They pepper their conversation with references to the Book of Revelations, bar codes and "the mark of the beast", combined together into a rant that Johnny has no doubt rehearsed in his mind, employed to chip away at what remains of Brian's guarded optimism about the future – that of himself and mankind – none of which matters under the gaze of what Johnny describes as "a hateful God...a nasty bastard." He tries to charm Sandra, who seems more immune than most of the other women in the film, but decides instead to steal the stack of cash Jeremy had left behind and heads out into the streets, hobbling and hopping painfully as the camera pulls away, leaving him behind just as it had discovered him in that first shot. When the film came out I certainly saw a lot of myself reflected in Johnny – not the sexual violence, but definitely the anger and misanthropy, the disappointed idealism, the default to hostility in social situations and the eagerness for confrontation.
Author: Rick McGinnis
Published at: 2025-03-29 14:00:00
Still want to read the full version? Full article
