Rating: 6.7
Overall, a slasher film that creates a new horror icon who carries out some of the most detailed kills I have ever seen, but this movie is filled with many of the typical low-budget horror issues that pull it back from being something truly iconic.
Direction: Decent to Pretty Good
The direction on a macroscale is good as it creates this menacing aura of a slasher that terrorizes his grounds, and the kills are just very detailed and grotesque that it makes the movie worth watching on this alone; the direction on a microscale is typical of low-budget horror (so very bad); the storytelling is pretty good as they do give context behind the conflict and have it motivate the killer's intentions; they build tension very well as the kills are just so grotesque and the climax goes for more psychological torture that heightens an already tense environment
Story: Pretty Good
Even though the concept is a little stereotypical, it is interesting because it uses a 'wise-tale' to provide backstory into the killer, and this backstory helps shape the killer's image and actions; the plot structure is a little too elongated because it cares more about ambience than moving the story forward, and the exposition feels a lot longer than it needs to be; the character writing for the killer is good as it feels like they have created a new horror icon that rivals Leatherface and Freddy Kruger, but the writing for the rest of the cast is the typical bad horror teenager stereotype
Screenplay: Pretty Bad
The dialogue is pretty minimal, but when it is there, it is bad; the humor is more cringy than funny; the actions create a menacing ambience that elicits fear from the perspective of the killer; the symbolism is pretty minimal, but tackles themes of brutality; the foreshadowing is decent as it helps paint the killer and his actions
Acting: Bad
Ry Barrett: Decent (While he is mute, his commanding presence really brings life to the killer and shows how much of a big personality he is)
Rest of the cast: Very Bad (Typical very bad, low-budget horror performances)
Cinematography: Good
The panning and tracking shots help show the movie's from the perspective of the killer, and do a good job at making this film unique
Editing: Pretty Bad
It was fine for its low budget, but the movie is not seamless in its transitions
Sound: Pretty Good
Because there is no score, the amplified sounds really do a good job at building tension
Visual Effects: Good
Some of the most detailed and unique kills as they make the movie worth watching, especially for how low budget this movie is
Makeup: Pretty Good
Does a pretty good job at making the killer look like a mythical freak
Costumes: Pretty Good
Helps give Johnny an iconic look
Pacing
Pacing is very slow as the movie really focuses on showing its surroundings through long behind-the-back tracking shots of the killer walking; the movie could have been cut by 10 minutes from this alone (but this would also take away from its aesthetic)
Climax
Climax is a different type of horror as they focus more on psychological horror rather than slasher horror (and while I did respect this, I felt it made the ending not as strong as the rest of the movie)
Tone
Tone is similar to other slasher movies (especially 'The Texas Chainsaw Massacre')
Final Notes
This movie feels like a modern-day retelling of "The Texas Chainsaw Massacre"