Johns (film)

Johns (styled as johns) is a 1996 American drama film written and directed by Scott Silver and starring David Arquette and Lukas Haas, who portray hustlers who work Santa Monica Boulevard.

Plot
It's Christmas Eve and John (David Arquette) is asleep in a Los Angeles park. He awakens as someone is stealing his shoes, in which he keeps his money. He chases the thief but can't catch him. John is angered not only because those are his "lucky" sneakers but because he's trying to accumulate enough money for an overnight stay in a fancy hotel to celebrate his birthday, which is also Christmas. Each time John puts any money together, via prostitution or stealing from clients, it's taken from him either by robbery or in payback for a drug deal where he burned the dealer.

Meanwhile, Donner (Lukas Haas), a fellow hustler who's new to the streets and has fallen for John, tries to convince John to go with him to Branson, Missouri. Donner has a relative who runs a theme park there who can get them jobs. John is initially resistant to the idea but, after some particularly bad experiences, agrees to go.

John and Donner have enough money for two bus tickets to Branson but John takes one last "date" to earn money for expenses. After their sexual encounter at a motel, however, John's "date" is remorseful for having gone through with the act. He insists to John that he's not gay. John smiles and says he isn't either. But his "date" believes that John is making a mockery of him and turns violent, beating John to death mercilessly.

Donner goes in search of John and finds him at the motel. Donner drags John's lifeless body from the bathroom to the bed and tearfully confesses that he's the one who stole John's sneakers and money in a desperate attempt to persuade John to leave town with him.

Cast

 * David Arquette as John
 * Lukas Haas as Donner
 * Wilson Cruz as Mikey
 * Keith David as Homeless John
 * Christopher Gartin as Eli
 * Elliott Gould as Manny Gold
 * Terrence Dashon Howard as Jimmy, The Warlock
 * Nicky Katt as "Mix"
 * Richard Kind as Paul Truman
 * John C. McGinley as Danny Cohen
 * Richard Timothy Jones as Mr. Popper
 * Alanna Ubach as Nikki
 * Arliss Howard as John Cardoza
 * Nina Siemaszko as Tiffany, The Prostitute
 * Craig Bierko as Christmas Radio Preacher

Awards and nominations

 * San Sebastián International Film Festival Best New Director - Scott Silver (1996)

DVD release
Johns was released on Region 1 DVD on February 29, 2000.