Henry Johnson (film)
| Henry Johnson | |
|---|---|
| Directed by | David Mamet |
| Written by | David Mamet |
| Based on | Henry Johnson by David Mamet |
| Produced by |
|
| Starring |
|
| Cinematography | Sing Howe Yam |
| Edited by | Banner Gwin |
| Music by | Jay Wadley |
Production company | 1993 |
| Distributed by | 1993 |
Release date |
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Running time | 85 minutes |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
Henry Johnson is a 2025 American prison drama film written and directed by David Mamet and starring Shia LaBeouf and Evan Jonigkeit. It is based on Mamet's 2023 play.[1]
Plot
Henry Johnson (Evan Jonigkeit), a reserved and seemingly ordinary man, finds his sense of self tested when he crosses paths with Gene (Shia LaBeouf), a dominant and enigmatic figure who takes a keen interest in him. What begins as mentorship soon blurs into psychological manipulation, with Gene drawing Henry into a web of ambiguous motives and shifting power dynamics. Set within a stark institutional environment, the film unfolds through taut dialogue and minimalistic staging, exploring themes of agency, loyalty, and identity while echoing its theatrical origins.
Cast
- Shia LaBeouf as Gene[1]
- Evan Jonigkeit as Henry Johnson[1]
- Chris Bauer as Mr. Barnes[2]
- Dominic Hoffman as Jerry
Production
In April 2025, it was announced that production on the film wrapped.[1]
Release
The film premiered at the Aero Theatre in Los Angeles on May 9, 2025.[3] It is also currently available to rent via the film's website as of May 9.[1]
Reception
The film has a 60% rating on Rotten Tomatoes based on 35 reviews.[4] Christian Zilko of IndieWire graded the film a C+.[5] Glenn Kenny of RogerEbert.com awarded the film three stars.[6] Julian Roman of MovieWeb awarded the film two stars out of five.[7] Jacob Oller of The A.V. Club graded the film a C.[8] David Robb of Slant Magazine awarded the film one and a half stars out of four.[9]
David Rooney of The Hollywood Reporter gave the film a positive review and wrote as the bottom line, "Mamet's writing can still crackle like wildfire."[2]
Nick Schager of The Daily Beast also gave the film a positive review and wrote that its "staginess is offset by their blistering investigation of morality, manipulation, individual and social responsibility, and masculine power."[10]
Alex Maidy of JoBlo.com also gave the film a positive review and wrote, “Rather than being impressive like a magician performing a trick, it becomes repetitive. Overall, Henry Johnson is an intriguing story worth watching for the phenomenal supporting performances.”[11]
Owen Gleiberman of Variety gave the film a negative review and wrote, "Mamet wants to take us out of our comfort zone. But he's created his own rarefied discomfort zone of self-indulgence posing as importance."[12]
References
- ^ a b c d e Lang, Brent (April 3, 2025). "David Mamet Releasing Shia LaBeouf Prison Drama 'Henry Johnson' This Spring (EXCLUSIVE)". Variety. Retrieved April 8, 2025.
- ^ a b Rooney, David (April 30, 2025). "'Henry Johnson' Review: Shia LaBeouf and Evan Jonigkeit Are Riveting in David Mamet's Dark Study of Puppet Masters and Pawns". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved April 30, 2025.
- ^ Erbland, Kate (April 16, 2025). "'Henry Johnson' Trailer: Shia LaBeouf Stars in David Mamet's Film Adaptation of Their Stage Prison Drama". IndieWire. Retrieved April 16, 2025.
- ^ "Henry Johnson". Rotten Tomatoes. Retrieved May 11, 2025.
- ^ Zilko, Christian (April 30, 2025). "'Henry Johnson' Review: David Mamet's Bitter Portrait of a Manipulated Man Is Too Theatrical for Its Own Good". IndieWire. Retrieved April 30, 2025.
- ^ Kenny, Glenn. "Henry Johnson". RogerEbert.com. Retrieved May 11, 2025.
- ^ Roman, Julian. "David Mamet's Famous Dialogue Lands with a Thud in 'Henry Johnson'". MovieWeb. Retrieved May 12, 2025.
- ^ Oller, Jacob (May 8, 2025). "David Mamet turns the screws on the spineless Henry Johnson". The A.V. Club. Retrieved May 12, 2025.
- ^ Robb, David (May 6, 2025). "'Henry Johnson' Review: David Mamet's Drama Bloviates on the Power Games of Aggrieved Men". Slant Magazine. Retrieved May 12, 2025.
- ^ Schager, Nick (May 7, 2025). "David Mamet Stages a Con Fit for the MAGA Moment". The Daily Beast. Retrieved May 12, 2025.
- ^ Maidy, Alex. "Henry Johnson Review: David Mamet's prison drama boasts a masterful performance from Shia LaBeouf". JoBlo.com. Retrieved May 31, 2025.
- ^ Gleiberman, Owen (May 1, 2025). "'Henry Johnson' Review: David Mamet Stays in His Rabbit Hole of Cryptic Power Games, but Shia LaBeouf Makes a Striking Convict". Variety. Retrieved May 5, 2025.