John Dies at the End

Plot synopsis:
David Wong recalls confronting a zombie skinhead whom he beheaded one year prior and wonders whether an axe that had its handle and head replaced over time is still the same axe. This is a play on the classic problem in philosophy and metaphysics known as the Ship of Theseus. He sits in a restaurant and recounts his story to reporter Arnie Blondestone.
David is at a party with his friend John. He and Fred Chu witness Justin White teasing Amy Sullivan, who has an amputated hand. David learns that Amy's dog, Bark Lee, has gone missing after biting a drug dealer named Robert Marley. As he leaves the party, David sees Bark next to his car, then suddenly feels sick and drives home. That night, David receives a frantic call from John, who seems delusional. At John's apartment, David recovers a syringe containing a black substance, oblivious to a bizarre creature only John can see. John tells David that the drug "Soy Sauce", given to him by Marley, causes him to slip in and out of the timeline and lets him perceive alternate dimensions. David then receives a call from John of the past.
As they drive off, David is accidentally stabbed by the syringe. The drug, which David notices is quivering like an organism, causes severe hallucination. An alien, Roger North, appears in the backseat, but retreats when David threatens him. Detective Lawrence Appleton takes John and David to the police station. As he is interrogated, David realizes that he can somehow predict Appleton's questions. Appleton reveals that John and White are the only survivors of a drug party at Marley's trailer. After being called out of the room, Appleton tells David that John has died and leaves. Arnie interrupts Dave's story, expressing his skepticism about the events. Dave then takes Arnie out to his car and shows him an empty cage in the back seat. When glimpsing at the cage from the corner of his eye, Arnie is able to see the same bizarre creature from John's apartment inside the cage. Dave convinces Arnie to listen to the rest of the story without his veil of skepticism clouding his judgement.
John telepathically talks to David, instructing him to escape and retrieve the Soy Sauce. In Marley's trailer, some of the drug forces itself into David, who falls unconscious. He wakes up to see Appleton preparing to burn down the trailer. Appleton tells David that John's body has disappeared, and that he believes evil things are happening because of the drug. Appleton shoots David, who survives by time-traveling and tampering with the round he was shot with. Bark, apparently controlled by John, drives David's car through the wall, allowing him to escape the burning trailer. In his house, David is subdued by a possessed White.
White kidnaps David, Fred, Amy, Bark and John, takes them to an abandoned mall and reveals a "ghost door". John manipulates White into going outside, where Appleton kills him. Appleton's body then explodes into a swarm of white flying insects, which enter Fred and possess him. David reluctantly kills Fred. Amy opens the ghost door with her phantom limb, then John and David go through it. They meet North and Albert Marconi, a celebrity psychic and exorcist. They have teamed up against Korrok, an evil organic supercomputer. Marconi gives David and John a bomb containing a hallucinogenic capable of crippling Korrok. The two step through a portal to an alternate Earth. Disciples of Korrok greet them and present a brutal utilitarian society under Korrok's merciless rule. The duo are brought before Korrok, who plans to devour them, absorb their knowledge to conquer their dimension. John activates the bomb, but fails to complete the sequence. Bark, who secretly follows them, successfully does, sacrificing himself.
Upon escaping, David and John meet Marconi and learn that Bark was meant to defeat Korrok all along. After biting Marley, the dog had Soy Sauce in his blood and became connected to Marconi and North. Amy becomes David's girlfriend. David and John begin working as exorcists and demon hunters. They occasionally request help from Marconi, who gave them his personal number.
When David concludes the story, Arnie decides to publish it, despite how it might harm his career. He recalls a story to David, which makes David realize that Arnie is only a figment of his imagination. The real Arnie was killed several days ago by people not wanting the story published. David reluctantly forces "Arnie" out of existence. During the end credits, David and John travel to another dimension and decline a request to save it.

Tags: comedy, paranormal, cult, alternate reality, violence, atmospheric, psychedelic

Review:
I had not read the book previously and knew nearly nothing about the story, but if you've seen the trailer, that is pretty much adequate preparation for the strangeness you subject yourself to as you watch this movie.
If you have a hard time with a story that goes to unexpected places and keeps you on your toes, you may not enjoy "John Dies," but if you appreciate absolutely unfettered creativity and a willingness to include everything but the kitchen sink, then you should run to see this movie.
This film reminded me a lot of Naked Lunch crossed with Bill And Ted's Excellent Adventure in some ways (if you've seen all three of these movies you'll know what I mean).
and a huge tip of the hat to Paul Giamatti for having such a faith in genre film, i love knowing that the people on the screen weren't just collecting a pay check, but truly wanted to be there.
I saw about a dozen new films at the festival, but only one came close to being as wonderfully insane as John Dies at the End. I'm not going to throw spoilers, but if you can, try to see this in a cinema with a big sound system.
A very knowing work of art.As with Bubba Ho-Tep, this film takes a mindbendingly outlandish premise, which through the course of events, and some wonderfully obtuse lateral thinking, persuades the audience that it's perfectly likely to be true.
Chase Williamson is great as Dave, Rob Mayes plays a good, aloof John (although he looks tougher than I expected), and Clancy Brown is great as Dr. Albert Marconi.Many things have changed from the book, but that's not necessarily a bad thing.
Things happen very suddenly at the end, and while some of the changes from the book are fun, it still feels incomplete.Despite a rushed plot, John Dies at the End was still a terrific movie for people who like slightly cheesy sci-fi or horror films.
I'm not even sure where to start with a movie like JOHN DIES AT THE END.
JOHN DIES AT THE END (written by senior Cracked editor David Wong) is on my shortlist of novels I'm planning on buying from Amazon, but I was excited to find out that a movie would be released in the meantime and that it would be directed by Don Coscarelli.
The ultimate reality: it falls short of being the movie I wanted, but it has inspired me to move a little faster on picking up the novel.To start, and you'll probably hear this from anyone who's seen the movie but not read the novel, JOHN DIES AT THE END doesn't make a whole lot of sense.
The best way to describe JOHN DIES AT THE END is this: it feels like a 100-minute trailer for a really awesome six-hour movie.
Chase Williamson is pretty decent as David Wong and Rob Hayes did a great job, but I think a lot of fans of Cracked might agree that this movie would've been exponentially funnier if Daniel O'Brien and Michael Swaim had been cast in the lead roles.
John Dies At The End is an adaptation of David Wong's book of the same name written and directed by Don Coscarelli (Phantasm, Bubba Ho-Tep).
While not familiar with the book, the bizarre and surreal story does seem like a perfect fit for Coscarelli as his films have alway had a touch of both the surreal and a bit of offbeat whimsy.
John Dies is a very strange yet amusing head trip of a movie that won't appeal to everyone but, under Coscarelli's guidance, will entertain those who like a movie that isn't afraid to be weird and unconventional.
Veering wildly between inspired and tedious, it ultimately comes off like a (very) strange mish-mash of better and more coherent films like 'Ghostbusters', 'Dude, where's my car?', 'Bill & Ted's Excellent Adenture', 'Big Trouble in Little China' and the TV show 'Supernatural'.Director Don Coscarelli ('Phantasm', 'The Beastmaster', 'Bubba Ho-Tep') is the king of quirky cult cinema, and he's certainly in his element here.
But the increasingly odd plot mechanics at play in 'John' are beyond even his skill to corral into something approaching entertainment.'John Dies at the End' is not a good film, but it's so *odd* that I feel I have to recommend it for the experience alone..
Giamatti is a good actor, yet he shines in this and using him as the measuring tool, one can see the two male leads as very community theater-ish.If you like 'stoner films' I would assume you'll love this, if you are looking for something unique, this isn't it.
Paul Giamatti was his usual, solid self and everyone else either died quick enough or had their character lobotomized so much, that their performances didn't really matter.The film also did a great job of harnessing the bodily humor and slacker hi-jinx that made JDaTE such a hilarious novel.
Coscarelli stayed almost 100% faithful to the source material, but just lifted different scenes from each segment of the story and patchwork it into one nearly nonsensical film (this is a very apparent problem, since once the movie deviates from the order of the book, things start to really go down the tube.)Being a fan of the book, I have to wonder why Coscarelli didn't just stick to the first "story" that ends in Las Vegas.
Coscarelli has a real knack for oddball humor and along with the source material from David Wong's book, he delivers a comical, cross-dimension, alien-fighting, time travel buddy film that draws recollections to Men in Black 3, Big Trouble in Little China, and Bill & Ted's Excellent Adventure.Coscarelli has had his opportunities to join "big budget" Hollywood, but has always chosen to remain true to his roots in horror/fantasy for his loyal followers, resulting in many cult films and midnight movie favorites.
In this newest story, Dave (Chase Williamson) and John (Rob Mayes) are slacker buddies who end up feeling the effects of a new street drug called soy sauce.
I almost wish they'd changed even more stuff (Bark-Lee and Amy NotHerLastName were a good start) and just totally disassociated it with the book - they honestly wouldn't have had to go much further with it and I could still dream of a real JDaTE movie getting made..
when i first saw it with little knowledge of what it was about i was taken back to that feeling of watching something you know is great like a favorite movie.
It is like a roller-coaster through the entire movie and I didn't even mind going up any hill because even those parts of the movie were entertaining, It was very exhilarating to stumble onto a movie like this, It will become one of the cult-classics I don't have any problem wanting to watch again and at random times right up there with Fear and Loathing In Las Vegas...
The book is like a little bit of Stephen King mixed with a whole lot of Douglas Adams.I was cynical about a screen adaptation mostly because I knew so many of the fantastical beasts and incidents that people the novel were going to be given literal shape in the movie, and the tangible can never compete with the imagined.
I can't even begin to imagine what someone unfamiliar with the source material would take away from this film's finale.I knew we were in trouble from the get go, when our pair of protagonists go to battle against a supernatural being made out of meat, and the result is a scene that in the book was hilarious and in the movie is just...well...stupid.
I do love how the script translated well and made it to the movie but I also hate the fact that so much of the story and the plot got lost trying to make it quirky instead of hilariously gritty like the read through.
The main characters casting and acting was perfect, but the plot I feel like was thrown to the dogs with the meat of the story for gimmicks that were sometimes awesome sometimes over done, and was definitely under budget.
Sorry, I feel that I'm more venting that reviewing, so here it is: If you like strange, then watch the film and probably enjoy it, and THEN go read the book and really enjoy.
I'll start by saying I haven't read the book, but I haven't enjoyed a movie like this in a while.
This makes it even strange to see how John Dies At The End doesn't feel like it's at the hands of an experienced expert.It's way more independent and low budget than I expected, but the cheap moments don't come from the quality of production but from hokey script moments and poor cinematography and editing decisions.
Take Sliders, the white Castle crappy movies and some other ideas from "pothead" movies, mix em up a bit and have the characters babble some none-sense bull-sh..t in a "cool-way", blah,blah,blah and you have an another wanna be cult-movie with same-old-sh..t they serve you since the last 2-3 decadesLong Story short - watch it only if you want be bored to death and pray it might come hard & fast before you are to much into the minutes of this boring piece..
John Dies at the EndThe worst part of a title telling you when a character's going to die is that you can't go on the Internet and spoil it for everyone.However, the heading of this horror/comedy is a misnomer.David (Chase Williamson) recants for a writer (Paul Giamatti) a bizarre escapade with his friend John (Rob Mayes) that involves a hallucinogenic drug that sends users on trans- dimensional journeys.The two burnouts, however, turn out to be two anomalies that can travel between parallel universes without returning as monsters.Their ability to accomplish this feat attracts the Lovecraftian leviathan Korrok, who wishes to absorb their powers through mastication.Based on the cult novel, John Dies at the End doesn't translate well to the screen: its leads are lifeless, its storyline convoluted and its humour cornball at best.Besides, every reality in the multiverse has the same stuff in it - it's just a different colour.Red Lightvidiotreviews.blogspot.ca.
Dave starts to tell his story.He leads off with an odd tale about a young woman who seeks David and his best friend John's (Rob Mayes) aid, but it ends up them fighting a meat monster.
Director Don Coscarelli attempts to bring together several disparate movie elements that are difficult to blend successfully, including an overarching narrative of flashbacks that ultimately result in two definitive story lines, then incorporating various unusual out of this world experiences that supposedly the audience isn't normally prepared for as well as a heavy dose of punk humor and younger generation nonchalance that is somewhat out of sink with the older set.
Beware the soy sauce in John Dies At The End. Director Don Coscarelli has become one of those directors that are known to deliver some strange yet fun films.
John Dies At The End follows two college dropouts who can barely keep jobs that are forced to try and stop the oncoming horror thanks to Soy Sauce, a drug that promises an out-of-body experience.
Being totally unfamiliar with the book upon which this movie was based, I have absolutely no preconceived notions about what the movie "should've" been: I know only that it's great fun in the spirit of the PHANTASM films and that the lead does an incredible job- the movie wouldn't've been half as good without him (OR his sidekick).
I've watched this a couple of times (with a longish break between) just to make sure, and it's now without a doubt one of my favourite films.It's like Jos Whedon when he was still edgy (you know, before Buffy nose dived into disaster).I won't mention Bubba Ho-tep, by the same director...
For those who were not fans - this film is nothing like Bubba Ho-tep, excepting the level of insanity.At times this movie reminded me of one of Philip K Dick's really good, reality-bending, "I don't think it's what we thought it was.." type novels.The comedy is very funny, the performances rock, the plot is clever, and there are a few spine-tingling creepy bits (just like, in fact, a good Philip K Dick novel!)Can't recommend highly enough!!.
For entertainment, you will be taken into another dimension and you will stick with the film just to see how the whole thing panes out, but it's definitely one of the strangest movies that I have seen this year.Budget: N/A Worldwide Gross: $145,000 (Terrible!)I recommend this movie to people who are into there comedy/horror movies about a couple of teenagers fighting against a town who have taken a mysterious drug.
The basic premise of the movie is that there's a drug that lets you see beyond to other dimensions, demons etc and that alone should tell you whether or not you'll enjoy this film.It's a bit disjointed and could be hard to follow for some people.
It's hard to say much more without giving the plot away, but if you like cheap thrills, exploding heads and saving the universe from an enemy that is never properly explained then this film is for you.John Dies at the End probably won't win any awards but it has already won a place in cult film history.
And I suspect you might be able to do that!John Dies at The End starts with great thrills, horror and comedy but as it advances with the story unfolding between Dave & Paul Giammati, things start getting worse.
This is a highly entertaining movie with engaging story and so much FUN to offer, if you like a fantasy/sci-fi/comedy/action/horror genre smashed up sort of film.
The only film I've seen previously by the director, Don Coscarelli, was the (IMHO) overrated Bubba Ho-Tep, and his earlier film don't sound appealing to me (nor do his next couple, yet another Phantasm movie and a Bubba sequel), but I sincerely hope he's optioning the sequel to John Dies at the End because I would love to see something similar to this..
John Dies at the End is the long-awaited latest film from Don Coscarelli; the man behind the likes of the Phantasm series and the excellent Bubba Ho-Tep. Since 2002′s Bubba Ho-Tep, Coscarelli has mainly kept a low profile, with his only work of note coming on the Masters of Horror TV series.
Those expecting amazing, modern special effects will be disappointed, but anybody that is familiar with this type of film should lap up the slightly cliché, slightly kitsch effects work on show.Based on the book of the same name by David Wong, John Dies at the End is as unique as they come.
Others may find John Dies at the End hard to follow or a bit too much at times, but I cannot recommend the film enough.
There are many movies that attempt to achieve what John Dies At The End effectively does: weird you out and at the same time draw you in, in a desperate attempt to understand the surreal, to somehow comprehend why the actors act or react the way they do.
"Who would have thought my friend John would have helped bring about the end of the world." When a new drug that allows the users to move across time and dimensions comes along people's lives begin to change.
It all kicks off when best buds Dave (Chase Williamson) and trouble magnet John (Rob Mayes, pretty much a late 20's version of Rob Lowe) decide to try a dubious wonder-drug amusingly nicknamed 'soy sauce', a narcotic known for its space/time/dimension altering powers, and pretty much a surefire way to descend into hellish but very funny chaos where nothing makes sense and the story takes a dime store turn into bizarre schlock worthy of a Troma special.
David tells the story about his friend John(Rob Mayes) and how one night after his band performs in the park, things get a little crazy, and people start to die due to "the sauce".
"John Dies at the End" is without a doubt one of the most original movies I've ever seen and has enough dark humor and tripped up supernatural themes to make you want to try "the sauce" yourself.
I highly suggest you to see "John Dies at the End", especially if you like Coscarelli's work and love sci-fi and horror films.
Helplessly battered by unseen forces, Dave, John, N Company have to adjust to the new reality that nobody will likely ever believe another word they say.Watch this movie, before or after you READ THIS BOOK!
I really don't know what to make of it this, I just found to me really odd strange, weird and very bizarre.The movie took no time and went straight into the craziness in a good way.
John Dies at the End (2012) David's Wong (so is John Wite?) It's unusual to have seen a book and then the movie and to feel that it would've been better had you seen the film first.
It would have been interesting to see "John Dies at the End" emulate these films and then develop an original concept.The movie itself was decently cool.
- "John Dies at the End" plays like a bad acid-trip caught on film.
'JOHN DIES AT THE END': Four and a Half Stars (Out of Five) Don Coscarelli (the writer/director behind such popular cult classics as 1979's 'PHANTASM', it's three sequels, 1982's 'THE BEASTMASTER' and 2002's 'BUBBA HO-TEP') wrote and directed this 'soon to be cult classic' horror comedy film (his first feature in over a decade!).
Overall, the movie was alright but in all fairness, the book was just amazing so it's kind of hard to make the film as great with a low budget and less than 4 hours of time.