Johnny Gruesome
Way back in 1984, I wrote my second original screenplay, JOHNNY GRUESOME. It was the height of the slasher craze, when cinematic monsters were mostly silent, masked killers who carried big knives and farm tools. I wanted Johnny to be different, to ooze personality. He’s a wisecracking heavy metal teenager who returns from the grave for revenge after his murder; mind you, there was no Freddy Kreuger yet. Vestron Video loved the script, and Larry Kasanoff (James Cameron’s future production partner) called me for a meeting. I don’t think he expected a 19-yea-old kid to show up at the restaurant, and he passed on the project, so I made SLIME CITY instead. But I never gave up the ghost with Johnny: I remember my friend Eric Mache delivering a beautiful JOHNNY GRUESOME painting to me on the set of Frank Henenlotter’s BRAIN DAMAGE. I’ve never been willing to compromise on the production requirements for this project—a lot of night shooting, snowy exteriors, and a frozen creek—so I rejected going the micro-budget route; Johnny deserves better. This headbanger from hell is my baby, and he just won’t stay dead. I’ve completed a JOHNNY GRUESOME novel, which Zach McCain has illustrated; and Giasone and Marcy Italiano have written a theme song, “Guesome,” which G has recorded—in character as Johnny—and they are currently penning an entire album; a music video and a comic book are also in the works. So lock your doors, because 2007 is going to be the year that JOHNNY GRUESOME kicks your ass!
