John, 316

I thought this looked like it might be interesting and it could have been if it had better writers.

The problem is, you do not really see much of the John character and his miracles are few and not really that interesting.

Contrary to the other reviewers I think the acting is not that bad from the main characters but without anything to work with script-wise, it was all a bit of a damp squib to be honest and soon became a bit crusty and monochromatic so I cannot really recommend it and giving it 4 stars may be a bit generous!

Don´t let the large number of awards fool you, but let words as Salvation, Alpacalypse Productions and Higher Universe Pictures do the talking for them instead. What we have here is a demonicly clever apparantly realistic build-up, in which factual problem of overmedicating in the healthcare sector for Pharma profits is gradually twisted and abused into a plot that declares mental illness as being nothing but a sheer matter of a lack of faith, and which therefor claims that all medication would be entirely unnessesary and dedundant if patients with a mentale disorder would only turn themselves into the care of the lord. This product should at least be distributed under a clear label of fiction, and should actually better still be marked as a potential hazard to public health.

Sorry this is virtually unwatchable, the acting is so bad I wondered if it was deliberately done for effect, but no I concluded it was just terrible. The script is no better, the concept appeared promising but the film fails to deliver. Total rubbish a complete waste of an evening, gave in a quit when the plot became too ridiculous.

This movie reminds me a lot of One Flew Over the Cuckoo's nest. Not as hard hitting or well made, but it has powerful messages without being preachy.

It is not a Christian vehicle for a salvation message, nothing like that.

It weaves an interesting tale while touching on over medication, administrative greed, as well as portrays that some medical staff cares about their patients.

Shows the imperfection of the human vessel and the frailty of the mind.

Its a good drama. I recommend it, but not for a date night or for younger kids. The subject matters shown and alluded to are for a mature audience.

At a psychiatric hospital in middle America a no-name drifter (Colin Matty) is brought in by the police, covered in a white sheet because he was naked. While he is likable and his eccentric ways win over the patients, the faculty isn't so sure (Afton Rentz, Griffin Cork, etc.), especially when a new boss takes over (Darrell Portz).

"John, 316" (2020) is a mental hospital drama that's naturally reminiscent of "One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest" (1975), but with a supernatural element similar to "The Green Mile" (1999) and a protagonist who recalls Toni Collette of "The Sixth Sense" (1999).

It's amazing this only cost $75,000 (or $100,000 in Canadian dollars) because it's a worthy drama with entertaining bits and potent insights. Sure, it's not on the level of "Cuckoo's Nest" or "Green Mile," but I prefer it to "Sixth Sense" for several reasons. You get to know the characters and buy them as real people. Only Portz hams it up a bit, but it fits his antagonistic role.

The spiritual points connected with me and they're way more than just what relates to the title. I'm not going to give 'em away, yet they're there for all to see; you just have to look beyond society's programming (brainwashing). One simple scene could easily be missed it's so mundane, but it speaks deep cosmic truth.

The movie runs 1 hour, 43 minutes, and was shot in Alberta, Canada, at Alberta Beach & Edmonton (hospital). Alberta Beach is about 45 miles west of the big city.

GRADE: B+/A-