about
Where it all began
Cinema. Film. The ‘Movies’. If you are anything like me, you will appreciate every aspect of this incredible art form. I hope my pieces educate or (at least) remind you of the drama, the horrors, the thrill of the adventure... and, most importantly, the excitement and nostalgia it all brings.
Enjoy,
Rich
Resume
As a D&AD Award Winner – with a background in graphic design and illustration – since 2004, I have lectured and delivered degree-level courses within the creative arts and media, including: graphic design, illustration, film studies and journalism. My first novel, The Enemy’s Son (as James Johnson), was released in 2008, followed by a number of independent comics for various anthologies and collections. As well as numerous film courses delivered via Broadway Cinema my writing credits include: Little White Lies, The Digital Fix, We Belong Dead, Diabolique Magazine, Shots, Network, Rue Morgue, Animation Magazine and Fangoria along with film commentary, video essays and accompanying written material for boutique labels including: Eureka Entertainment, Arrow Films, the BFI, 101 Films and Second Sight Films.
Top 10? These go to 11
The Night of the Hunter (1955)
Charles Laughton
Harakiri (1962)
Masaki Kobayashi
Once Upon a Time in the West (1968)
Sergio Leone
Jaws (1975)
Steven Spielberg
An American Werewolf in London (1981)
John Landis
Blade Runner (1982)
Ridley Scott
The Thing (1982)
John Carpenter
The Dark Crystal (1982)
Jim Henson and Frank Oz
This Is Spinal Tap (1984)
Rob Reiner
Nightcrawler (2014)
Dan Gilroy
The Red Turtle (2016)
Michaël Dudok de Wit
*A seminal year for film from cult classics to blockbusters: Blade Runner, The Thing, Tron, E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial, The King of Comedy, The Flight of Dragons, First Blood, The Grey Fox, Poltergeist, Tootsie, Gandhi, Conan the Barbarian, The Plague Dogs...
... and Grease 2.
For more favourite films check out 100+, a selection of favourite films year by year from 1920 to present day.
“Pain is temporary, film is forever!” - John Milius
writing
“To be an artist means never to avert one’s eyes.” - Akira Kurosawa
Interviews
“Cinema is a mirror by which we often see ourselves.” - Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu
testimonials
“Cinephiles should already be aware
of Rich Johnson’s Companion Pieces.
I had a blast talking to him about a
couple of films that made a huge impact
on me. Thanks Rich!”
Thomas Jane
Actor/Producer/Director
Boogie Nights, Stander, The Punisher,
The Mist, The Expanse, Troppo
“LOVED your piece on Psycho II, Rich, with Tom Holland. I absolutely ADORE that film. It is SOOO brilliant. I’m glad you got to tell him!”
Reece Shearsmith
Actor/Writer/Comedian
The League of Gentlemen,
Inside No.9
“I’ve said it once and I’ll say it again: Rich is my favorite person to be interviewed by.”
Gala Avary
Producer/Podcaster
The Video Archives Podcast
with Quentin Tarantino
& Roger Avary,
The Gala Show
“Rich writes with care and beauty, examining his subjects from unexpected angles and with nothing less than the utmost due diligence. He’s a thoughtful, thorough writer whose passion for cinema is made manifest in every word.”
Meredith Borders
Managing Editor
Fangoria
“Rich is a highly rated and much valued contributor to the Arrow Video Blog. Always professional to work with, his in-depth knowledge and engaging writing style frequently creates insightful and absorbing articles for our audience.”
Dominic Walker
Editor, Arrow Video Blog
Arrow Films
“Rich, thank you. This was delightful.
I’m very proud to be a part of the Arrow
site and it was joy to speak with you!”
Vincenzo Natali
Writer/Director
Cube, Splice, Guillermo Del Toro's Cabinet of Curiosities
“Just shared with my family!
Wow, that is truly one of the MOST kind and beautiful and fun (and punny) reviews I’ve ever read of ours!!! Wow, I am so so thankful!!! Thanks for all the recognition and love!!!”
Lulu Adams
(The Adams family)
Actor/Crew/Set Builder
Hellbender, Where the Devil Roams
“We just read your wonderful thoughts on our film [Where the Devil Roams] and your conversation with Lulu... thank you!!!”
John Adams & Toby Poser
(The Adams family)
Actors/Writers/Directors
Hellbender, Where the Devil Roams
“So, so damn kind of you. You make a little family like us feel so validated and special and excited to create more!!! Thank you!!!”
Zelda Adams
(The Adams family)
Actor/Writer/Director
Hellbender, Where the Devil Roams
“I just wanted to thank you and compliment you regarding your article: “Death Line at 50”. Aside from the fact it was blush-causing, it was so
incredibly well written. It is truly a
pleasure to read your writing.”
Gary Sherman
Writer/Director
Death Line, Dead & Buried,
Poltergeist III
“Rich’s passion for film truly shines through in his writing. He’s always able to find interesting and new topics of discussion, even on works that have been an area of focus within the film world for decades now. A true talent!”
Phillip Escott
Filmmaker & Production Manager
Second Sight, Fractured Visions, The Found Footage Phenomenon
“We all really enjoyed the Q&A,
you did it brilliantly — one
of the best we’ve done!”
Jon Sanders
Director
Painted Angels, A Clever Woman
“Thank you for seeing and understanding the vision. Your words mean more than you’ll ever know.”
George Baron
Actor/Writer/Director
The Blue Rose
“Rich is a rare find — a brilliant writer, a passionate, knowledgeable cineaste and a truly professional and reliable journalist.”
Ramin Zahed
Editor in Chief
Animation Magazine
“Rich is a highly esteemed film tutor at Broadway. His film knowledge is encyclopaedic and his passion for cinema, contagious. I always look forward to his next course idea because I can be certain that his new concept will surprise and delight.”
Programme Director
Broadway Cinema
“Rich is not only a great bloke, he’s an
outside-the-box thinker when it comes to art, a writer of prodigious imagination (have you read his novel?) and a deep reservoir of film lore to boot.”
Artist/Writer
Marvel / DC Comics:
Green Lantern, Batman,
Wonder Woman
“Rich’s writing brims with insight, intelligence and always makes for interesting reading. His enthusiasm, passion and film knowledge make him a valuable addition to any writing team.”
Hel Harding-Jones
Editor
The Digital Fix
“I have Rich to thank for the most thoughtful, thorough profile I’ve ever read about my approach to our industry and the business we’ve built with that approach. More than a professional perspective or retrospective, when I read Rich’s article I thought to myself, “Yeah, that’s me, that’s us.” Rich has a way of bringing out the humanity in all of his subjects, and working with him was far more conversation between engaged people than it was Q&A between interviewer and interviewee.”
Jae Goodman
CEO
Observatory
“Rich has been a recent, welcome addition to the stable of shots freelance writers. His research is in-depth, his communication is great and his enthusiasm for the subject on which he is writing is infectious, which carries through to the finished article.”
Danny Edwards
Co-Editor
Shots
“I was delighted to have Rich on board for our Spotlight on Horror book. His writing is incisive, intelligent and most entertaining. Hoping this is the start of many projects together.”
Eric McNaughton
Publisher
We Belong Dead Magazine
“Thanks again for writing such a great article about our weird wee country and its film scene! It’s wonderful to read such thoughtful work about our film history and I think you write beautifully.”
Aislin Clarke
Writer/Director
The Devil’s Doorway
“A lovely piece on Irish horror.
Thanks for shining a light!”
Kevin Lehane
Writer
Grabbers
“Rich’s interview was well written and
encapsulated, in concise form, the many
conversations we had about my background and experiences. He captured, particularly, the early childhood influences from the post-war period in my hometown Vienna that were certainly a big
subconscious influence in my work.”
Otto Rapp
Artist
The Deterioration of Mind Over Matter