Johnny & Clyde is a 2023 American crime thriller film directed by Tom DeNucci and starring Megan Fox, Tyson Ritter, and Michael Madsen. The film follows the story of two serial killers who are madly in love and on an endless crime spree.
The film was released on Netflix on May 4, 2023, and received mixed reviews from critics. Some praised the film’s stylish visuals and Megan Fox’s performance, while others criticized its violence and lack of substance.
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Johnny & Clyde Review
Psychopathic serial killer lovers meet their match in an absolute casino boss with a demon on a string. That’s the hook for Johnny & Clyde, which dulls the senses with a mindless stream of bloody violence and cartoonish execution. New wave synth pounds your eardrums as despicable lead characters lick each other like everlasting gobstoppers, their grotesque coterie amassing new sadists under a neon red lighting scheme. It’s all style and zero substance in a woefully fractured narrative. Megan Fox’s sultry villainess offers the only redeeming quality. She gets minor chuckles as a ruthless control freak.
Alana Heart (Fox) entertains an intrepid reporter (Vanessa Angel) in her office as manager of the Four Horses Casino. There are rumors she has a satanic henchman to settle grievances. She laughs at the absurd accusation. Meanwhile, the infamous Johnny (Avan Jogia) and Clyde (Ajani Russell) stop at a highway gas station. The spree killers and robbers make quick work of a hapless attendant, a slight diversion from their usual pastime of motel room fornication on wads of stolen cash.
Their latest murder gets the attention of disgraced Sheriff Randall Lock (Armen Garo). He wants revenge for Johnny and Clyde carving up his daughter. The carnage couple learns of a much bigger score while attempting to rob an armored car. The Four Seasons Casino holds a vast fortune at a relatively unprotected secret location.
Ambitious Intentions
Johnny decides to wrangle some old chums for the heist of a lifetime. The suicidal Butcher (Nick Principe), insane bomber Baker (Charles W. Harris III), and torturer Candlestick (Robert Lasardo) jump at the chance. Who can turn down money and mass casualties? Alana gets wind of their ambitious intentions and decides to bring her heavy hitter into the game. She summons the Elder (Fred Sullivan) to awaken the demonic Bakwas (also Principe).
There’s a lot to criticize, but let’s begin with the most egregious. Clyde parades around scantily clad. She delights in shooting innocent people and has very little dialogue. Johnny controls her like a puppet. He yaps constantly while she worships his maniacal bloodlust. Johnny uses her as a sexual distraction before moving in for the kill. She doesn’t contribute anything to an already feeble plot. Her characterization is cheap and offensive. It’s bad enough she’s an unrepentant monster. Clyde needed to speak and be more than just heinous arm candy.
The premise has Johnny & Clyde constantly on the run. Law enforcement can’t catch them. They are the country’s most wanted criminals. Inexplicably, Lock, Heart, and various other goons always know their location for blazing impromptu gun battles. This happens constantly throughout the film. Everyone just pops up to tussle at random. There had to be some explanation, no matter how inane, of these showdowns. The fact there doesn’t prove the filmmakers had no interest in logically connecting any dots.
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Megan Fox’s Unique Interests
Megan Fox has a running gag that saves the film from being an abject disaster. She has two submissive slaves in bondage outfits, Honey (Brett Azar) and Pot (Sydney Jenkins), who serve her every whim like obedient lapdogs. Let’s just say she has unique interests that aren’t for the faint of heart. Johnny & Clyde is a jumbled mess otherwise.
Johnny & Clyde is a production of Hyperborea Films, LaSalle Productions, and Verdi Productions. It will have a concurrent theatrical and VOD release on May 5th from Screen Media Films.
The film’s biggest strength is its style. DeNucci has a clear vision for the film, and he brings it to life with stylish visuals and a catchy synth score. The film is visually striking, and it has a unique look that sets it apart from other crime thrillers.
Megan Fox is also a standout in the film. She gives a charismatic performance as the femme fatale Johnny. Fox is having a lot of fun with the role, and she brings a lot of energy to the film.
The film’s biggest weakness is its violence. The film is incredibly violent, and it often feels gratuitous. The violence is not used to make a point or to advance the story, it is simply there for shock value.
The film also lacks substance. The characters are one-dimensional, and the plot is predictable. The film feels like it is trying to be a stylish homage to classic crime thrillers, but it falls short.
Johnny & Clyde is a stylish but ultimately empty crime thriller. The film is visually striking, but it is let down by its violence and lack of substance. If you are looking for a stylish crime thriller with a lot of violence, then Johnny & Clyde may be for you. However, if you are looking for a film with more substance, then you may want to look elsewhere.
Rating: ⅖. Recommended for: Fans of stylish crime thrillers and Megan Fox. Not recommended for Fans of films with substance and a lack of violence.
The violence is gratuitous. The film often shows violence for shock value, and it does not serve any narrative purpose. characters are one-dimensional and are not developed, and they are all essentially stereotypes. The plot is predictable. The plot of the film is very predictable, and it is easy to guess what is going to happen next.
Despite its flaws, Johnny & Clyde is still worth a watch for fans of stylish crime thrillers and Megan Fox. The film is visually striking, and Fox gives a charismatic performance. However, if you are looking for a film with more substance, then you may want to look elsewhere.
