I have been waiting patiently for the movie version of JOHN DIES AT THE END since I read the novel a few years ago. The book is weird, dark, funny, and above all unique. When Don Coscarelli was announced as director, I became excited. When the trailer premiered, I was ecstatic. But, since then the film has had no takers for distribution. Until now.
Magnet Releasing, the genre arm of Magnolia Pictures, will release the film on demand this December with a theatrical release in 2013. Director Coscarelli said this about the news: “It is my great pleasure to be allied with the finest and most entrepreneurial independent film distributor in the terrific team at Magnolia Pictures. They share my passion for the story of Dave and John…Obviously the “Soy Sauce” that kicks the plot into gear has had the same addictive effect on them as it did me. Watch out!”
Plot: Paul Giamatti plays Arnie, a shadowy figure investigating a street drug known as Soy Sauce. Promising an out-of-body experience with each hit, Soy Sauce causes users to drift across time and dimensions. But some who come back are no longer human. Suddenly a silent otherworldly invasion is underway, and mankind needs a hero. What it gets instead is John and Dave (Mayes and Williamson), a pair of college dropouts who can barely hold down jobs. Can these two stop the oncoming horror in time to save humanity? No. No, they can’t.
The film stars Giamatti (who also produced), Chase Williamson, Rob Mayes, Clancy Brown, Glynn Turman and Doug Jones.
JOHN DIES AT THE END is definitely not for everyone. The closest comparison I can make is to imagine a Bill & Ted movie directed by Sam Raimi. Yeah, that sounds about right. I highly recommend the book to anyone.