Nardio Movie Reviews
Is It Worth Your Time?
Yes. John Dies at the End is trippy, good fun.
What Should I Watch it On?
With all the effects, John Dies at the End is best viewed on Blu-Ray.
What Did You Think Without Spoiling It?
John Dies at the End is a trippy yet ultimately fun movie. It can be a bit hard to follow as it seems like there’s actually two story lines going on at the same time. There’s also a good amount of suspense and gore for the horror fans and a good dose of humor to help lighten to mood. The movie is definitely not for the faint of heart and might make you think twice the next time you use soy sauce.
Why it Works
There’s just enough dry humor here to take away from the darker aspects of the movie. That being said, the movie definitely has some darker, weirder moments. I like the fact that David Wong, the protagonist, is a rather reluctant hero and literally did NOT want any of the powers that he gained. It’s also an interesting look into how we view our world and the idea that there are things beyond our imagination that is just slightly out of sight. Some of the effects were definitely a bit campy, but I felt like it added to the overall atmosphere and feel of the movie. I viewed this more as a modern B-rated movie and I’m guessing this will be like the next Evil Dead trilogy. I also have to say that the acting was pretty superb. Chase Williams is great as David and delivers all of the lines perfectly. Rob Mayes is the perfect funny man to David’s straight man. The combination of the two works perfectly.
No Like?
There’s not a whole lot of character development here and the story is a bit hard to follow if you’re not really paying attention. Heck, even if you are paying attention some of the threads really don’t make any sense. I also wish that Marconi played a larger part in the movie as he seems more of an afterthought than anything else. The movie was adapted from the book of the same name, so I’m guessing they had to cut out a lot of the book to fit it into a film format. That being said, maybe this would have been better as a TV series than a movie. I really enjoy this world and think that it deserves more exploration.
In Closing
Despite the lack of character depth and semi-confusing plot, the movie was still rather enjoyable. I liked the kind of cheesy effects of some of the monsters and really liked the John and David. I would suggest watching this when you are in an semi-altered state of mind.
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Basic Info
- Available on DVD for $14.99
and Blu-Ray for $19.99
- Run-time: 99 minutes
- Actors: Chase Williamson, Rob Mayes, Paul Giamatti
- Rated – R
