JOHNNY SUNSHINE: MAXIMUM VIOLENCE



Reviewed by: Dave Murray



Movie:

Overall:



WHATS IT ABOUT

Three years after the earth is decimated by a zombie plague, reality entertainment has been taken to the extreme. Filmed by ever present cameras, and under the watchful eye of Max and his zombie-snuff-sex film empire, Johnny Sunshine is a beautiful and twisted fetish killer for hire, and a rising star in the underground world of gory Snuff Porn. But in an effort to create the perfect post-apocalyptic masterpiece, Johnny is double crossed, becoming the hunted in a sick game orchestrated by the guy who made her famous. It's time for Johnny to unleash maximum violence, which is of course what she has always done best.

IS IT A GOOD MOVIE

It's the perfect recipe for post apocalyptic madness. One part snuff film, one part softcore porn, two parts zombie massacre, a dash of social commentary and stirred with a big ugly violent spoon. Fueled by rage, boobs and not a little amount of blood, the plot of Johnny Sunshine: Maximum Violence is certainly a new spin on the whole zombie meets reality TV fad, offering up a refreshingly futuristic/voyeuristic look into the life of a double crossed snuff film star and executioner/hunter. In less talented hands this could have been a gigantic steaming pile of shit. But director Matt Yeager gives us an entertaining, insightful and unflinchingly bloody ride, packed with style and squeezing more blood out of a low budget than Johnny slices out of her victims.

Front and centre here is actress Shey Bland as the titular Johnny Sunshine, and while she plays her role in an understated and cool way, the sheer amount of bullshit this chick goes through eventually brings out the very worst in her, which is a great thing indeed! I mean, can't a girl just f*ck guys and slice them up without being abandoned for dead in a zombie wasteland for all the world to see? This reality TV star, this porno snuff killer and zombie hunter, really gets put through the wringer, and the resulting carnage really pushes the effects of the film to the limit and then some. But they pull it off. I am seriously into Yeager's style here. From the creepy shots of the ever present cameras, to the death and destruction and washed out, bleak visuals of a decaying world, I was along for the ride and, despite my earlier misgivings about the flick, I had a good time rockin' with Johnny and her mayhem.

Not that I gushed my own arterial blood all over the flick, because it's not perfect. Some of the set pieces were less than stellar, the plot was a little too "been there" in places and some of the action was flat. Also, some of the characters were as annoying as hell (John Patrick McCauley really needed to be shot between the eyes with a rocket launcher, I swear). But by the end, this was a satisfying meal, even if it was at times intense and heavy on the stomach. But for what it is (a balls out, unapologetic mix of porn, horror, Mad Max and Romero-esque commentary) I appreciate what Yeager is handing out. This was an awesome effort, despite the flaws, and I'd call this one a job well done.

But the flick speaks for itself (and with a title like that, how could it not!). If you like babes, boobs, blood and bodycounts, check this gory bastard out already! If you're like me, disappointment won't be on tonight's menu.

VIDEO/AUDIO

Video: Widescreen - 1.66:1. The movie looked slick and bloody, which is all that was needed. Great quality for a screener, so I'm thinking the DVD release will look killer as well

Audio: English (Dolby Digital 5.1). The sound was spotty in a few places, but mostly it complimented the effects or the violence nicely.

THE EXTRAS

Um, none. This was a screener. Would love to check them out though, and see some of the insanity behind this ultraviolent wasteland.

LAST CALL

Original, despite the derivative pile of ideas crammed into it, and gory as hell, this movie walks the fine line between erotic and disturbing, and it does so with talent, wit and some serious visual style. Bland kicks a whole lot of ass (and severs a whole lot of body parts as well), and the effects are pulled off nicely. Mind you, not everyone will enjoy this uber-violent zombie snuff opus, as most of the scenes are extreme to the point of being uncomfortable and over the top in their level of realism and intensity. But it is an original story, and a fresh take on several genres, and for that I applaud Yeager and company. For having the balls to make what may not be an exceptional movie, but a damn good one at least, I'll be watching to see what comes next.

We've just been wowed by Dissolve Pictures brilliant Indie outing into the world of snuff, porn and zombies : Johnny Sunshine, Maximum Violence. With it's mix of ultra violence and dark hedonistic world, it's one to check out as soon as you get chance.

We couldn't stop at just a review though - we've lined up some interviews with cast and crew too! Here we give you Shey Bland, aka Johnny Sunshine :



d3rang3d : Can you tell us in your own words about your character, Johnny Sunshine?

Shey Bland : Johnny lives for the kill fuck. She feeds off the adrenaline, the blood, the fear. She needs it. She's very vain. She wants to be looked at, watched, envied, 'cause she has the nerve to do what other people want to do, but can't. Flaunting her sex and power and knowing she inspires fear in people is a major rush for her.

In her reality, she has two friends, so she's probably a little lonely, but this is her life, her world, and it can't be any other way. In a world where everyone watches each other for entertainment, Johnny's gonna make sure you can't look away.

d3rang3d : How cool was it to play someone like Johnny, who isn't bound by the normal rules and moral constraints of the world, someone where pretty much anything goes?

Shey Bland : Having the freedom to be a sick bitch with no consequences was a helluva lot of fun. Plus, I made this movie with my friends, who were very encouraging and are just as sick and twisted as I am.

And let's face it, who doesn't love a little T and A? It's healthy.



d3rang3d : What was the hardest part of playing Johnny Sunshine?

Shey Bland : We only shot at night and on weekends because I was working full time and playing Roller Derby, so, spending the rest of my time mostly naked, covered in blood, in the dead of winter was a little tough. Not being able to wear a coat 'cause it'd mess up my bloody makeup and no heater cause it'd screw with the sound, trying to act with my friends snorting and laughing behind the camera in my eye-line. Thanks, guys!

Good times!

d3rang3d : Johnny certainly gets to play a lead part in some nasty scenes - the condom/crowbar/tied up chick made my wife cringe when she watched it. How did you feel playing in those kind of scenes?

Shey Bland : Well, maybe the girl in the scene didn't have as much fun as I did, but hey, what the hell? And there was gratuitous boobage, too.

Actually, even though everyone comments on the crowbar scene, the basement Zombie Show was more fun for me to shoot.

d3rang3d : Johnny is one hard mean chick who it ain't a good idea to cross - do you share any of her traits in real life?

Shey Bland : Well, I have a black belt in Taekwando and have worked as a stripper and a professional dominatrix, so some of the role wasn't so out there for me. I like to entertain people, shock them and get a reaction. Really, Johnny and I aren't that far apart in a lot of ways. I haven't killed anyone yet, for example.

My parents taught me to be nice, but if nice doesn't cut it, then do what you have to, to control the situation.



d3rang3d : It looks and sounds like you all had great fun making Johnny Sunshine - any stories, funny or serious, you can share from the set?

Shey Bland : I wasn't there for this, but a man burst into the set while they were getting ready to shoot, yelling, "Where's my wife!!?" One of the extras, a fake tittied zombie in full makeup, jumped up and ran for it.

Okay, the guy who plays Stein in the movie is my real life boyfriend; we had been dating for about six months and our first scene together was the rape/beating scene. He punches me, tortures me, rapes me frontways, backways and sideways for like -hours, while all our friends and the camera are watching our half-naked selves go at it.

When we finally get home, absolutely vibrating from the day, we start all over again!

d3rang3d : What's your favourite moment in the film?

Shey Bland : The basement Zombie Show. Hands down. I look like a Mortal Kombat badass!



d3rang3d : Who do you most admire in the world of movies and why?

Shey Bland : I really can't answer that, I grew up immersed in movies. My parents collect movies, memorabilia, scripts. I've seen so many movies from every time period and genre. My family is into horror and the bizarre and yeah, they're a little eccentric, but it gave me broad appreciation of so many actors, directors and production designers, etc., etc, etc. I just can't be limited to one example.

I admire the world of movies and the work it takes to make them.


d3rang3d : Have you any new projects currently underway - when can we expect to see you back on our screens?

Shey Bland : Dissolve pictures will be releasing a new movie called Arkane this year. I play the "Dark Woman." I've worked on other productions in the art department and plan to keep going, whether in front of or behind the camera.

Who knows? You might even see Johnny back on your screens again!

d3rang3d : Any final words? Anything goes, the mic is yours :

Shey Bland : I spent three years in New York trying to find me and what I wanted to be. In a way, I did, but I had to come back home to realize it. I'd like to say thank you to my family, and my friends who are family. I wouldn't be me without you all. I'm very excited about this movie and I hope the people who see it enjoy it. The feedback has been positive and awesome. I think Johnny Sunshine: Maximum Violence proves what you can accomplish with hard work and imagination. We didn't have a lot of money, but we had lots of that.

And a lot of fun.

Absolutely no regrets.

I am Johnny Sunshine.

Johnny Sunshine: Maximum Violence
Year: 2008
Director: Matt Yeager
Stars: Shey Bland, John Patrick Mccauley, Eric Halsel
Studio: Dissolve Pictures
MPAA Rating: Not Rated
Review Rating: 3 Stars




Johnny Sunshine: Maximum Violence takes place in amidst of a zombie apocalypse where there is no law and order and the wealthy surrounded themselves with wall around them. The films a porn star who enjoys killing anything in her path and filming it on videotape for her producer, who in turns sells the tape and makes millions on it. Soon her producer starts to hatch a secret plan when sales of he films start going down. He then, hatches a plan with a police officer who wants out of the city and be in with the wealthy. Soon, the two plan to create the greatest snuff film ever made and this time, Johnny Sunshine is the victim.

Johnny Sunshine: Maximum Violence is one of those films that was good to watch but at the same I thought it could have been better. Director Matt Yeager does a good job, as the direction was not bad for that type of budget or script that he had for his disposal. The direction of the actors was surprising good, as the performances kept my interest with this film. One of the main reasons this film was enjoyable was the performance of Shey Bland. She really makes this Johnny Sunshine character come to light, by making the tone of her voice dark, especially in the narration. It really reminded me of those dark characters that you see in comic books.

The screenplay written by Sean Michel Argo was average at best. The main problem I had with it was it really didn't have much story to it. It felt like a film that focus on how violence that it can cram in. Also I thought the inserts featuring one of the character talking like it was a confessional tape, which kind of disrupted the flow of the film, but still it least it had a purpose for the film. There are also a couple of positives with this film. I liked how the film takes shots at how society neglected these people who didn't have any money or and how people are just so arrogant with it's citizenship subplot. Also, I liked how the main character was nothing but a badass chick, as that right there will keep your attention.

Johnny Sunshine Maximum Violence is a guilty pleasure flick that filled with hot babes and a badass heroine that will kick your ass all over the place.

Johnny Sunshine Maximum Violence will be released on DVD on August 5th from Brain Damage Pictures.

Preorder NOW on amazon.com

Release August 5th 2008

Johnny Sunshine

April 24, 2008
Written by The Angry Princess

At first glance I thought this androgynous like creature was a man in woman's digs but I was wrong. Johnny Sunshine is definitely a female and she likes the kill fuck. Johnny might be achick but she kills like a man. She can kick some major ass and will if you fuck with her. In Johnny's world reality TV is the in thing. Well wait a minute, I guess it is in our world as well.
Johnny goes out and selects her victims brings them back and tortures them right before she fucks then murders them. She needs the hot warm blood spurting all over her face and body to become aroused- hey we all have fetishes right?  There's also Max seems to be the king of the city and he will not hesitate to watch you be maimed and killed.
This movie made my stomach turn a few times but never enough to turn away. If you are of a subtle nature this movie will whip you senseless and leave you lying in a quivering heap on the floor. It was way bloodier and twisted than I thought it would be, which was an added bonus. The world we live in today loves conflict and brutality and this flick has both.
Somewhere in the back of your mind tells you that Johnny Sunshine has some severe mental problems that allow her to want and need these kills. Can this woman survive in such a holocaustic environment over run by evil? Do you like to watch? If so then this is certainly on your side of the fence. Reality bites, stabs, and fucks some major shit up while you the viewer tries to get a decent grip.

Johnny Sunshine - Will it do well?
Posted by Trev in Tuesday, April 29th 2008
Topics: Speculation


How well can a low-budget horror film do on international markets? After viewing the screening, I would say pretty well. While operating with a mere $1,000 for the entire production of the film, the final product is something to be proud of.

Sex, gore, boobs, death, blood, snuff porn.. what else does one need in a horror film? Johnny Sunshine: Maximum Violence definitely has got all of that, and LOTS of it! This movie is definitely not for those with a light stomach. Given the state of global affairs, it's fair to assume many people are okay with gore, tits, and violence across the globe. With that said, it's safe to assume Johnny Sunshine will do relatively well on global markets, and even domestic US markets. If not anything, it'll at least create some controversy.. perhaps that's what the creators were going for? I guess we'll have to ask them sometime if we get the chance!

Gory Sunshine Apr. 21, 2008

Source:Fangoria
By: Mike Catalano




Shit, guys, I've got one beaming ray of sunshine for us genre lovers! And if you like your horror dressed up in skimpy black leather and covered in the red stuff, you'll want to keep on reading! It's called JOHNNY SUNSHINE and it's got to be one of the darkest independent shockers I've ever encountered. Our buds over at Fango got some info from producer/writer Sean-Michael Argo on this gruesome gash of grindhouse grub.

"It is a grindhouse feature in every sense of the word," Argo states, "from the visual assault of sex and violence to the low-budget esprit de corps. I hate to use that word to describe the film, given the recent Tarantino/Rodriguez project, but it's the most accurate description I can muster. It's uniquely self-aware of both the story within and the audience it plays for. The project pulls from several film traditions, and is at once film noir, exploitation, and a zombie film homegrown in leather, flesh and steel."

Want to take a moment to wipe off your drool? Okay, then… Well, to add wonderful insult to injury (I mean that in a very positive way), Fango also obtained a bunch of horrifyingly depraved pics from JOHNNY. You can check out one above, one below and the rest..http://www.fangoria.com/news_article.php?id=6364>...You can also witness the sick teaser below. Now, have a look at the flick's plot:

The story is set in an underworld called The Sprawl, inhabited by both the living and the undead, where mayhem is the order of the day. The title character (played by Shey Bland) is a porn star and assassin working for sleazy producer Max (Halsell), who exploits the world gone to hell by videotaping her deviant exploits. Unfortunately for Johnny, sales of her movies have started to falter, and Max decides to orchestrate her demise, capturing her death on camera to create what he hopes will be a huge-selling snuff movie.

Porn star? Assassin? Undead? Oh my! This bitch can't get to my TV screen fast enough! It's set to be released on DVD August 5th from Brain Damage Films. It was directed by Matt Yeager (who also supervised the FX—nice!) and stars John Patrick McCauley, Casey Halsell and even Argo himself.

Johnny Sunshine - Maximum Violence
Reviewed By : Billy Sick

Johnny Sunshine. Zombie slayer. Snuff movie star, cold hearted killer who films it all for a manipulative boss and an eager public. Life is hard and brutal in the Sprawl, the urban no mans land where the less privileged live in the wake of the zombie rising. And, life is going to get much harder real quickly for Johnny, as plans are afoot to end her snuff career with a deadly finale.

It's shot on an ultra low budget, but you'll honestly hardly notice as it manages to pack plenty of style, brutality, and a surprising amount of finesse into its 80 minutes running time. This is one of the coldest films you'll see in a long while, for the residents of the Sprawl violence and betrayal come as naturally as breathing, a dark portrait of the seedier recesses of mankind.

Shey Bland is great in the lead as Johnny Sunshine - she's one of the sexiest killers you'll ever see, a dark destroying angel. Breasts splashed with blood, she looks great, and has a really cold, dark humour to her. Safe sex with a crowbar ;) - this black thread of gallows humour just adds to the disorientating sense of a conscienceless society where nothing is taboo and violence is the norm.

Visually the film delivers well, not flinching from nastiness and serving it up with satisfying style. On screen it all looks great, added impact given by the narrative, which works well to enhance the feeling of moral desolation. Could this be us, where we are heading? Isn't snuff just the ultimate extension of fly on the wall TV that is so popular today?

It's one of those great fun films that doesn't really give you pause for breath. True, with a budget like this you can't expect the clinically empty technical perfection that big bucks Hollywood crap offers, but here you get something budget can't buy - enjoyment, passion, a film daring to try something different. And, it works well, it will pull you in to a place where the soul and heart are void, where there is only the flesh and the dollar.

Step into a cold and brutal world where zombies walk, where death and treachery are constant companions. Bleak hedonism rules here, humanity feeding on eachother far more coldly than the dead ever could. Welcome to the world of Johnny Sunshine, and enjoy.

April 18: JOHNNY SUNSHINE brightens up the gore scene

Fango heard from producer/writer Sean-Michael Argo and associate producer Eric Halsell, who passed on some pics (see more below) and info on their indie shocker JOHNNY SUNSHINE, which Brain Damage Films releases to DVD August 5. Directed by Matt Yeager (who also supervised the FX), the Arkansas-lensed movie is described by Argo as "a grindhouse feature in every sense of the word, from the visual assault of sex and violence to the low-budget esprit de corps. I hate to use that word to describe the film, given the recent Tarantino/Rodriguez project, but it's the most accurate description I can muster. It's uniquely self-aware of both the story within and the audience it plays for. The project pulls from several film traditions, and is at once film noir, exploitation, and a zombie film homegrown in leather, flesh and steel."

The story is set in an underworld called The Sprawl, inhabited by both the living and the undead, where mayhem is the order of the day. The title character (played by Shey Bland) is a porn star and assassin working for sleazy producer Max (Halsell), who exploits the world gone to hell by videotaping her deviant exploits. Unfortunately for Johnny, sales of her movies have started to falter, and Max decides to orchestrate her demise, capturing her death on camera to create what he hopes will be a huge-selling snuff movie. The cast also includes John Patrick McCauley, Casey Halsell and Argo himself.

JOHNNY SUNSHINE was shot over 30 days in 2007 by Dissolve Pictures, a company formed by Argo (whose credits also include the supernatural features SUGAR CREEK and WINTER WOOD) and Halsell. The duo have also teamed with Yeager on a Lovecraft-themed pic called ARKANE that's currently in postproduction. Look for more on that project and the DVDetails on JOHNNY SUNSHINE at this site soon—Michael Gingold

1st Official Review Posted
APRIL 13th 2008




Written by The Horror Czar
April 13, 2008



Release: August 5, 2008
Directed by: Matt Yeager
Written by: Sean-Michael Argo

Starring:
Shey Bland as Johnny Sunshine
John Patrick McCauley as Stein
Eric Halsell as Max
Sean-Michael Argo as Raid
Casey Halsell as Dez
Death Mistress as The Receptionista


Over the years zombie movies have evolved nicely. George A. Romero led the charge elevating zombies from mindless slaves centered in voodoo to undead beings risen from the grave hungry for living flesh. Most zombie movies, largely led by Romero's work, have based the primary story on the quest for life after zombie infestation. In Night of the Living Dead it was surviving the night after the initial outbreak. In Day of the Dead it was searching for a cure as the infestation spread. In Land of the Dead it was searching for some semblance of normalcy in a gated community after global zombie infestation was part of life.



Johnny Sunshine: Maximum Violence takes a different approach to world-wide zombie infestation. What happens with those that are not granted access to the clear and gated communities? Will those poor souls left to fend for themselves huddle in their homes hiding from danger? Some might, and others would likely find a way to turn the situation to their advantage. In today's society there is a "seedy underworld" of drugs, prostitution, pornography and even snuff films. What becomes of those that walk in this world after the zombies arise?

Johnny Sunshine: Maximum Violence delves into this underworld and the logical metamorphosis of "seedy culture" considering the circumstances; zombie-porn snuff films.



Max (Eric Halsell) is a porn producer. He seems to have been "born at the right time" because a zombie outbreak overtook the globe just as he was reaching the age of entrepreneurialism, and he has an eye for exploitation, murder and porn. So, asks Max, how can one turn a seemingly devastating global event into extreme profit potential? Give the survivors what they want – bloody and sexy lawlessness in an age of few laws.

Johnny Sunshine (Shey Bland) is just the ticket to propel Max to uber-riches. Johnny is a sexy and deviant zombie warrior with a taste for blood and a high libido. Since all forms of "traditional values" are completely lost and unattainable in a zombie-ridden world, all Johnny has to do is play out her deviance with a video camera rolling to make a bundle of money. Johnny Sunshine is a star and sex/death-starved people both inside and outside the gated communities buy her films with their every spare dollar. Life is good.



The psychotic equilibrium is skewed a bit when Johnny's movie sales start to plateau and Max decides that betraying her to the sex and blood obsessed cop Stein (John Patrick McCauley) will allow him to profit even further as "the fall of Johnny Sunshine" is offered at the local blockbuster. Sex and blood abound.

Johnny Sunshine: Maximum Violence is nothing short of brilliant. Although this is clearly a low budget film it makes such exceptional use of story, editing and flow that budget is completely a non-issue. The sets stink, and are extremely boring at some points, but as a viewer you just don't care. What is happening on the screen is so utterly captivating and engrossing that nothing else matters.



The acting in this film is very good generally, and in the instances of Halsell, Bland and McCauley the performances are truly superb. Halsell is cheesy while being very direct about his duty to profit from an unfortunate situation while demonstrating his need for acceptance through his desperate attempts to gain entry to one of the walled-in cities. McCauley is obsessed and broken, a man whose inner demons are allowed to run free due to the world situation. Then there is Shey Bland as Johnny herself.



Bland is tough, sexy and severely troubled in a way that makes her appear incredibly strong. Johnny Sunshine would be considered a death row inmate candidate in any normal societal situation, but in her current environment Bland's performance makes Sunshine appear to be one of the sane ones. I can't find evidence that Shey Bland has performed in any other films, but as soon as I do you can bet that I will be first in line to watch them. Shey Bland is a superstar in the making.



Kudos must go to writer Sean-Michael Argo and director Matt Yeager for Johnny Sunshine: Maximum Violence. This is a story that could have gone so terribly wrong in the telling. Too much cheese, too much camp, too much seriousness – any one of these elements might have derailed the real meaning; in a true zombie-infested world there would indeed be those who profit. Before watching this film I hadn't thought of that side of the equation much. Thanks to the brilliance of these film makers I have seen it first hand.