John Henry (2020): Cast, Ratings, Plot & Where to Watch
John Henry is a 2020 drama thriller directed by Will Forbes, starring Terry Crews as John Henry, Jamila Velazquez and Tyler Alvarez. It runs 1 hour 31 minutes. Critics gave it 27 on Metacritic, and IMDb users rate it 3.6/10. Stream it on Hoopla and Starz, or rent or buy it on Fandango At Home and Google Play Movies.
- Released
- Runtime
- 1h 31m (91 min)
- Director
- Will Forbes
- Original language
-
English - Studio
- Saban Films
- After the credits
- No No extra scene
What Is John Henry About?
The premise of John Henry without spoilers. The whole story is in the plot summary further down.
In South Los Angeles, former gang member John Henry struggles to leave his violent past behind while caring for his ailing father. His peaceful existence is threatened when two young immigrants escape from his former gang leader, forcing Henry to choose between maintaining his newfound stability and risking everything to protect them and ensure their safety.
John Henry Themes & Keywords
· 38 tags- gang leader
- immigrant
- violent past
- home video
- year 1993
- year 1994
- smoking a joint
- n word
- dog hit by a car
- character name as title
- dominoes
- reference to red lobster
+26 more Show fewer
- reference to pottery barn
- shot in the chest
- shot in the shoulder
- shot to death
- father son relationship
- death of pet
- reference to honduras
- honduran in the us
- postcard
- half brother half sister relationship
- human trafficking
- reference to the los angeles raiders
- reference to marcus allen
- vhs tape
- security footage
- cash in a bag
- sketchbook
- reference to the sistine chapel
- shot in the head
- blood spatter
- grandmother grandson relationship
- reference to netflix
- sledgehammer
- bludgeoned to death
- man uses a wheelchair
- title spoken by character
Where to Watch John Henry
Stream it on Hoopla and Starz, or rent or buy it from Fandango At Home and Google Play Movies. US availability and prices from JustWatch.
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John Henry Cast & Characters
Terry Crews leads the cast as John Henry, with Jamila Velazquez as Berta and Tyler Alvarez as Oscar. Directed by Will Forbes; 14 actors are credited in all.
- Director Will Forbes
-
Terry Crews as John Henry - Jamila Velazquez as Berta
- Tyler Alvarez as Oscar
-
Ken Foree as BJ Henry
Also Starring in John Henry
· 10 more- Ludacris Hell
- Daffany McGaray Clark Savage
- Jalyn Hall Deydey
- Gerald 'Slink' Johnson Gun
- Dohn Norwood Midnight
- Kimberly Hebert Gregory Tasha
- Maestro Harrell Young Hell
- Boone Platt
- Lyne Odums
- Joseph Julian Soria
John Henry Reviews & Ratings
Critics gave John Henry 27 on Metacritic, and IMDb users rate it 3.6/10. Our Echo Score gives it 20/100, strongest in art & craft (30) and weakest in rewatch factor (10).
John Henry Echo Score Breakdown
The film’s shortcomings are evident in its uneven tone and lackluster execution across technical and narrative elements. Critics and viewers noted disjointed direction, a stiff screenplay, and minimal contextual grounding for its protagonist, which undermined engagement. Performances, while occasionally bolstered by the lead’s charisma, struggle to overcome shallow character development and abrupt pacing. As a result, the overall experience feels fragmented and fails to coalesce into a coherent or compelling thriller.
Our own 0–100 rating, built from five aspects: art, character, story, the sensory experience and how well a film rewatches.
- Art & Craft 30
In terms of art and craft, the film exhibits sporadic flashes of visual flair but is hampered by tonal inconsistency. Direction vacillates between gritty realism and gore-driven spectacle, undermining cinematographic intent. Production design’s stark white palette splattered with blood offers occasional visual interest, yet editing transitions feel abrupt. These mixed efforts seldom coalesce into a compelling aesthetic statement.
- Character & Emotion 25
When it comes to character and emotion, the film leans on the lead’s charisma yet fails to provide substantive depth. Performances are constrained by a stiff script, resulting in limited emotional resonance. Supporting characters lack development, and moments of potential chemistry remain underexplored. Consequently, the narrative’s human element feels superficial and struggles to connect with the audience.
- Story & Flow 15
In terms of story and flow, the narrative suffers from incoherent plotting and erratic pacing. Scenes jump abruptly without sufficient setup, leaving key backstory details unexplained. Attempts at suspense often derail into extended dialogue moments with minimal payoff. Originality is undermined by recycled genre conventions, and engagement falters as the plot cycles through repetitive motifs without building momentum.
- Sensory Experience 30
When it comes to sensory experience, the film intermittently delivers vivid gore against a stark color palette, creating brief moments of visceral impact. However, the soundtrack and sound design are uneven, with an unremarkable score failing to reinforce tonal shifts. Visual style shows promise in isolated sequences, yet lacks cohesion across scenes. Overall, sensory elements struggle to elevate the material.
- Rewatch Factor 10
In terms of rewatch factor, the movie offers limited incentive for repeat viewings. Narrative confusion and uneven execution diminish potential enjoyment on subsequent watches. Without strong character moments or a coherent plot, viewers are unlikely to uncover new insights or appreciable details. The lack of lasting appeal and minimal replay value make it difficult to justify revisiting this film.
-
IMDb 3.6 /10
See on IMDb -
Metacritic 27 Metascore
User score 2.9
See on Metacritic -
TMDB 53% User score
See on TMDB -
Letterboxd 1.8 /5
See on Letterboxd
John Henry Plot Summary
What happens in John Henry from start to finish, spoilers included, with a timeline of 13 key events. The opening is below; the full summary is a 2-minute read.
Spoilers ahead
Berta, a Honduran refugee, is held by a Los Angeles street gang that intends to violate her. Her brother Oscar and her half-brother Emilio overwhelm the house where she is kept and manage to free her, but Oscar is shot before they can escape. Emilio, who believes Oscar is dead, forces Berta to leave with him and delays the police as she flees.
Berta hides under the front porch of a nearby house owned by John Henry. John takes her in over the objections of his father BJ Henry, who translates her story. Although BJ mocks his son’s sentimentality, John offers to help her.
Full summary
The whole story of John Henry, scene by scene
John Henry Trailers & Videos
The trailer of John Henry.
How Well Do You Know John Henry?
10 questions about the story, each with a hint if you get stuck. Pick an answer to see whether you were right.
Question 1 of 10
- Question 1: not answered
- Question 2: not answered
- Question 3: not answered
- Question 4: not answered
- Question 5: not answered
- Question 6: not answered
- Question 7: not answered
- Question 8: not answered
- Question 9: not answered
- Question 10: not answered
What nationality is Berta, the refugee at the center of the story?
Cars in John Henry
15 cars on screen, including the 2005 Cadillac Escalade and the 1977 Cadillac Fleetwood Brougham.
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2005 Cadillac Escalade Important role -
1977 Cadillac Fleetwood Brougham Minor role -
1984 Honda Civic CRX Minor role -
1980 Cadillac Fleetwood Brougham Background role
John Henry Also Known As
5 alternative titles, including “Джон Хенри” and “Джон Генри”.
- Also known as
-
- Джон Хенри
- Джон Генри
- 존 헨리
- A Vingança de John Henry
- La Venganza de John Henry
Seen John Henry?
Movies Like John Henry
Films with a similar story, tone or audience, including The Book of Henry, John Q and Johnny.
John Henry FAQ: Where to Watch, Cast & Runtime
Runtime, release date, director, cast, where to watch, ratings and post-credit scenes of John Henry, each answered in a sentence.
How long is John Henry?
John Henry runs 1 hour 31 minutes (91 minutes).
When was John Henry released?
John Henry was released on January 24, 2020.
Who directed John Henry?
John Henry was directed by Will Forbes.
More films by Will Forbes Who is in the cast of John Henry?
John Henry stars Terry Crews as John Henry, Jamila Velazquez as Berta and Tyler Alvarez as Oscar, among 14 credited actors.
Where can I watch John Henry?
In the US, John Henry is streaming on Hoopla and Starz and available to rent or buy on Fandango At Home, Google Play Movies and YouTube (availability from JustWatch).
How is John Henry rated?
John Henry has 3.6/10 on IMDb, 27 on Metacritic, 53% on TMDB and 1.8/5 on Letterboxd.
Does John Henry have a post-credit scene?
No. John Henry has no extra scene during or after the credits.
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