ManiakJiggy This is How Movies Should Be Made

Dotbankey A lot of fun.

Grimossfer Clever and entertaining enough to recommend even to members of the 1%

Aneesa Wardle The story, direction, characters, and writing/dialogue is akin to taking a tranquilizer shot to the neck, but everything else was so well done.

cliffskel Chris Cunningham is a genius of FX and editing when it comes to establishing a tone or touching on a theme. But when it comes to telling a story (as Borat says) "not so much". The story in this slice of a locked away 'elephant man' is not a story as much as is a glimpse into a world abhorrent. The 'rubber' part of johnny is all in his mind, we are to assume seeing as he is a cripple when ever that door opens. Perhaps only the dog can see those 'liberation' thoughts. That's pretty much it. I would love to see Chris do a full length feature using his skills directing a well written story, (like mine). Chris, if you read this, I have a script that is perfect for you. It's got all of your favorite themes, style of humor and outright creepiness that is your signature. You can find me through Motel Films in L.A.

tonymurphylee RUBBER JOHNNY is a short film by acclaimed music video director Chris Cunningham. It is a strangely emotional film about a deformed subhuman that does, something. I don't know what he does, it's a little difficult to describe. It could be interpreted as dancing, and indeed, it is pretty much the only thing it could remotely be, but there is something more elaborate at work here. He may be stoned. The film can be easily taken as a music video, but I think that to call it that would be too easy. One could easily dismiss it as Chris Cunningham showing off his prosthetic morphing techniques, but they are far too simple to be shoved off as such. There is a story here, but we are given the bare minimum of what the underlying theme is, which is boredom. Or maybe it's loneliness. What I think is especially unique about this video is the lack of any sort of purpose. It simply tells of an apparent event. There appears to be some kind of theme involving male genitalia, with the title, RUBBER JOHNNY, and the fact that the title is marked on an erect penis. The prosthetics on display here are pretty abstract and disgusting, but in a fascinating and unique way. Chris Cunningham is great because he can take something popular in our culture and completely twist and distort it in a way that allows it to be the same popular thing, but the viewer will have a completely different feeling or opinion about it. Just look at his video for Aphex Twin's WINDOWLICKER. He takes the female body and shows it in a different way that is original and simple so that they remain in the same form the viewer was into before, however, because of the way he altered it the viewer gets repulsed and even very frightened by it now. The music video WINDOWLICKER was, in away, an act of protest and rebellion. As a result, I consider today to be among the most shocking music videos ever made. However, RUBBER JOHNNY is also a protest, but on a deeper level. The paranormal idea is so attractive in our way of life that we have caused culture revolving around aliens and humans to be a funny dream. What if somebody treated the idea in an honest and original way? The creature in this film may very well be human, but he is certainly not somebody that we would ever have any interest of allowing him to adapt to our ways. Chris Cunningham is able to take things a step further by adding a sexual element into the idea of RUBBER JOHNNY. The enlarged penis of the creature is another step in the direction of the fantasies that many people have discussed about having some sort of sexual or bodily interest in otherworldly beings. The film, instead, dares you to try and think about sex while watching this horrifying movie. I think that if Chris Cunningham continues to make daring and creative films like these, people could really look back on his work after the world has continued to grow and alter itself and realize that he had ideas that none of us have ever thought honestly about. Do visual effects really have to be complicated and drawn out to be good? Is the female body really a more beautiful thing that the male body? Are the ideas behind aliens really as fascinating as we've led ourselves to believe? It's these kinds of questions that make films like RUBBER JOHNNY work.

maxyg18 This creepy short film has been rumored that it's real footage of a badly deformed human being. It's not; all it is, is just a short homemade horror movie, which I thought didn't make much sense. Yes it was quite disturbing and well made, but what was this movie about? I've been watching this movie quite a few times and I barely got it. The closest description that I can give you is that it's just about some sort of creature or a badly deformed human being who lives in a basement of a house with his dog and an abusive parent or owner. Although it doesn't make much sense, it's worth checking out and can also be seen on various websites.

Per A. I guess my main beef with "Rubber Johnny" is that it is a freak show: a weird crippled child dances for the audience. The style/design explored territory covered during the goth/ industrial scene since the 90's. The filmmaker is obviously talented - but I didn't find the film either shocking or entertaining, just obnoxious. The whole marketing and experience of the film had the subtext: "There's this weird pale mutant in the basement. Isn't that cool??" I guess the concept of a freak show put me off. All of that said, Cunningham is a genuine talent - and apparently has good marketers behind him. So, hope to hear and see more from him in the future.