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Here's your first look at the one-sheet for Don Coscarelli's JOHN DIES AT THE END!
Ahoy, squirts! Quint here. I am going to Sundance this year. There was a period of time, towards the end of my Hobbit tour of duty, where all I wanted was to just come home, sleep a lot, leisurely catch up on movies, get lost in Skyrim and not travel ever again for the rest of my days. That included Sundance.
But much like the mafia, just when I thought I was out Sundance pulled me right back in. John Dies at the End is one of my most anticipated films this year, partly because I know and like Don Coscarelli and partly because I know and like the original source material. It's such a weird bird and Coscarelli has a helluva track record doing weird/awesome low budget work. Phantasm and Bubba Ho-tep alone proves he knows his shit.
So, when that was announced and I started seeing the schedule I knew that I was going to nut up, pull out my winter clothes and mentally prepare myself for some more adventures.
What we have for you today is the first look at the John Dies at the End poster, which introduces one of the weapons in the film. John and David are kind of like stupid Ghostbusters and they have to deal with some unworldly shit. So why not have a baseball bat covered in bible pages? Oh, and some nails. That helps, too.
Enjoy and click to enlargen:

Here's the official synopsis:
On the street, they call it "soy sauce." It's a paranormal, psychoactive drug that promises an out-of-body experience with each hit. Its users drift across time and dimensions, but some who come back are devoid of all humanity. While most of Earth's inhabitants remain blissfully oblivious to its threat. Make no mistake, an otherworldly invasion is under way, and mankind needs to be saved. Enter John and David, a pair of college dropouts who can barely hold down jobs. How can these guys possibly be expected to rescue mankind from certain destruction?
Originally erupting from the devilishly ingenious mind of David Wong, alter ego of Cracked.com's senior editor Jason Pargin, JOHN DIES AT THE END began as a Web serial that became an Internet phenomenon. In the highly capable hands of legendary cult horror director Don Coscarelli (Phantasm, Bubba Ho-Tep), Pargin's wildly trippy vision is forged into big-screen eye candy. The end result will take you to places in your subconscious that you shouldn't be allowed to visit.
The flick screens very soon and I'll be back with some thoughts on that when I finally get to see it!
-Eric Vespe
”Quint”
quint@aintitcool.com
Follow Me On Twitter

Readers Talkback
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kind of a ripoff of Inglorious Bastards. kind of.
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They're all in there. I wasn't sure about it when i heard it was happening, then found out who was involved and he's prefect for it. Very much looking forward to this.
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I kind of want to read the novel before I see the film. Does the trailer give away too much of the plot, or is it an actual teaser that just sparks interest? I hate it when I see the words -teaser trailer- and then there is a 2.5 minute trailer that gives away the whole damn storyline. If so, I'll read the book before I take one look at a frame of the movie, whether that be the actual film or just the trailer.
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Such a good film maker,but it always takes him almost a decade to get a film done.Bubba came out in 2003.
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Neither did Phantasm. Heck, I didn't even finish Phantasm. I got like 40 minutes in and fell asleep. The only reason I made it through Bubba Ho-Tep was the amazingness of Bruce Campbell.
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Fell asleep watching it.
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sleeping habits make it a bad movie?
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I just don't get it. It's just not an intelligent group.
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When they're reading the writing on the bathroom walls...that was a funny gag
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I wouldn't say the trailer I saw would spoil anything. The book is so fucking bugnuts insane, I don't even think watching this whole movie will really take away from how brilliant that book is. Best Read I've had in years. I would personally watch the trailer, than read the book, then You'll get more out of the film. I'm curious how they are going to pull off some of the book, to People who haven't read the book and have it make much sense. Also, in another TB, I mentioned that a sequel book is coming out called This Book is Full of Spiders, I wonder if it will Coincide with the film realease? In other words, lv_426, Read the Book! :)
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your movies earlier in the day. Not watching Phantasm gets your Horror Geek card taken away.
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I will watch this.
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Like a mix of Naked Lunch and Evil Dead.
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Getting close there for sure. Throw in some more, Like Terry Gilliam and say something like Phantasm, and we still aren't close to the book. I couldn't thing of a better director for this. A friend of mine, recommended House of Leaves to read, when we Discussed John dies at the end. He had only read part of John, when it was originally released online. He told me not to read any reviews of Leaves, to not spoil anything, but damn, I'm curious about that book as well.
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Vista Pines Facility for the NOT INSAN
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If you've read the book, you can see SO much of the book in the trailer. But, if you have only seen the trailer you would have no clue what happens next in the book. Also, beware of Rastafarians that can shrink themselves to 3 feet tall, fucking scarey) Sincerely, -Shitload
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Book actually starts to get genuinely scary at the end.
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Narcoleptics unable to appreciate greatness of Don Coscarelli films. Who knew?
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2true!
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No doubt, wouldn't expect those 2 movies to be on the list of snoozefests. You learn something new every day.
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Jan. 13, 2012, 3:06 a.m. CST
Really looking forward to this - COSCARELLI may finally fulfill his potential
by melonman
Ever since PHANTASM I've always thought of him as an ingenious low budget talent, but BUBBA aside, he has disappointed more often than not. Probably a mistake for him to get bogged down in PHANTASM sequels. JOHN does look brilliant though. This could be the masterpiece I've been waiting for all these years.
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nice
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Jan. 13, 2012, 6:57 a.m. CST
Loved the book and LOVE this poster. High hopes for sure. And before the religious outrage begins...
by ClayMatthews
...think of that bat like a squirt gun full of Holy Water or a cross for Dracula. Oh - and read the book. And lighten up.
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Jan. 13, 2012, 6:57 a.m. CST
"The National Baseball League does not endorse this film!"
by ClayMatthews
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Jan. 13, 2012, 7:07 a.m. CST
I like the soy sauce logo at the bottom. Damned good poster for a movie that I can't believe got made.
by fireclown
The fact that this movie got made, and with some solid talent no less, gives me some hope for hollywood.
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or a theater showing?
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Don Coscarelli totally rocks the shit out of weird scifi horror concepts like this story. He totally owned Phantasm!
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it'll be an awesome film as it will be stripped down to the good stuff. Looking forward to this.
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and I'm really looking forward to the movie. Don's definitely the guy to do it. The story always seemed fairly big-budget to me, though, so I'm not sure how the low-budget treatment is going to work for it, but I trust Don. Anyone know when the sequel to the book is coming out?
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I feel Coscarelli nailed one of the 1980s best films, in such an ingenious way given the budget.
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Jan. 13, 2012, 9:59 a.m. CST
I agree Melonman. Don Coscarelli is a very talented writer/director and it's a shame the majority of his films have been inferior Phantasm sequels (except 2, which was decent).
by P
He did this weird coming-of-age film in 76 called Kenny and Co., staring Michael Baldwin and Reggie Banister before they all teamed up on Phantasm. It's a very sweet, funny picture, with typical 70s goofiness. It's like as if Dazed and Confused were strictly focused on the younger brother character and his friends. It's on DVd and worth a look.
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Beastmaster is one of my favorite low budget films. I love the whole Roger Corman feel of it. Yes, the effects were lacking here and there but it made up for it in fun. Lots of imagination in that movie. And...it featured one of the coolest swords ever - Dar's sctimitar/katana hybrid made by Vic Anselmo. Next to Ron Cobb's Atlantean sword from CONAN, it is my favorite movie blade. Oh, and before you all think I'm blind or something, yes, the movie also had Tanya Roberts. Damn, she was one fine woman.
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No floating heads, no photoshopped bullshit with a bazillion lightsources and scale issues, just a center of focus that hints at the story with a lot of interesting mystery. Even the font is great! Good to know Hollywood still has some good poster artists in their employ. I was beginning to wonder.
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Beastmaster's SUCH an underrated film, and it's a shame it had such horrid sequels and a television series that tainted its good name. From the designs, to the score, to the cast, content, and sheer imagination, it's a film I'll never fall out of love with. I'm glad to know I'm not the only staunch supporter of that being Coscarelli's best film!
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No unnecessary lens flares.
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Jan. 13, 2012, 10:33 a.m. CST
Growing up in the 80s, me and all my friends all wanted to be Beastmaster. It's the ultimate adolescent wish fulfillment movie:
by P
Being able to communicate with animals and have them do your bidding? The sword? Tanya Roberts? If you think about the Beastmaster's origin story and his superpowers, it could be argued that it's actually a superhero movie, and a damn good one at that.
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Absolutely! He's most certainly a superhero in a fantastical realm. I think the lower budget helped make the world more believable in a lot of ways, and made Dar a very easy hero to identify with.
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I couldn't even finish it myself. I can't believe the guy who did Phantasm did that movie. But the synopsis of this film does sound cool. If the source material is as good as everyone says it is then this will be a can't miss.
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but that's one of the best movie posters i've ever seen.
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Hurry up and make Phantasm V !!!
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