Difference between revisions of "Johnny Firecloud/Review"
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< Johnny Firecloud
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In this Indiansploitation action classic, Victor Mohica (a dead ringer for Anton Chigurh from No Country For Old Men) stars in the title role. We are introduced to Johnny Firecloud (named after an atomic bomb) as he drives through his hick town and is stopped by the local sheriff (David Canary) who clearly holds him in contempt. Johnny is a Vietnam vet but isn't respected at all, which certainly reflects | In this Indiansploitation action classic, Victor Mohica (a dead ringer for Anton Chigurh from No Country For Old Men) stars in the title role. We are introduced to Johnny Firecloud (named after an atomic bomb) as he drives through his hick town and is stopped by the local sheriff (David Canary) who clearly holds him in contempt. Johnny is a Vietnam vet but isn't respected at all, which certainly reflects America's temperment in the early 70s. | ||
Since returning from the Nam, Johnny has lived with his grandfather Chief White Eagle (Frank DeKova) a burn out who hangs around the town bar. When Johnny arrives to pick him up one night, he finds the locals abusing the old man. He goes buckwild taking out all the whiskey soaked hicks with his flying fists and karate kicks. Johnny doesn't let these guys push him around and upholds his honor. | Since returning from the Nam, Johnny has lived with his grandfather Chief White Eagle (Frank DeKova) a burn out who hangs around the town bar. When Johnny arrives to pick him up one night, he finds the locals abusing the old man. He goes buckwild taking out all the whiskey soaked hicks with his flying fists and karate kicks. Johnny doesn't let these guys push him around and upholds his honor. | ||
Revision as of 22:34, 17 January 2018
In this Indiansploitation action classic, Victor Mohica (a dead ringer for Anton Chigurh from No Country For Old Men) stars in the title role. We are introduced to Johnny Firecloud (named after an atomic bomb) as he drives through his hick town and is stopped by the local sheriff (David Canary) who clearly holds him in contempt. Johnny is a Vietnam vet but isn't respected at all, which certainly reflects America's temperment in the early 70s.
Since returning from the Nam, Johnny has lived with his grandfather Chief White Eagle (Frank DeKova) a burn out who hangs around the town bar. When Johnny arrives to pick him up one night, he finds the locals abusing the old man. He goes buckwild taking out all the whiskey soaked hicks with his flying fists and karate kicks. Johnny doesn't let these guys push him around and upholds his honor.
We learn that Johnny only came back to the dump of a town because of his lost love, June Colby (Christina Hart) who just happens to be the daughter of a rancher (Ralph Meeker) that is swiping every bit of land from the native American people in the area.
The beautiful Sacheen Littlefeather (who most film fans will recognize as the woman who accepted Marlon Brando's Oscar in 1972) plays Johnny's friend Nenya, a kind schoolteacher who is brutally raped by Colby's gang of bigot bastards. After the men leave the scene, Johnny discovers her bloodied half naked body and she soon dies.
Johnny vows to get revenge for Nenya and this is when the film really goes into full Exploitation mode as he methodically attacks all the men, using torturous methods inspired by his Indian heritage. He gets 'em good!
Johnny Firecloud was produced by 20th Century Fox, but it definitely plays like a low budget independent B-movie. To me it adds another special element to the film, seeing the Hollywood studio opening fanfare then getting such a crazy little exploitation film perfect for the grindhouses and drive-ins of 1975.
Peter Roberts is the co-founder/editor-in-chief of the Grindhouse Cinema Database (GCDb) and contributor to the GCDb's sister site Furious Cinema. A Massachusetts native, he is an avid film fan that has been immersed in the world of entertainment and pop culture his entire life. He is a professional digital media designer and educator.
