]

If you get something (like released from a punishment) by doing an unselfish act, then no act can be unselfish and you're doomed.

[@v1de0gamr23]

"It was a toss-up between filming in that or Crap·O·Rama!" I guess Suck-O-Vision was too expensive 🤷

[@joedalydeadbeat]

thats just my kind of thing ... im trying to download it now but no ones seeding it .

[@timothypage252]

You probobly noticed this by now, but you never mentioned the "1950s" ELECTRIC PIANO on the stage.

[@mohollywood]

Holy god, i was there and never noticed that!!! But as Paul B, the director has stated here, the film is never ment to be set in the 1950's. A sub plot that was all but lost, was that the space alien gang have learned everything about Earth by watching old TV and films, hence the look they choose to have... the cars they drive, the lingo they spew....

[@fisheyenomiko]

You commented on drive-thru theaters, but also, movies didn't have ratings in the 50s. That started in the mid-60's.

[@SamuraiMonkey80]

Holy shit! Sluggo is the detective from The Amazing Bulk.

[@cartooncritique6625]

I knew I'd seen his face somewhere before!

[@gunlovingliberal1706]

I thought you missed the Jim Parsons resemblance. But no. You saved it for the appropriate moment. Well done.

[@Taheen93]

Think I'll check this one out. Seems like a sister film to Rocky Horror Picture Show and Repo!

[@shallendor]

Both of those are among my favorite horror musicals along with The Ghastly Love of Johnny X, Camp Blood the musical, Nudist Colony of the Dead, The Devils Carnival and the Rick Moranis version of Little Shop of Horrors!

[@atilax6452]

This movie forced me to develop a completely new emotion: I feel "DepresSickConfused".

[@davidlionheart2438]

Will Keenan freakin' rocks forever, always, and no matter what!

[@zzzombie888]

Can't go wrong with good ol Reggie Bannister.. can you? lol

[@PURPLE_SHADE_SMOOTHIE]

Tried to swallow an Oh Henry bar sideways LOLOLOLOL

[@sigmacademy]

01:33. What the hell is that guy wearing on his head? Ah yes, a film prop/wardrobe acccessory. XD

[@sonnyprator5268]

Another movie in this "vein" was an early 90's movie called MATINE, it starred John Goodman, I think it was better/ more successful, and had better actors. I'm one of those who likes the movies everyone hates. So be kind.

[@donaldpetkus1612]

The musical numbers reminds me of Rocky Horrot Picture Show

[@Lodid1]

It's Creed from The Office!

[@chrissnyder2091]

How can I not get it out of my head that this movie is a send-up of The "Rocky horror picture show"?

[@skylx0812]

Yeah, this is what happens when u run a movie idea through Glee. They could've just listened to "Quick Joey Small (Run Joey Run)" if they wanted a 60s look at the 50s.

[@firstelvys]

Great review Brandon! I know what I am watching tonight!

[@trueterrortales4808]

Wait.. no comment on how Micky is Creed from The Office?! That was ALL I took from this..

[@SteveRamm]

A small Nonprofit theater is playing this tonight in my neighborhood. I figured there were clips on YT and - lo and behold - I fount your "video review". Really entertaining - your review, not the film - and now I've saved a few hours of my life. Thanks for the laughs!

[@mohollywood]

Aww man, i wished You'd gone seen it, if only for a chuckle at Us and to support the non-profit!