Johnny Frank Garrett's Last Word

2016

Crime / Drama / Horror / Mystery / Thriller

IMDb Rating 5.0 10 1343

Plot summary



March 13, 2023 at 04:39 AM

Director

Simon Rumley

Top cast

Sean Patrick Flanery as Danny Hill
Dodge Prince as Sam
Mike Doyle as Adam Redman
Erin Cummings as Lara Redman
720p.WEB 1080p.WEB
875.92 MB
1280*534
English 2.0
NR
23.976 fps
1 hr 35 min
P/S ...
1.76 GB
1920*800
English 5.1
NR
23.976 fps
1 hr 35 min
P/S ...

Movie Reviews

Reviewed by deloudelouvain 7 / 10

Definitely deserves a higher rating.

I have sincerely no clue what other reviewers thought that was confusing about this movie. I just don't get it. To me Johnny Frank Garrett's Last Word was much better than what I expected from a movie with a title like that. Simon Rumley did a great job directing this interesting story, the cinematography was spot on, made it all look very professional for a low budget movie. The way it was shot is better than most of the movies in this genre, the sound effects fitted perfectly to create an evil ambiance. The horror parts were certainly good enough to keep any horror fan watching it till the end. The acting wasn't bad either so to me this movie deserves a much higher rating than it actually gets. A good surprise for me.

Reviewed by kosmasp 7 / 10

Getting a word in

This movie had it tough from the start. For those who have seen "Red White and Blue": well they had high expectations. Or different kind of expectations. This movie does not meet them. It is very weird and tough to describe. You have Sean Patrick Flannery in it and he's almost not recognizable through all the make-up he's wearing (face blown up sort of, as in prosthetic).

But he's not the main character in this strange mix of horror, drama and fantasy. There are some very well shot, but very unnerving scenes, that you'll either like for being different or hate for that exact fact. I don't recommend watching a trailer often, but in this case it does make sense to get a feeling and will help you either save time or watch something you otherwise would have missed

Reviewed by gavin6942 6 / 10

Horror or Extreme Drama?

According to the prosecution, on the morning of October 31, 1981, Johnny Frank Garrett raped, strangled, and killed 76-year-old Sister Tadea Benz in the St. Francis Convent of Amarillo, Texas. This film asks: what if he was innocent, and what is he was able to affect his accusers from beyond the grave?

The concept behind this film is an interesting one. The case is real, and was the subject of a documentary from director Jesse Quackenbush. What the writers did here was take the documentary as inspiration and a jumping-off point, and in the process gave the ghost of Garrett a voice.

For genre fans, the first thing that will be obvious is the inclusion of a few choice names. We have an ambitious district attorney played by Sean Patrick Flanery (Boondock Saints). We have director Simon Rumley, who shocked viewers with "P is for Pressure". Perhaps most interesting, though, is the composer: Simon Boswell, a prolific musician who got his start with movies thanks to Dario Argento.

Rumley came on board with the script already written, but he was a wise choice if the producers wanted someone to put their own stamp on the material. Rumley prefers to see his work as "extreme drama" rather than horror, and this project gives him plenty of opportunity for social commentary: the Texas death penalty, a miscarriage of justice, strong religious overtones… there is a message under the veneer of a revenge story.

Some critics have complained of "schlocky, bad acting", and Curt McCarl specifically said it's "shameful that an opportunity to tell an honest story was wasted on this schlock." Yes, multiple reviews have used the word schlock. And, sure, some of the acting is a bit over-the-top. But the film has a style all its own and some practical touches (including the lethal injection needle and the teacher's makeup) that should be applauded for their authenticity. Even the effort to get 90s-era computers and whatnot was probably no small task.

"Last Word" is not going to be the must-see horror film of 2017, but it certainly has its merits and is worth a look. If nothing else, it might bring increased attention to the documentary and original court case. And with Simon Rumley being a rising star, it never hurts to get acquainted with his work now (if you haven't already).

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