ULTIMATE COLLECTOR’S BLU-RAY OF 'THE GHASTLY LOVE OF JOHNNY X’
- Krystal Vander Ark
- Aug 18
- 2 min read
FEATURING ONE OF THE FINAL PERFORMANCES OF 'PHANTASM' ICON REGGIE BANNISTER
The star-studded sci-fi musical homage—co-starring Oscar-winner Paul Williams and Kevin McCarthy—arrives in a limited edition Blu-Ray featuring a bonus soundtrack CD!
ROCKPORT, Mass. — August 18, 2026 — For Immediate Release — Film Masters, an industry leader in classic and cult film preservation and high-quality restorations, proudly announces a definitive, limited-edition Blu-ray release of the cult sci-fi musical, The Ghastly Love of Johnny X.
This special release serves as a poignant tribute to the late, beloved genre icon Reggie Bannister (Phantasm), capturing one of the final performances of his legendary career. Bannister stars alongside an eclectic powerhouse ensemble including Oscar and Grammy-winning musician/actor Paul Williams (Phantom of the Paradise) and Hollywood legend Kevin McCarthy (Invasion of the Body Snatchers) in his final feature film appearance.
Director Paul Bunnell’s retro-futuristic masterpiece holds a unique place in cinema history as the last feature film ever shot on Kodak's legendary 35mm Black and White Plus-X celluloid. Defying genres, the film successfully blends the 1950s juvenile delinquent melodrama, outer-space sci-fi, a noirish femme fatale, and full-blown musical theater driven by an extraordinary original score by Ego Plum.
Despite a decade of independent production roadblocks, Bunnell’s vision resulted in a visually stunning, cohesive, and down-right beautiful love letter to the B-movie era that hits far above its weight class.
"We are deeply honored to bring this unparalleled piece of independent cinema history to physical media," says Phil Hopkins, President of Film Masters. "To celebrate the enduring legacy of Reggie Bannister, the genius of Paul Williams, and the final frames of Kevin McCarthy on gorgeous Kodak Plus-X film is exactly why Film Masters exists. This isn't just a release; it's a time capsule.”
Exclusive Limited-Edition Features Include:
Original Soundtrack CD: The complete, critically acclaimed score and original musical numbers by Ego Plum.
Hand-Assembled Relic Card: A signed and numbered art card containing an authentic, screen-used piece of The Ghastly Love of Johnny X film set, hand-assembled by Director Paul Bunnell.
Feature-Length Commentary: Insightful full-length track featuring Director Paul Bunnell, Composer Ego Plum, and star De Anna Joy Brooks.
"Making-Of" Documentary: A well produced, deeply informative, companion piece detailing the film's miraculous journey to the screen.
Exclusive Booklet: Featuring an in-depth essay by film scholar Anthony Craig Gilbert.
Bonus Q&A Featurette: A fun event with Director Paul Bunnell and cast members.
TECH SPECS:
Films are presented in their original aspect ratios. Blu-ray discs are region free and include English SDH. Audio is DTS-HD/Dolby AC3s.
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