Guillermo del On This Trippy Cult Classic: “up there with Raimi”
It’s always exciting to get to share recommendations where one iconic filmmaker champions the work of another. Fortunately, I’ve got just such a scenario for you at present. That’s right, dear reader, I have a film recommendation from celebrated creator Guillermo del Toro. This pick sees the Mimic director singing the praises of Don Coscarelli’s John Dies at the End. As if that weren’t exciting enough already, del Toro adds a third beloved creator to the mix, likening Coscarelli’s undeniably trippy creation to the unflinching output of genre stalwart Sam Raimi.
Finding this recommendation took a little bit of digging, but it was well worth it. Way back in 2016, del Toro jumped on Twitter (it will never be X for this critic) to show some much-deserved love to John Dies at the End. His post reads: “Film: John Dies at the End by Don Coscarelli. Coscarelli is right up there with Raimi in terms of zany horror/comedy. Lysergic fun.”
In case you’re not familiar with the word lysergic, it refers to a compound commonly found in hallucinogenic drugs. Seeing as the film is plenty trippy, that’s a fitting descriptor.
Sadly, John Dies at the End isn’t nearly as well-known as Coscarelli’s Phantasm films, but that has little to do with the film’s quality. I think the picture is still finding its audience on the basis of how outlandish it is. This feature is surely not for everyone. Though, if the promise of a phallus doorknob and trippy visuals that prevail throughout pique your curiosity, this film is almost certainly for you.
In case you’re unfamiliar with the particulars, Coscarelli takes the sole screenwriting and directing credits for this quirky effort. The filmmaker adapted the script from the David Wong novel of the same name.
What are your thoughts on John Dies at the End? If you haven’t yet had the chance to take in this mind-melting feature from the genius mind behind the Phantasm franchise, you have a couple of viable options for scoping the flick. John Dies at the End is presently available to stream on both Tubi and Xumo Play.
The setup for John Dies at the End goes like this:
A new drug promises out-of-body experiences, but users are coming back changed forever, and an otherworldly invasion of Earth is underway.
Well, there you have it, dear reader. Guillermo del Toro sees John Dies at the End for the standout effort that it is, and now you know where to stream it. Heck yes. Stay tuned for more updates, asides, and recommendations from your favorite creators as we successfully unearth them.
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