Room 37: The Mysterious Death of Johnny Thunders

source: Room 37: The Mysterious Death of Johnny Thunders

At end of movie only, I knew that the movie was based on real character, Johny Thunder, a rock star. Before this I didn't know about it. On the contrary I though that the movie would be based on horror of room 37. But it is different. However movie is slower than it deserve as a biopic. While watching the movie you can feel continuously that the movie is very slow. Thus slowness makes you lose interest. Moreover it is not portrayed in the aspect of entertainment. It is pure art movie. Some suspense is created here but none of surprised you nor that has any link or clue or any disclose behind it. Acting by main character is in a awful way. In some angle is justified as Johny taking drugs but other angle it should have a better way to express aloneness and pain. However it is just okay. Maid in the hotel is so attractive (mostly they are not in hotels). Story is also so confusing some stages.. There is no clue who steals the money. Most significant thing of the movie is its length. It may have been shorten at least 20 minutes. Overall the movie is not much recommended. If you have a lot of time to kill and also have a good patience to watch a little story so long then you may take risk otherwise avoid it.

This independent film did for the late rock star Johnny Thunders of The New York Dolls what the major studio film Hollywoodland (2006) did for actor George Reeves. While not as nationally known as the actor who played Superman on TV, Johnny Thunders was also a tragic cultural icon who was loved, admired and pitied by many (particularly those who grew up in the 1970's and 80's punk rock scene) and died under VERY mysterious circumstances that will never be understood with certainty. That means filmmakers can use the few facts that are known as an outline and fill in the rest with the best creative fiction they can muster. In the case of Johnny Thunders, who struggled with heroin addiction and was moving to NOLA to get away from it, the filmmakers appropriately depicted his downfall as a bad drug trip. It is widely believed that Thunders was deliberately dosed with LSD and murdered by locals in NOLA who wanted to steal his money and large methadone supply, and that is what the film essentially shows. The late Sylvain Sylvain, Johnny's former bandmate, lent his actual voice to recreate a realistic phone call with Johnny. I saw Johnny Thunders perform numerous times and even spoke with him face-to-face off-stage and I can vouch that Leo Ramsey's performance was incredible. He obviously studied films of Johnny Thunders and got the voice and mannerisms right without descending into New York caricature. Took away one star for being too long and having some repetitive nightmare sequences.

This movie was not what I expected but I loved it. I would say we got a insight into Johnny Thunders mind through this movie, I will be watching it again as I know I will see more in it each time I watch it I noticed on a few reviews that people just really didn't get the movie. It's as described the last few days of Johnny's life, don't go into this thinking it is a musical.

The movie is a nice mystery but that plot point just doesn't sit well. If Johnny was dosed with LSD in this gargantuan amount he'd seen much more than just a guy in a cow skull suit. If you suspend your disbelief at that one point, the movie might work, but otherwise it's just pure fantasy.

If you grew up in the 70s then you were there to witness the beginnings of the punk rock movement. On the edge of that was a group known as the New York Dolls. Fronted by David Johansen with Johnny Thunder on lead guitar the group was known as rockers but that edge was always there in sight. Arguments between Johansen and Thunders led to the breakup of the group. Johansen went on to perform as Buster Poindexter and Thunders went out on his own with his band the Heartbreakers before attempting a solo career. ROOM 37 revolves around the last few days of Thunders life. Recovering from addiction to heroin he's retreated to a room in St. Peter's Guest House Hotel in New Orleans in an attempt to clean up his life. With a case full of money, a supply of methadone and his guitar he either sits in the room or wanders the streets soaking up the music. One night he runs into an old friend and they discuss what's gone on in his life. Separated from his wife Thunders wants to clean himself up so he can see his daughter again. The friend convinces him to take stage for one song but in the middle Thunders has an attack and falls from the stage. Returning to his room he's attacked and wakes to find his money and his methadone gone. From here he launches into an attack of the hotel owner who tells him the place is not responsible for the security of items left in the room. With little help from them he heads out to attempt to track down his missing meds and money. This leads him on a journey into darkness and one filled with violent characters who could care less about his celebrity status. The end result is known to fans. The death of Thunders in this hotel has been fueled with rumors and stories for years now. What exactly happened in unsure. Some say he died of an overdose while others claim he was a victim of foul play. No one knows for sure. This film attempts to present its own version of what went down. The movie is an interesting film that keeps you watching from start to finish. Well-made and directed the main focus of the film is Thunders as portrayed by Leo Ramsey. If that performance failed nothing would make it worthwhile. But Ramsey brings the man to life from his moods to appearance to style of walking to dealing with the demons that led to his death. That's an accomplishment in itself and helps the film. Fans of music and rock in particular will want to give this one a watch. It might make you break out those old New York Dolls LPs and give them a listen once again. In any event it will have you wondering what really took place in New Orleans in Room 37. Who really knows for sure?

This harrowing portrail of the effects of drugs is captivating. Prior knowledge of Johnny Thunders is not necessary as this film is a great piece of work in it's own right. Rewatching 'Trainspotting' twenty years after its release that film is a comical (which was intentional) and trivialising portrail of addiction and withdrawals. 'Room 37' goes much further with its unrelenting tone, narrative and character, to the point where the image on Johnny suffering will stay with you. My knowledge of Johnny Thunders doesnt go much further than a few New York Dolls CDs bought at Uni and nothing about the facts of his death. I can assume that (along with most biopics) the dedicated fans may find fault, but, just watching the film as a piece of art in it's own right it holds it's own alongside 'Walk The Line' and 'Ray' in building your interest for the character your are presented with. Yes this is a low budget film, but it only shows once in a while. But for the filmmakers to do so much with the budget they had they should be applauded. Thriller and horror genre tropes are used to expand the decent into madness. Narrative leaps (which a studio film would water down) draw you in. Plus, a brilliant central performance and extremely good supporting cast in the hotel manager and maid characters. This film can be found for free online at Tubi and is worth your time if you love films with great character, innovative storytelling and an uncompromising portrayal.

This movie rules. If you're going to make a movie about Johnny Thunders, this is the way to do it. I'm not sure who had the idea to turn the mysterious unknown circumstances surrounding the final hours of the punk rock legend's life into a full on, balls out, Jacob's Ladder-esque thriller, but they deserve an award. The movie starts with Johnny landing in a new town, fish out of water in New Orleans, finally clean after years of heroin addiction, ready to turn his life, and career around. Things flip upside down on Johnny real quick when he's recognized at a bar. Johnny starts seeing things... things normal folks don't see. He quickly becomes a paranoid wreck. Is everyone out to get him? Has he truly reached the end of his line, and is seeing something from the other side coming for him? Or is it all in his head? The film turns into an edge of your seat horror movie pretty quickly, and ends on a heartbreakingly tragic note. It's an incredibly well made, creepy as hell thrill ride. Leo Ramsey nails his performance as Johnny. It was like watching the real Johnny Thunders navigate a nightmare. The film really does this wonderful thing of taking this messed up rock star and drops him in the middle of a horror movie. I can't think of any other movie like it. Not what I was expecting at all, and loved every second of it. Fans of punk rock, and Johnny's music will love this flick.

By all means,, its more like a straight story about an artist that tries to become straight again after years of havocing and surfing the wave of fame in rock and roll, with alcohol in one hand and drugs in the other, and a suffers a bend so extrem that it almost makes him bend over, for god and everyone for a dose of methadon, to ease the pain. but everyone doesnt care and the ultimate chaos in the end, due to endless sessions of paranoia and hallusinations seems to give the main cgharacter a one way ticket to hell. the acting are not good, its feasable at times, but in the art of acting panick, the actor comes short, and the look in his eye to the director screams '' CAN WE STOP NOW FOR GODS SAKE''. the tech impression bears all signs of low budget, and pennyturning, it has its moments,, but its merely a reprise of good old twists and turns. but by all means , i give it a 6, for the fancy looking main character, that reminded me, the grumpy old man, of the swedish actor rickard wollf in the aenglagård triology

NEVER trust anyone who has good things to say about this movie! Maybe someone who is completely oblivious to rock n roll, has never heard of Johnny Thunders, and has no idea what this movie was supposed to be about. The "based on a true story" line is COMPLETE, 110% utter bulls**t. The only accurate thing about this movie is that it's based in New Orleans, still completely ignoring the fact that he was only there 24 hours before he died. Not near long enough for all the low budget horror movie scenes this was filled with. I can just imagine poor Johnny's disgrace as he looks down on us watching this, making a joke of his name. Portraying him as nothing but a sad junkie, discrediting everything he contributed to music and the creation of punk rock. I just pray no one believes this as true. Makes me very sad for his memory, and i really wish there was a 0, or even negative, star review. If you're looking for a GOOD, true movie about Johnny's life and demise, go watch Born To Lose. Leave this in the toilet.