John Dies at the End
Metascore
53 out of 100

Mixed or average reviews - based on 27 Critics

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 13 out of 27
  2. Mixed: 7 out of 27
  3. Negative: 7 out of 27
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  1. Austin Chronicle
    Reviewed by: Leah Churner
    Feb 21, 2013
    30
    The whole movie is an inside joke, a shaggy-dog tale that asks us to pay close attention to its twists and turns, but never rewards us for doing so.
  2. Chicago Tribune
    Reviewed by: Michael Phillips
    Feb 7, 2013
    38
    This is a fantasy grab bag in which nearly anything can happen.
  3. New York Post
    Reviewed by: Kyle Smith
    Jan 31, 2013
    25
    A supernatural horror-comedy that's frighteningly lacking in wit, John Dies at the End thinks it's "Buffy the Vampire Slayer" for dudes. But in its randomness, its vulgarity and its level of humor, it's more like the collected writings on the walls of a roadside men's room.
  4. San Francisco Chronicle
    Reviewed by: Mick LaSalle
    Feb 7, 2013
    25
    Every single thing wrong with John Dies at the End might have been avoided had John died at the beginning, along with all the other characters, transforming an awful full-length movie into a harmless five-minute short.
  5. Slant Magazine
    Reviewed by: Chris Cabin
    Jan 21, 2013
    25
    The frantic, grotesque imagery ironically only highlights Don Coscarelli's inability to truly cut ties with the constraints of accepted storytelling.
  6. Time Out New York
    Reviewed by: Keith Uhlich
    Jan 29, 2013
    20
    This frenetic horror-comedy from "Bubba Ho Tep's" Don Coscarelli is of the make-it-up-as-you-go-along school of storytelling.
  7. Village Voice
    Reviewed by: Nick Pinkerton
    Jan 22, 2013
    10
    John Dies at the End is a product of a parallel universe where slacker flippancy never got old-and, oh, it is terrible.

User Reviews

All reviews »
User Score
6.9 out of 10

Generally favorable reviews- based on 23 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 5 out of 9
  2. Mixed: 2 out of 9
  3. Negative: 2 out of 9
  1. BrianMcCritic
    4
    Interesting premise but a huge let down. There are a few moments that are kind of fun, but half the time you are like how is that happening and that and then that. Things just get stupid and pointless.… Full Review »
  2. Kissellian
    2
    I went into this move with high hopes. I love quirky. I like horror comedy. I like non-standard narration. I like Paul Giamatti. The problem was that this never added up to anything. It was a series of gaping plot holes strung together for no apparent reason.

    It did make me chuckle occasionally, but more in the I-can't-believe-something-so-absurd-is-happening way than something actually being funny.

    Again, I have not read the books. I can only assume that this series of events had some sort of internal logic in them.    … Full Review »
  3. Apemonkey666
    8
    I would describe this film as an entertaining ride of weirdness and oddball humor. It was made on a shoestring budget evident by the cheesy VFX and rather fake blood and gore stuff, but it adds to the charm (as it did for Evil Dead). Don't expect it to be as brilliant or profound as say Donnie Darko but be open to it and give it a fair chance and you'll get a fun 100 min experience!… Full Review »
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