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The Gratuitous B-Movie Column: Johnny Z
Image Credit: Hurricane Bridge Entertainment
The Gratuitous B-Movie Column Issue #614: Johnny Z
Hello, everyone, and welcome once again to the internets movie review column that has never had to face down an army of zombies in a field out in the middle of nowhere, The Gratuitous B-Movie Column, and I am your host Bryan Kristopowitz. In this issue, issue number six hundred and fourteen, I take a look at the low-budget action horror zombie flick Johnny Z, which was released in the United States at some point in late 2023.
Johnny Z
Johnny Z, directed by Jonathan Straiton, is a terrific low-budget action horror zombie flick. Featuring some fine character work from a brilliant main cast, top notch martial arts moments, and a shockingly poignant story, Johnny Z is a movie that should absolutely be seen by low-budget action movie fans, horror movie fans, and zombie nerds looking for something a little different. Because, really, how often do you see a movie with a zombie that knows martial arts?
Johnny Z stars Michael Merchant as Johnny Z, the escaped special zombie project of the supremely evil Nordack Corporation (I think that’s how it’s spelled). Kidnapped or rescued, depending on your point of view, by the mysterious badass Jonray (Felix Cortes) and his slacker brother and illegal alcohol maker Crisanto (Jason Delgado), Johnny is taken to a secluded farm and placed in a sort of makeshift basement in a barn. Upset that Johnny, known within Nordack as “Patient Z,” is gone, Nordack leader Frank (David E. McMahon) wants Johnny back because he is both Nordack property and, maybe, the key to altering the course of humanity.
Alter the course of humanity? What the heck does that mean? See, Johnny Z takes place in a world that’s experienced a sort of zombie apocalypse that has decimated large chunks of the world. Caused by radiation emitted from various communications towers built by Nordack, the zombie apocalypse has made parts of the world incredibly dangerous, while others remain sort of intact and resemble the old world. The area Jonray and Crisanto live in is generally quiet but can still experience a zombie horde attack at any moment (you have to pay attention to your surroundings as well as the Nordack communications towers that are scattered everywhere, giving out potential zombie attack information at random times). There’s also a town nearby that has access to supplies for human survivors. This town is where Crisanto goes to obtain materials for his illegal distillery. The town is also where Jonray goes to a kind of nightclub run by the rich weirdo Bossman (the hilarious Billy Gaberina) to obtain information about what to do next (this nightclub is also where Jonray fights zombies for the entertainment of the club’s patrons).
Frank’s big plan to find Patient Z involves hiring ruthless douchebag mercenary Vin (Trey Harrison) and his henchman Monster Boy (Wayne W. Johnson). And Jonray hopes to somehow contact rogue scientist Lars (Ellie Church), as she hates Nordack and wants to save the world. Lars believes that Johnny’s blood holds the key to developing, for the lack of a better word, an antidote to the zombie apocalypse.
Now, as Jonray and Crisanto hide Johnny Z, they notice that, despite being a zombie, Johnny isn’t aggressive or hungry for human flesh around them. Yes, Johnny keeps finding ways to escape the farm’s basement (the basement really isn’t fortified, and it’s pretty easy to open/squeeze under the hatch), but he doesn’t try to run away or attack them. Johnny doesn’t try to remove the chains on his hands, nor does he try to remove his black armor/hockey mask. For whatever reason, Johnny seems pretty content to just hang around with Jonray and Crisanto,
And what’s the deal with Johnny mimicking Jonray’s martial arts and knife fighting practice? Jonray is an expert in some sort of knife fighting martial art and spends quite a bit of his day practicing his knife fighting technique. We also get to see Jonray in action using his knives, both in flashbacks to a pivotal moment in Jonray’s life and dealing with Nordack’s heavily armed henchmen in the present. Jonray doesn’t like guns. When Jonray notices that Johnny is mimicking his technique, he’s initially weirded out by it. Why the hell is a zombie copying his movements? How is that even possible? As the story progresses, though, Jonray eventually comes around to accepting what’s happening and starts having Johnny practice alongside him.
One of the things you will notice early on with Johnny Z is that it isn’t in any hurry to get the good guys and the bad guys together for the inevitable fight. Instead, Johnny Z takes its time, allowing the audience to both get to know Jonray and Crisanto and what they’re all about, as well as get to see just how morally depraved the Nordack Corporation is. Jonray and Crisanto are regular people just trying to survive in a world that’s been destroyed by malevolent and indifferent forces. You get the sense early on that Jonray and Crisanto had full lives before the Nordack caused zombie apocalypse and that, in the midst of surviving, are also trying to hold on to a little bit of their “old” lives. And when you realize that Jonray is experiencing profound grief over the death of his son, it makes you root for whatever the heck it is Jonray wants to do. You want Jonray to succeed. As for Frank and his Nordack company, even in the pursuit of Johnny’s blood to “alter the course of humanity,” they’re not really interested in actually helping people. The only things Nordack are interested in are wealth, power, and control. They wouldn’t have created the conditions to cause the zombie apocalypse in the first place if they gave a flying crap about people or the world. Nordack and its minions really are just the worst.
You will also notice that, while being a low-budget action horror zombie flick, Johnny Z also feels a bit like a superhero origin story type movie. However, the superhero in question isn’t the zombie hero Johnny but instead Jonray. Jonray has experienced tremendous and profound pain and suffering and grief, and we see him in training to take on the eventual bad guys. The more we see him practice with his big knife in the field, the more we understand that, when the time eventually comes, Jonray is going to unleash righteous hell on Nordack. Johnny sort of becoming Jonray’s student towards the end of the movie, them practicing martial arts together, makes you believe that they will either team up to take on Nordack, or that one will seek revenge on Nordack if Nordack takes one of them out.
The martial arts sequences are generally well done and exciting. Cortes, a real deal martial artist of some sort, designed the movie’s fights and looks amazing when wielding Jonray’s various knives. Yes, Nordack’s henchmen may be decked out with various automatic weapons and whatnot, but they will all fall going up against Jonray. I don’t think I’ve seen a movie with as many giant knife thrusts through the head as there are in Johnny Z. The movie isn’t as gory as you would expect a low-budget zombie movie to be, but there are some truly nasty moments (there’s a big fight involving Wayne W. Johnson’s Monster Boy that’s pretty brutal). Some people will likely complain about the mostly CGI gore moments involving Jonray’s knives, but I think they work fine (and when you realize that the movie is more interested in being an action movie than a straight up horror flick, you’ll get over it).
The movie’s cinematography is also quite good. While it’s obvious that the movie likely cost a fraction of what a big deal Hollywood superhero movie would spend on crafts services for half a day, Johnny Z looks slick, modern, and moody. The movie’s sound design is also well done. The machine guns could be a little louder, but I can live with what Johnny Z provides sound wise.
Michael Merchant does a great job as Johnny Z. Merchant has no dialogue and we only get to see his face once, so his performance is mostly physical. Merchant plays Johnny as mostly curious and non-threatening, something you don’t expect to see out of a character that’s a zombie. The way Merchant just stares at Crisanto and Jonray when they freak out after he escapes from the basement tells you all you need to know. Johnny Z isn’t your typical zombie. Merchant also looks fairly credible in the martial arts moments that Johnny Z has to engage in. I would love to see Merchant get a chance to play Johnny Z again.
Felix Cortes is amazing as Jonray. A knife wielding badass of the highest order, Jonray is a guy that you don’t want to mess with. However, Jonray was not a guy out looking for trouble before the zombie apocalypse happened. Before the world ended, all Jonray wanted to do was live his life with his family. When the world did end, though, Jonray became focused on somehow getting revenge. Cortes, both with and without his trusty knives, is obviously a talented martial artist of some sort. He can destroy someone with or without his knives, which is how you know he’s incredibly dangerous. Cortes also gives Jonray an integrity that you can get behind, which I did not expect to see in a low-budget zombie flick. Based solely on this performance, Cortes should be a bigger deal in the low-budget action movie world. He really should. He has the presence and the chops (pun very much intended). Excellent stuff.
Jason Delgado is fabulous as Crisanto. When you first meet Crisanto, you’re not sure how to take him. Who the heck is this guy? Is he someone’s dumbass henchman? How the heck does he survive in the aftermath of a zombie apocalypse being apparently drunk most of the time? But then you find out that he’s Jonray’s brother and he, like Jonray, is just trying to get through the end of the world the best he can, you end up liking him. It also helps that Crisanto is kind of a goofball at times, which gives the movie moments of levity that you just don’t expect to see (what the hell is so funny about the end of the world?). Delgado manages to sell both the funny moments and the dramatic moments his Crisanto is given, and you eventually totally understand why he’s making booze. Great stuff.
David E. McMahon does an exceptional job being an absolute evil piece of garbage as Frank, the head of Nordack Corporation. McMahon gives Frank a sort of detached malevolence that makes you absolutely despise him, and that’s before he really starts talking. The more you see of him, the more you want to see him destroyed, which is exactly the kind of main bad guy a movie like Johnny Z needs. Frank is just such a scumbag that you want to see him either stabbed through the face, blown up, or get his face eaten off. I was annoyed with what happens to Frank at the end of the movie, but I think I understand why what happens happens. McMahon should be commended for making Frank as reprehensible as he possible.
Trey Harrison is hilarious as Vin the mercenary, mostly because Vin is such a raging douchebag. Arrogant and filled with malice, Vin is exactly the kind of killer that a corporation like Nordack would send out to kill or capture a zombie. Is Vin dangerous? Very much so. But is he so dangerous that he can’t be defeated? No way. Guys like Vin think they’re untouchable and too smart to be harmed, which makes their eventual demise that much more satisfying (and that isn’t a spoiler. As soon as you see Vin you know that, at some point in the movie, he’s going to be destroyed). As much as I despise Vin, I do think the movie could have used at least one more scene with him, just to make his inevitable destruction even sweeter. Just like McMahon with Frank, Harrison needs to be celebrated for making Vin thoroughly despicable. He’s the kind of mercenary bad guy that can’t be killed enough.
Wayne W. Johnson is fantastic as Monster Boy, Vin’s henchman mercenary. At first, Monster Boy comes off as the muscle for a guy that probably doesn’t deserve protection (Vin). We find out later on, though, that Monster Boy is more or a partner to Vin than a henchman, and that he believes in the general awfulness that is Vin and the Nordack Corporation. You also get the sense that Monster Boy is the kind of guy that gets off on dispensing pain to his victims and enjoys cruelty, and he’s able to be that way because he’s so goddamn large. Monster Boy’s big fight towards the end of the movie is nasty, and Johnson shows that he’s a worthy opponent for Cortes. Top notch stuff from Johnson.
And Ron Bonk is cool as hell as Mr. Clark, the mysterious main henchman of Frank. Decked out in sunglasses and leather coat, you’re never quite sure if Mr. Clark is meant to be a blind assassin or if he’s just a killer that likes to wear sunglasses. You’re annoyed that you don’t know, but you’re also content to just live with that annoyance because if you went up and asked him what his deal is he’d probably cut your goddamn head off. I think you’ll be satisfied with what happens to Mr. Clark at the end. Bonk, a fine director of low-budget horror comedies (check out my review of his amazing House Shark here), could have a future in the low-budget action movie world if he decides to make the effort. I think he would do a good job.
Johnny Z ends with the hope of a sequel of some sort. Will we ever get one? Will the story of Johnny Z get a chance to continue? I have no idea. I know I would love to see it happen. The world could use at least one more low-budget action horror zombie flick where a zombie does martial arts. So, yeah, count me in for a Johnny Z Part 2: The Return of Johnny Z or whatever they would eventually call it. But first, make an effort to see Johnny Z. If you’re a low-budget action movie fan, a low-budget horror movie fan, or someone who likes “different” kinds of movies, Johnny Z is definitely something you should make a part of your life.
See Johnny Z. See it, see it, see it. You can currently watch it on the free streaming services Tubi and Plex, and it’s also available on Amazon Prime.
So what do we have here?
Dead bodies: At least 25.
Undead bodies: At least 15 (untold millions likely off-screen)
Explosions: None.
Nudity?: None.
Doobage: An alarm. A red light. A guy gets shot for some reason. A blinking metal object is removed from the back of a guy’s neck. An off-screen bullet to the head. Multiple running zombies. Knife through the back of the head. Zombie decapitation via metal pipe in the mouth. Off screen zombie lab massacre. Machine gun attack. Van accident. Serious soldier killing. Serious neck breaking. Dead body robbing. Helicopters. Barfing. Burping. Knife retrieving. Picture kissing. A night club. Badass guy fighting zombies with hand-to-hand martial arts techniques. Multiple elbows to the head. A double zombie fight. Knife fighting practice. Cigarette smoking. Serious moonshine drinking. Chair throwing. More knife fighting practice. Multiple flashbacks. Serious martial arts practice. Stick fighting practice. Zombie shooting. A cell phone in a plastic bag. Burning stuff in a barrel. More flashbacks. Some really bad attempted pick-up lines. A brawl. A headshot. Zombie transformation hooey. Serious strangulation. Sword through the chest. Fire attack. Dirt bike riding. Zombie attack. A final sword fight. Gum spitting. Bloody hand removal. Sword breaking. Broken sword blade through the chest. TV monitor smashing.
Kim Richards?: Yes.
Gratuitous: Ron Bonk wearing sunglasses. Ron Bonk killing two guys with a sword. Guy banging a machete on jail cell doors. Zombie children eating someone. Multiple fat jokes. Characters going in and out of speaking Spanish. House of the Rising Sun on the soundtrack. A zombie drinking moonshine. A guy having sex with a zombie. Felix Cortes practicing his knife fighting technique in an open field. A little yellow motorcycle toy. Wayne W. Johnson. Trey Harrison. “They call me the hunter.” A guy walking around while hooked up to an IV drip. A zombie martial arts training montage. A zombie training in the martial arts at dusk when the sun and sky are red so it all looks even more badass. The emergency zombie broadcast system. Multiple henchmen used as human shields. A destroyed Ford Taurus in a field.
Best lines: “Take off the mask.” “His blood is the cure! He is the cure!” “What the fuck, Jonray? I thought I just shit myself!” “This is your important news?” “You’re not getting out of there, zombie dude.” “You know, I haven’t seen a zombie with just one white eye before. What’s up with that? Fashion statement?” “I would fuck Jonray! I would let Jonray fuck me! I’m not gay. I love women.” “It comes from a zombie?” “Who do you think you are? Do you think you’re human?” “You know, I’m sorry for what I said.” “Until I find a body, the hunt is still on.” “Damn, Crisanto, what a smell!” “Johnny? You’re kidding me, right? You’re giving him the name Johnny?” “Later! Z!” “You, uh, you did good today, Johnny.” “Don’t! I just want Patient Z!” “How about that short stack of pancakes?” “Death takes me. But I won’t go alone.” “Rapido! My family is waiting for me.” “You have changed, Patient Z. Impressive.”
Rating: 9.0/10.0
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Issue #1: Phantasm and Phantasm II
Issue #2: Phantasm III: Lord of the Dead and Phantasm IV: Oblivion
Issue #3: Phantasm: Ravager and John Dies at the End
Issue #5: Scanners II: The New Order and Scanners III: The Takeover
Issue #6: Scanner Cop and Scanner Cop II
Issue #7: John Wick and John Wick: Chapter 2
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Issue #11: The Marine 2 and The Marine 3: Homefront
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Johnny Z
Michael Merchant– Johnny Z
Felix Cortes– Jonray
Jason Delgado– Crisanto
David E. McMahon– Frank
Ellie Church– Lars
Trey Harrison– Vin
Wayne W. Johnson– Monster Boy
Ron Bonk– Mr. Clark
Billy Gaberina– Bossman
(check out the rest of the cast here)
Directed by Jonathan Straiton
Screenplay by Ron Bonk, based on a story by Jonathan Straiton
Produced by Hurricane Bridge Entertainment
Not Rated
Runtime– 95 minutes
Check out the Johnny Z website here. The movie can also be viewed, as of this writing, on Tubi, Plex, and Amazon Prime Video
