insolent_dragon This is a 7 minute short film by Chris Cunningham, about a shape-shifting, mutant child named Johnny, who is kept in a basement with only his dog and his imagination for company.It has also been suggested that Johnny is merely a hallucinating drug addict, because at one point in the film you can see him snort a line of white powder.However, the original concept was for a video of a raver morphing as he danced, which eventually evolved into the concept of a music video/short film about a mutant child keeping himself occupied.While incredibly disturbing, it's definitely worth a few watches. Once the initial shock of the images wears off, a vastly creative video shows itself through all the creepiness.Filmed almost entirely in night-vision, the film has a grainy, documentary feel to it, which is why upon first watching it, some people concluded it was actual footage of a mutant.With original music by Aphex Twin (inserted into the film as a remix done by the director himself) the latter part of the video does more resemble a music video than a documentary, and you'll almost certainly find yourself watching the last 2 or 3 minutes again.In all, disturbing and unforgettable. Not for the easily scared or sensitive.

g8jedi The first time I watched this I was seriously disturbed. I couldn't take my eyes off of it. My girlfriend had to leave the room, because she couldn't watch it. Every time we show it to someone they leave feeling uneasy and weirded out. Chris Cunningham's precision and attention to every terrifying detail make's Rubber Johnny the most memorable thing I have watched in a long time. I became interested in his work after seeing the Bjork Robot Video 'All is full of love'. He also did 'Come to Daddy' for Aphex Twin, 'Frozen' for Madonna and Portishead's "Only You". "All is Full of Love" was nominated for a Grammy and won Best Breakthrough video and Special Effects at the 2000 MTV Video Awards.

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.

qusw Since Aphex Twin (who is a solo artist BTW, Richard D. James) released "Drukqs" in 2001, there has always been the Rubber Johnny video but as a short. Now that Cunningham has completed a 7 minute short it is just a closer look at this completely insane, body twisting freak. And Aphex comes through with minimal and effective sound design. The music is comes from the release "Drukqs" (somewhat modified) but it, as always, is a perfect combination of Cunningham and James. There is a 40 page book of photographs and drawing as well I believe to coincide with the short. It is actually being played cinemas in England and perhaps, at some point, it will play somewhere in USA...