The Strange Thing About the Johnsons (2011)
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A suburban family's stability is shattered by the revelation of a disturbing, one-sided incestuous relationship between a father and his son.
The story
In 1995, acclaimed poet Sidney Johnson accidentally interrupts his 12-year-old son Isaiah masturbating. He apologizes and reassures Isaiah that the act is natural, unaware that Isaiah was masturbating to a photograph of Sidney as a young man. Years later, the tension within the family reaches a breaking point. During a celebration in 2009, Sidney's wife, Joan, discovers a disturbing secret regarding the relationship between her husband and their son. As the truth begins to surface, the family's dynamic becomes increasingly volatile, leading to a series of confrontations that threaten to destroy their lives.
Full plot (contains spoilers)
In 1995, poet Sidney Johnson interrupts his son Isaiah masturbating to a photo of Sidney. In 2009, during Isaiah's wedding, Sidney's wife Joan discovers Isaiah performing oral sex on Sidney. That night, Sidney leaves a memoir, 'Cocoon Man: Confessions', detailing his experience of being incestuously abused by his son. Isaiah threatens him to stop printing it. In 2010, after a New Year's Eve party, Isaiah rapes Sidney while Joan is in the shower. Sidney later tries to leave with a copy of his memoir but is confronted by Isaiah and killed by a van. After the funeral, Joan confronts Isaiah about the abuse. Isaiah claims he loved Sidney more than she did. During a violent struggle, Joan stabs Isaiah to death with a fire iron and burns his memoir.
- First release year
- 2011
- Runtime (minutes)
- 29
- Production countries
- United States
- Original languages
- English
- Directors
- Ari Aster
- Writers
- Ari Aster · writer
- Cast and characters
- Billy Mayo · Sidney Johnson; Brandon Greenhouse · Isaiah Johnson; Angela Bullock · Joan Johnson; Carlon Jeffery · Young Isaiah; Stanley Bennett Clay · Howard; Connie Jackson · Grace; Danièle Watts · Marianne
- Genres
- psychological horror; drama
- Themes
- incest; abuse; taboo; family secrets
- Tone and mood
- tense; disturbing
- Premise and plot tags
- psychological horror; drama; short film; taboo
- Content notes
- incest
- Reception
- The film received polarized reviews from critics and audiences, with some praising the performances while others were divided by the controversial and transgressive themes.
- Production trivia
- The film was Ari Aster's thesis film at the AFI Conservatory.; The film went viral after being leaked online in November 2011.
Film metadata comes from the open sources listed in Credits & Contact. Catalogue details may be incomplete.
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