"John Dies at the End" Reviews/Discussion - 2013 Horror Challenge: Day 19
09-23-13, 01:40 AM
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"John Dies at the End" Reviews/Discussion - 2013 Horror Challenge: Day 19
John Dies at the End (2012)  Selected by Chad |
IMDB ENTRY
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These "October Horror Movie Challenge" threads are for the discussion of the films in the 31 FILM SUBSET list.
The plan is for everyone to watch this film on the October day in the thread title, and to start discussing it the morning of the following day.
You may start discussion early if you want, but the preferred plan is for this to be as much of a group exercise as possible, with all of us viewing it "together" and discussing after.
Of course, you are totally encouraged to participate in these threads even if you haven't watched the movie on the designated day.
Even if you haven't watched it in years, or are not participating in the Horror Challenge, please feel free to chime in.
Spoiler tags are unnecessary in here, so if you have yet to see the film BEWARE OF SPOILERS.
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Last edited by Chad; 09-27-13 at 05:38 PM.
10-14-13, 10:34 AM
#2
DVD Talk Ultimate Edition
Re: "John Dies at the End" Reviews/Discussion - 2013 Horror Challenge: Day 19
I love JD@E, it's an oddball film but the humor is done so effectively filled with irony that it works. I love the meat monster and the intro segment philosphy question about the axe. Hopefully we seem more far-out but effective stuff like this come through, they don't seem to make gutsy films like JD@E very frequently. I like to think of JD@E, with it's intelligence and suspense as the anti-Killer Tongue.
The Korrak segments really has a nice H.P. Lovecraft vibe but the Marconie character seems mysteriously under-developed making me suspect he is John from a future time.
The Korrak segments really has a nice H.P. Lovecraft vibe but the Marconie character seems mysteriously under-developed making me suspect he is John from a future time.
Last edited by Undeadcow; 10-14-13 at 11:46 AM.
10-14-13, 11:15 AM
#3
DVD Talk Legend
Re: "John Dies at the End" Reviews/Discussion - 2013 Horror Challenge: Day 19
This is a really entertaining flick, I'm looking forward to rewatching it during the theme night. Great pick, Chad!
10-15-13, 01:45 AM
#4
Re: "John Dies at the End" Reviews/Discussion - 2013 Horror Challenge: Day 19
You should read the book (and I have to read the sequel). The movie only covers about 20% of what happens in the book (though I was impressed they even managed that 20%). Marconi's role and story is much bigger.
10-18-13, 01:24 PM
#5
DVD Talk Legend
Re: "John Dies at the End" Reviews/Discussion - 2013 Horror Challenge: Day 19
I really enjoyed this. I felt the first third was brilliant but the last third got a little tedious. Still a great movie though. Very bold and fresh. The playing on the normal conventions reminded me of Feast and Tucker & Dale Vs. Evil. I really enjoyed the humor and the effects were good.
I would love to see them do a sequel and continue on with their wild adventures. But someone please explain the title for me.
My rating: **** out of *****
I would love to see them do a sequel and continue on with their wild adventures. But someone please explain the title for me.
My rating: **** out of *****
10-18-13, 01:43 PM
#7
10-19-13, 02:07 PM
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Re: "John Dies at the End" Reviews/Discussion - 2013 Horror Challenge: Day 19
Out of all the cool stuff going on in the movie, my favorite part was seeing Angus Scrimm again.
10-19-13, 02:14 PM
#12
DVD Talk Ultimate Edition
Re: "John Dies at the End" Reviews/Discussion - 2013 Horror Challenge: Day 19
Properly weird in a good way. I enjoyed it thoroughly!
Not entirely sure I got half (or "most") of it, but I enjoyed it a lot.
Not entirely sure I got half (or "most") of it, but I enjoyed it a lot.
10-19-13, 02:29 PM
#13
Re: "John Dies at the End" Reviews/Discussion - 2013 Horror Challenge: Day 19
10-19-13, 02:49 PM
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Re: "John Dies at the End" Reviews/Discussion - 2013 Horror Challenge: Day 19
Glad to see this getting positive reaction so far; honestly expected a slew of 'what the hell just happened' posts. It took me 2 viewings and reading the novel to get it.
Despite the budgetary constraints, I think Coscarelli pulled off what was used swimmingly. I only have one complaint and that's the exclusion of
In the commentary there's mention of a possible sequel, at least the 2 lead actors said they'd love to do another one. Personally I'd prefer to see one based on the second book, which is just as good if not better than JDATE (heh). And how could you possibly pass up the opportunity to call it "This Movie Has Spiders"?
Spoiler:
In the commentary there's mention of a possible sequel, at least the 2 lead actors said they'd love to do another one. Personally I'd prefer to see one based on the second book, which is just as good if not better than JDATE (heh). And how could you possibly pass up the opportunity to call it "This Movie Has Spiders"?
10-19-13, 04:30 PM
#15
Challenge Guru & Comic Nerd
Re: "John Dies at the End" Reviews/Discussion - 2013 Horror Challenge: Day 19
Absolutely loved it. Tempted to keep the theme night going but am afraid of clunkers in that subgenre, so I'll just watch some TV I think.
10-20-13, 01:33 AM
#16
Re: "John Dies at the End" Reviews/Discussion - 2013 Horror Challenge: Day 19
Loved the film. It was my third viewing, first being stoned and didn't know what was going on. But when I saw it sober, loved it. One of the better independent films out there currently and it is a nice, fresh take on the genre. Would love for them to do a sequel and I really do have to pick up the book.
10-20-13, 01:02 PM
#17
Re: "John Dies at the End" Reviews/Discussion - 2013 Horror Challenge: Day 19
"What the hell just happened?" was my response too. I didn't get most of it, I'm sure, but it was fun to watch. And I"ll certainly look forward to rewatching it next year.
10-20-13, 01:57 PM
#18
DVD Talk Ultimate Edition
Re: "John Dies at the End" Reviews/Discussion - 2013 Horror Challenge: Day 19
Loved it. It's a definite highlight of the challenge for me. I've had the book for a while, but I just haven't found the time to read it yet. I really appreciate films that dare to be different yet respect the audience's intelligence (I'm looking straight at you, Killer Tongue).
I continued last night's theme by watching Killer Klowns from Outer Space. I really thought that I was gonna hate it, but I ended up enjoying it quite a bit. I think Psychotronic Day has been my favorite theme day of the Challenge so far. Too bad that I wasn't up for another after Klowns, because I had Rubber on tap to finish out the night.
I continued last night's theme by watching Killer Klowns from Outer Space. I really thought that I was gonna hate it, but I ended up enjoying it quite a bit. I think Psychotronic Day has been my favorite theme day of the Challenge so far. Too bad that I wasn't up for another after Klowns, because I had Rubber on tap to finish out the night.
10-20-13, 03:46 PM
#19
DVD Talk Ultimate Edition
Re: "John Dies at the End" Reviews/Discussion - 2013 Horror Challenge: Day 19
Now that it doesn't matter as much, this seems like a good place to really ask again: "what is "Psychotronic"..?"
I went hunting for a definition, and came up with it having been coined based on a particular movie for the purposes of writing a now-out-of-print book and it's out-of-print sequel...
The book purportedly covers "overlooked" or under appreciated films and/or genres, so under some definitions I read, all horror films count by virtue of being in an under-loved genre...
Elsewhere, the argument is made that it's films that didn't get much of a wide release - which that webpage said DID include all the not-really-over-looked-or-underappreciated-or-weird films that nevertheless had a limited release (including, I think it argued, the re-releases of Star Wars and all foreign films)...
I took it to broadly mean "odd". But I'd love a better definition or some kind of pointers, particularly now that I'd like a way of finding more surreal-ish oddities like this one.
I went hunting for a definition, and came up with it having been coined based on a particular movie for the purposes of writing a now-out-of-print book and it's out-of-print sequel...
The book purportedly covers "overlooked" or under appreciated films and/or genres, so under some definitions I read, all horror films count by virtue of being in an under-loved genre...
Elsewhere, the argument is made that it's films that didn't get much of a wide release - which that webpage said DID include all the not-really-over-looked-or-underappreciated-or-weird films that nevertheless had a limited release (including, I think it argued, the re-releases of Star Wars and all foreign films)...
I took it to broadly mean "odd". But I'd love a better definition or some kind of pointers, particularly now that I'd like a way of finding more surreal-ish oddities like this one.
10-20-13, 10:55 PM
#20
DVD Talk Legend
Re: "John Dies at the End" Reviews/Discussion - 2013 Horror Challenge: Day 19
Now that it doesn't matter as much, this seems like a good place to really ask again: "what is "Psychotronic"..?"
I went hunting for a definition, and came up with it having been coined based on a particular movie for the purposes of writing a now-out-of-print book and it's out-of-print sequel...
The book purportedly covers "overlooked" or under appreciated films and/or genres, so under some definitions I read, all horror films count by virtue of being in an under-loved genre...
Elsewhere, the argument is made that it's films that didn't get much of a wide release - which that webpage said DID include all the not-really-over-looked-or-underappreciated-or-weird films that nevertheless had a limited release (including, I think it argued, the re-releases of Star Wars and all foreign films)...
I took it to broadly mean "odd". But I'd love a better definition or some kind of pointers, particularly now that I'd like a way of finding more surreal-ish oddities like this one.
I went hunting for a definition, and came up with it having been coined based on a particular movie for the purposes of writing a now-out-of-print book and it's out-of-print sequel...
The book purportedly covers "overlooked" or under appreciated films and/or genres, so under some definitions I read, all horror films count by virtue of being in an under-loved genre...
Elsewhere, the argument is made that it's films that didn't get much of a wide release - which that webpage said DID include all the not-really-over-looked-or-underappreciated-or-weird films that nevertheless had a limited release (including, I think it argued, the re-releases of Star Wars and all foreign films)...
I took it to broadly mean "odd". But I'd love a better definition or some kind of pointers, particularly now that I'd like a way of finding more surreal-ish oddities like this one.
10-21-13, 11:47 AM
#21
DVD Talk Ultimate Edition
10-21-13, 01:03 PM
#22
DVD Talk Legend
10-21-13, 09:20 PM
#23
DVD Talk Hall of Fame
Re: "John Dies at the End" Reviews/Discussion - 2013 Horror Challenge: Day 19
This movie has been one of the standouts for me this year. I really liked it, and I don't think I had any problems understanding, though people posting that they didn't makes me wonder if I missed something. 
I'm sort of kicking myself for almost buying it on Blu-ray a couple of times but not pulling the trigger. I definitely need to pick this one up. I hope we get some sequels, too!
I'm sort of kicking myself for almost buying it on Blu-ray a couple of times but not pulling the trigger. I definitely need to pick this one up. I hope we get some sequels, too!
