| Henry Johnson | |
|---|---|
| Directed by | David Mamet |
| Written by | David Mamet |
| Based on | Henry Johnson by David Mamet |
| Produced by |
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| Starring |
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| Cinematography | Sing Howe Yam |
| Edited by | Banner Gwin |
| Music by | Jay Wadley |
Production company | 1993 |
| Distributed by | 1993 |
Release date |
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Running time | 85 minutes |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
Henry Johnson is a 2025 American prison drama film written and directed by David Mamet and starring Shia LaBeouf and Evan Jonigkeit. It is based on Mamet's 2023 play. [1]
Henry Johnson (Evan Jonigkeit), a reserved and seemingly ordinary man, finds his sense of self tested when he crosses paths with Gene (Shia LaBeouf), a dominant and enigmatic figure who takes a keen interest in him. What begins as mentorship soon blurs into psychological manipulation, with Gene drawing Henry into a web of ambiguous motives and shifting power dynamics. Set within a stark institutional environment, the film unfolds through taut dialogue and minimalistic staging, exploring themes of agency, loyalty, and identity while echoing its theatrical origins.
In April 2025, it was announced that production on the film wrapped. [1]
The film premiered at the Aero Theatre in Los Angeles on May 9, 2025. [3] It is also currently available to rent via the film's website as of May 9. [1]
The film has a 60% rating on Rotten Tomatoes based on 35 reviews. [4] Christian Zilko of IndieWire graded the film a C+. [5] Glenn Kenny of RogerEbert.com awarded the film three stars. [6] Julian Roman of MovieWeb awarded the film two stars out of five. [7] Jacob Oller of The A.V. Club graded the film a C. [8] David Robb of Slant Magazine awarded the film one and a half stars out of four. [9]
David Rooney of The Hollywood Reporter gave the film a positive review and wrote as the bottom line, "Mamet's writing can still crackle like wildfire." [2]
Nick Schager of The Daily Beast also gave the film a positive review and wrote that its "staginess is offset by their blistering investigation of morality, manipulation, individual and social responsibility, and masculine power." [10]
Alex Maidy of JoBlo.com also gave the film a positive review and wrote, “Rather than being impressive like a magician performing a trick, it becomes repetitive. Overall, Henry Johnson is an intriguing story worth watching for the phenomenal supporting performances.” [11]
Owen Gleiberman of Variety gave the film a negative review and wrote, "Mamet wants to take us out of our comfort zone. But he's created his own rarefied discomfort zone of self-indulgence posing as importance." [12]