‘They thought they were doing the right thing. They were dead wrong.’
Johnny Frank Garrett’s Last Word is a 2016 American horror film directed by Simon Rumley (Red,White & Blue; Little Deaths; The Living and the Dead) from a script by Ben Ketai (Hush; The Strangers 2; The Forest) and Marc Haimes.
On Halloween night 1981, a Catholic nun is savagely murdered. In a haze of fear, the authorities in Amarillo, Texas feel compelled to solve the case quickly amidst widespread panic and lynch mob anger. Soon a suspect emerges as 18-year-old Johnny Frank Garrett is arrested and put on trial.
Overlooking evidence that could have cleared his name, the jury passes swift judgment and Garrett is convicted and sentenced to death. But from the moment of his arrest until his last breath Garrett professes his innocence, and following his execution a letter is found in his cell written in a voice driven by a dark force, promising retribution and cursing the souls of anyone connected with his demise.
Within weeks of his execution, Johnny’s terrifying prophecy is unleashed as a series of unexplained deaths strike down those involved in the cover-up. As his parade of victims grows, it is left to one conscience-stricken juror to exonerate Johnny and break his curse before it’s too late…
The film will be released on VOD on March 7, 2017, via Momentum Pictures.
Main cast:
Sean Patrick Flanery, Mike Doyle (The Invitation), Erin Cummings, Devin Bonnée, Dodge Prince, Sue Rock, Cassie Shea Watson, Mike Gassaway, Jon Michael Davis, Jon Arthur.
Reviews:
“While the supernatural aspects taken for granted here are naturally debatable, the factual aspects certainly lend an additional frisson to an already vivid, unsettling thriller directed with considerable aplomb and even more energy (sometimes too much) by Simon Rumley.” Dennis Harvey, Variety
“This is an incredibly atmospheric movie, dynamically shot and tightly edited so it never quite settles into a groove–such is its power. There may be dissenters claiming this isn’t “real” horror but, much like this year’s The Witch, it doesn’t need to get big and loud (or obvious) to be scary.” Joey Keogh, Wicked Horror
“Rumley’s attempts to terrify consist of quick cuts to disturbing imagery. None of it ever gets under your skin the way it should and after the tenth or so instance these flashes to disturbing imagery become tedious. The sound design that accompanies these edits is an obnoxious assault on the eardrums that does enhance the viewing experience whatsoever.” Trace Thurman, Bloody Disgusting
“While it lacks the simplistic religious angle which propelled roughly similar items like The Exorcism of Emily Rose and The Last Exorcism to crossover box office success, its unconventional scares and intense, unsettling creepiness will attract horror fans looking for more out-of-the-way material.” Kim Newman, Screen Daily
