Johnny Z (2023) Movie Review

Johnny Z – Movie Review

Director: Jonathan Straiton

Writer: Jonathan Straiton, Ron Bonk (Screenplay)

Cast

Michael Merchant (Night of Something Strange)
Felix Cortes (Plane)
Jason Delgado (Killer Campout)
David E McMahon (Teacher Shortage)
Ellie Church (Time to Kill)

Plot: Johnny Z is a horror-action feature film about a half human, half zombie named Johnny who, under the guidance of a martial arts master seeks vengeance on the evil corporation that created him.

Runtime: 1 Hour 30 Minutes

There may be spoilers in the rest of the review

Story: Johnny Z starts when half-human and half-zombie Johnny (Merchant) escapes with his grandmaster Jonray (Cortes). As they look for shelter, they find themselves targeted by their former mob boss. He wants Johnny back to continue to use him as their weapon.

When the threat starts increasing, Jonray learns the importance of Johnny. However, this causes more problems as he holds the potential to save all mankind. They must prepare for a battle to change human history or face an uncertain future.

Verdict on Johnny Z

Johnny Z is an action horror movie following a group of survivors dealing with a new human threat. Along with the idea of a half-human, half-zombie hybrid that changes the art of conflict. It shows the conflict between good and evil as the future is being held in one person’s hands.

This is a movie that looks to bring a bit of martial arts to the zombie subgenre of horror. It has a couple of fight sequences that show the talents of both Jonray and Johnny, but nothing that is as flashy as the style has become. When it comes to the bigger story involved, it is the most interesting part of the movie. It brings an idea to the table that plays into greed and focuses on the bigger picture. Nothing in the movie feels as rounded off as it could be, which leaves plenty of questions to open a world that never feels like a threat that it should be.

Where to Watch: Johnny Z is released On UK digital 14 August 2023 from Reel 2 Reel Films.

Final Thoughts –Johnny Z feels like a flat-action horror movie lacking the intensity of the threat.