The Strange Thing About The Johnsons: Real Nightmares

The Strange Thing About The Johnsons really gets people going. In short, it’s a rather unusual tale about a son’s budding sexual maturation. Ultimately, it leads to disturbing behavior by the son against the father. In the end, tragedy strikes as the mother makes the discovery.

While polarizing for its handling by a white creator, this story sticks domestically. It offers the reverse observation of what often happens in households around the world. The real stories are often the adult assaulting the child, but this tells of the child (son) acting as the adult (father) and DOING the assaulting. This behavior can last for years, as seen in the short film. There’s an unfortunate string of young girls and boys suffering at the hands of their own parents and family members.

It’s a vicious cycle that’s uncomfortable to discuss. We’ve seen this subject matter in movies like Freeway, starring Reese Witherspoon. There’s also the classic Delores Claiborne with Kathy Bates. The incestuous adults sent these characters into a tailspin of complicated adult relationships and murder. The same happened in TSTAJ.

I find it hard to offer complete praise for this film’s story itself, but I understand the message. It is a true horror story that shows how monsters come in strange, but familiar forms. I likened the tone to the second segment of Tales From The Hood, “Boys Do Get Bruised”.

If the themes here seem farfetched, think about it — this is exactly what victims of sexual and physical abuse deal with. There’s someone you’re suppose to be able to trust that’s tearing down your doors to harm you. Nothing gets scarier than that.

This movie will burn images into your brain that will haunt you. At the same time, it really makes you think about the world’s sickness.