Judas Kiss (2011) Poster

(I) (2011)

User Reviews

Review this title
32 Reviews
Sort by:
Filter by Rating:
5/10
Really torn over this one
preppy-316 May 2014
Failed filmmaker Zachary Wells (Charlie David) returns to his alma mater to be a judge in a film competition. One of the competitors (Richard Harmon)shares his real name--Daniel Reyes--and has entered a film that carries the same name as the film Zach entered years ago! Then things get strange:)

This is one odd film. It mixes science fiction with drama, gay love (and sex) and redemption. It's hard to get a grip on at first (I considered turning it off more than once) but, if you stick with it, everything becomes clear at the end. It's well made and they use some interesting double images or lighting occasionally to push the sci-fi angle (but use it sparingly which is good). The acting varies. David is good and Sean Paul Lockhart (who once did gay porn as Brent Corrigan) is excellent. Harmon however is pretty bad and Tino Descamps (as Shane) is downright terrible. Still the story kept me watching. Also there's male nudity (back views only) and some passionate guy on guy kissing.

On one hand I do like it for its interesting plot and views. On the other hand it leaves too many questions unanswered at the end. So I can only give this a 5. Not terrible but it feels unfinished.
7 out of 7 found this helpful. Was this review helpful? Sign in to vote.
Permalink
6/10
Make your own decision
itsvivek4u7 July 2011
Warning: Spoilers
I just came back from the opening night of Philly LGBT film festival and saw this film. It is very hard to say at this moment whether this film was the right film to open the festival or not because unless I watch some of the other films, it will be very hard to compare. But still it was a decent effort. The story line is definitely very novel and I must admit, I could not have thought of it but not every story turns out well on screen. This film also defied some general logic but more on that later.

Zack is a 30 something failed film-maker. He was a wonder film maker in his college days but Hollywood glamor and partying brought him from fame to dust and now he makes wedding videos. On his best friend's insistence, he returns to his college to judge a film festival for short films made by students to choose the winner for the scholarship. The first night he meets a guy in a bar and ends up sleeping with him. He is shocked when he sees the same guy turn up for his interview on the short film 'Judas Kiss' that he has made. The guy is Danny and his background is absolutely same as Zack. WIth turn in events, it turns out that Danny is no one but his own younger self. Zack is facing his past. And it was Zack originally named Danny who made the film 'Judas Kiss' and won the best film-maker award. With the help of his old college teacher, he finds out that somehow he has been given a chance to maybe change his past, rectify some of the mistakes and in the process change his future. Danny is very confident of winning the scholarship because his film is talk of the campus. Danny catches fancy of Shane who just likes to use the budding film makers. Then there is Chris who has a huge crush on Danny since they met but Danny wants to be with Shane because he is the one who can solve his immediate monetary needs. Zack explains his younger self hard to see the reality otherwise he will end of being an utter failure like him both in professional and in personal life. Zack reveals the truth that Danny will be disqualified from the competition since he broke the rules thereby changing what happened in the past and also helps him realize why Chris is the right person for him and not Shane. Cutto today, things are all good and Shane's future now seems to be treading on the right path.

The theme of time travel has not really been tackled before in gay cinema so that way it was refreshing to watch something new but many a incidents just defy logic. 2 entities of the same body cannot be in the same time zone but I am sue director was not looking for a scientific justification. It was an idea which he turned into a film. The first half of the film was kinda suspenseful where the viewer is tying to figure out what is the actual relationship between Zack and Danny and when the truth is revealed, it is a little (just a little) hard to digest but don't we all love escapist cinema? Zack was very good in his role. You could feel the struggle and questions that were going inside him for everything that was happening around him. Surprisingly, I did not like the actor playing role of Danny initially. He seemed cocky (but in retrospect, that is what he was supposed to be) but he grew on me over a period of time. Amongst the supporting cast Chris was a feast on the eyes. His innocent looks fit the character. Shane was OTT according to me. The production values were pretty good for a gay film and it did not look like a rushed job. Since it is pretty much filmed in a campus, there are not many scenic locations.

Interesting plot (though not translated to the best potential), convincing acting and the fact that this is the first of the many films I am going to watch in next few days made this a decent watch for me. It was just OK. (6/10)
11 out of 22 found this helpful. Was this review helpful? Sign in to vote.
Permalink
2/10
Painful experience
hristeangeorgiev31 August 2016
This could possibly be the worst movie that I have ever tried to watch. Got to the half hour mark and so far all I can say is that it was terrible. Horrible acting, unneeded visual effects,dumb plot and the music was soooo cringe worthy. Yes, I realize that it is a low-budget movie but I feel like I could've made a better one. Only not giving it 1 because there might be a small chance it gets better on later, but I doubt it.I still can't get it into my head how can someone like this movie. Hope I helped and to anyone who still wants to see the movie - just watch ,,The Way He Looks" or ,,North Sea Texas", they are so much better and are worth watching even a second time.
13 out of 14 found this helpful. Was this review helpful? Sign in to vote.
Permalink
Second chances
chester-abernathy4 October 2011
Judas Kiss is by no means your average story. It has some unexpected twists, dabbling in time travel, love triangles and redemption.

Zach Wells, a failed filmmaker, reluctantly covers for his much more successful friend by taking his place on the judging panel at their Alma Mater's annual film competition (a competition that Zach won years ago). As soon as he gets on campus... well, it's not hi-jinks ensue in a kooky way, but Zach starts to notice that things are not what they seem.

The time travel aspect was a cool way to approach the material; certainly a welcome change from the mainstay "let's do some lame flashbacks to explain how my life got so screwed up." The film has an interesting cast of characters that all bring something different to the table, too (a little heart and humor).

All of the technical elements (cinematography, lighting, sound, etc) were great, including the subtle effects work. I also thought they did a commendable job making a film with gay lead characters, but not dwelling on their sexual orientation. It was obvious that the focus of the film was on the story and I appreciated that.
25 out of 34 found this helpful. Was this review helpful? Sign in to vote.
Permalink
1/10
Cigarettes, boredom, and a time warp
cekadah13 April 2014
The people that made this awful bore of a movie should have followed their own lead and enrolled in a film school.

The script, the acting, the plot, the characters are creepy and foolish looking start to finish. And cigarettes do not add interest!

I'm thankful for the fast forward button.

Hint --- just look at the first 15 minutes, then skip to the last 15 or so minutes and you will have seen this entire movie. Who came up with this plot?

It would have been more interesting if the fat lady had rolled everywhere instead of walking!
12 out of 15 found this helpful. Was this review helpful? Sign in to vote.
Permalink
7/10
well made and enjoyable
GayFilmViewer4 December 2011
Warning: Spoilers
The fantasy/sf genres are replete with stories of people going back in time to correct their mistakes or give advice to their past selves in order to have an effect on the future.

But the problem with advice is that the smart don't need it and the stupid won't use it – and, as Booth Tarkington famously wrote in The Magnificent Ambersons, "Let me explain a little: I don't think he'll change—at twenty-one or twenty-two so many things appear solid and permanent and terrible which forty sees are nothing but disappearing miasma. Forty can't tell twenty about this; that's the pity of it! Twenty can find out only by getting to be forty." Philosophically, I am against this type of story because, in the end, we are defined by our choices. Danny Reyes/Zachery Wells doesn't have the courage to live with the choices he's made and build a better future having learned from experience. The idea of going back in time to talk to your past self and inform him of all the ways in which you screwed up your life is pure folly and an abdication of personal responsibility.

However, I prefer to read the film as one generation of gay men giving valuable, fatherly guidance to another. An older gay man says to the twink, "Watch out, kid, gay life can be a minefield. Here's how to navigate it." Though the script provides a few cringe worthy moments in the first act, the solid direction and uniformly good performances make up for it. Sean Paul Lockhart proved to be a tremendous surprise; though his part was small, the former adult star turned in a performance with great emotional depth and sincerity. The kid isn't just a pretty face.

This is one of the best gay titles I've screened in years.
4 out of 10 found this helpful. Was this review helpful? Sign in to vote.
Permalink
2/10
Somewhere between pretentious and artsy
Coralknight8 December 2018
In the genre stretching back decades of "what if I could do it all over again" comes this gay version of "peggy sue got married". Sadly, none of the characters are likable enough to sympathize with...especially the main characters (neither of whom are remotely interesting or professional enough to play a lead in a film). There really is no point or even resolution here...just a lot of mugging for the camera and scenes that make you say, "huh? what did that have to do with anything???" Really not worth watching...even if you're a Brett Corrigan fan (who is back to escorting again...so save up your money and see him in person).
7 out of 8 found this helpful. Was this review helpful? Sign in to vote.
Permalink
9/10
Fantastic film of regret, hope, and redemption
Rick206254 October 2011
This film was absolutely amazing, and everyone leaving the film festival theater was touched by it and its message of regret, redemption, and hope for the future. Judas Kiss has a little bit of something for everyone, but most especially, it is a story that every viewer can relate to... reflection upon one's own life, regret over decisions made, and what you might have done differently if you could. In this innovative film, the character of Zach actually does get a chance to change some things in his younger life. But will his younger self, in that "all-knowing-invincible arrogance" of teenage youth, listen to his older self, and take a different path that will change both of their futures? That indeed is the question in this charmer of a film.

The film has professional and compelling soundtrack, lighting, photography, and editing, I was blown away by its message of regret, redemption, and the possibility of change. Charlie David, Sean Lockhart, Timo Descamps, Julia Morizawa, and the rest of the cast truly give stellar performances, beyond what is often expected in independent films.

Viewers will be transported to this quirky, mystical intersection of time and space, and experience similar emotions as the characters on screen. Viewers will ponder how they, too, could change their own life, and, indeed, change their own future. Beginning right then and there. I know this for a fact because everyone at the film festival where it played did just that. Everyone was thinking about it. To me, that is the success of this smart and bright indie film from director/writer J.T. Tepnapa and producer/writer Carlos Pedraza (who were amazing in the Question and Answer session held afterward).

Be aware, Judas Kiss is an edgy film, and there are several graphic and emotional scenes that are intentionally made to evoke some emotional response from the viewers. That being said, all is done tastefully and artistically, and viewers will be glad that they saw this little gem of a film. Can't wait for it to be available on DVD.
18 out of 31 found this helpful. Was this review helpful? Sign in to vote.
Permalink
7/10
Judas Kiss
meijie9221 November 2011
Such an amazing movie! At the beginning, I though that was just an LGBT film.

It gives us a different feeling when we know that the main characters are gays.

The film with nice quality and plot caught ours attentions.

After watched this movie. I realize that I should really think about if the decisions I'm gonna make are the best for my life.

If I could go back to past and met myself, I would change the choices what I had made wrong.

It is a movie which worth watching.
2 out of 7 found this helpful. Was this review helpful? Sign in to vote.
Permalink
1/10
Confusing, disturbing and shocking!
Irishchatter2 January 2015
Warning: Spoilers
At the start of the film, I knew we were introduced to a guy named Zachary Wells who is a failed filmmaker and he gets offered as a judge at a film festival. However when he came to the University, I wasn't aware that he came from the future. Like if this was meant to be a time traveling movie then why didn't it give us a hint that Zac is saving his sorry past self to win a film festival? Come on like, they should've at least made the effort in putting something magical into this film!

And you know what was the most disturbing part of the film was? Zachary was Mr so-called future boy Danny Reyes and had slept with his younger self! I was like 'Oh my god', after seeing this movie, it was a shock. Why on earth would he use a false name?! I didn't realize that he was the future Danny until he thought his younger self was an impostor for stealing his name for the fun of it. That was unbelievable!

I just think this film should've made the storyline better because it just didn't impress me the first time round of seeing this movie!
6 out of 7 found this helpful. Was this review helpful? Sign in to vote.
Permalink
9/10
I whole heartedly recommend this movie to all!
jtstarbuck249 October 2011
I hope everyone has a chance to see this "fresh" movie. It is so refreshing to see a movie that infers no sexual labeling. While Judas Kiss has a "gay" edge to it, the movie does not wear it's sexual orientation on it's sleeve. It represents life as it should be, this story just happens to have gay characters in it. Real life should be so represented. Judas Kiss has it all, drama, humor, emotion, special effects, and most of all it makes you think. The different aspects of the movie are tied together by parentage. By that I mean each one of the scenes that are acted and portrayed very well, needed a parental hand to bring them together. Zachary/Danny are constantly challenged through out, but are always kept in line by the parental figures such as Old Man Welds, and the incomparable Mrs. Blossom, played by Laura Kinney, my favorite character by the way. I am not sure the main characters would have made the necessary transitions needed in the script, without the parentage.

This movie has some very "hot" young stars as well. The entire cast was well thought out and portrayed, and I give major kudos to Director J.T. Tepnapa, Producer Carlos Pedraza, and Cinematographer Dave Berry, for their attention to details. I mean how can you go wrong with the University of Washington (Keystone University) as a backdrop! All in all, this movie pulls it all together at the right time and in the right spots, while still driving home it's message. It was entertaining, visually a home run, and I believe it has the potential to become a classic in it's own right and time. For me it was a must see, and it should be on your immediate "Bucket List" as well. Great Job everyone!
9 out of 18 found this helpful. Was this review helpful? Sign in to vote.
Permalink
1/10
Terrible film
ShatterstarXF0524 May 2020
What a terrible film, the director doesn't know how to direct and he is such a terrible actor. His acting is campy and corny-cheesy.
6 out of 8 found this helpful. Was this review helpful? Sign in to vote.
Permalink
Can a broken life be mended
oaksong13 September 2011
Sometimes we wait too long before we get serious about our careers. Sometimes we start with everything and fall into a hole. What if that happened to you and you had the opportunity to go back and change something in the past that would alter your future?

While some people seem thrown by the premise, this is a fantasy and so it has it own rules which it follows scrupulously, if you watch closely enough to discover what they are.

Zack returns to his Alma Mater to judge a film festival when his close friend Topher is unable to attend. There's a shimmer on the invitation when he opens the envelope that is barely noticeable. As he pulls onto campus he looks up and the clock tower shimmers for a moment.

After settling into his digs for the weekend, a dorm room, he goes out to find the towns gay bar where he's attacked by a really cute boy, who sneaks out of his room in the morning. Later that day he is confronted by the same boy in the interview session for the film makers who are vying for this years prize.

The actors are very convincing, particularly the two young film makers, Danny and Chris, as they explore a potential romance. Chris, portrayed by Sean Paul Lockhart, is especially convincing as a former innocent who doesn't want to get involved in a possible triangle.

The underlying tension that revolves around who might win the festival and what will happen to Danny's film is particularly engaging. As the story develops we grow more concerned about the decisions Zach will have to make.

This film has been enjoyed by many audiences across the country at this point, receiving a resounding ovation at the screening I attended.
21 out of 30 found this helpful. Was this review helpful? Sign in to vote.
Permalink
3/10
Runs the gamut of emotions from A to B.
Suradit5 May 2013
Amazingly Dorothy Parker said of a young Katharine Hepburn:"She runs the gamut of emotions from A to B." Luckily Ms. Parker died before Charlie David gave acting a shot since his gamut doesn't stretch that far.

Unfortunately in this film he played the lead character, Zach Wells, and could only over-act one emotion, petulant drama queen. Most of the younger actors turned in reasonably good performances, but Charlie seemed to cast a creepy pall over every scene in which he appeared.

As another person who reviewed the movie mentioned, it was refreshing to have a film with a gay presence that didn't focus on someone coming out or coping with all the baggage of being gay in a hostile world. That saved this sophomoric effort from being a complete waste of time, but the stiff, uncomfortable performances by almost all the older actors and their constipated dialogue delivered in a preachy, robotic manner made most of the movie a painful experience.

Hopefully the actors who played Danny, Abbey, Shane and Chris will be able to build on what I assume was the start of their acting careers and hopefully Charlie David and the others, who spent the film performing like they were reading their lines for the first time, haven't given up their day jobs.
6 out of 8 found this helpful. Was this review helpful? Sign in to vote.
Permalink
1/10
What a waste of time!
johnmerzetti19 August 2011
I saw this at the Vancouver Queer Film Festival last Saturday and think that it was a waste of a perfectly good concept! The acting was terrible (except for, in all honestly, Brent Corrigan who seems to have moved from porn to mainstream with ease). As well, the story was told in a very confusing manner.

I saw Charlie David in "Mulligans" and thought that it was well done; so, despite his God-awful acting in "Dante's Cove", I figured that I would give this one a chance. Boy, do I wish I had that two hours back!

The director and producer (I believe) were there and talked about this movie as if it were the latest blockbuster out of Hollywood. If anything, the only thing Hollywood about it was the BS on their collective part. How they sit through this crap at regular festival showings is beyond me!
16 out of 33 found this helpful. Was this review helpful? Sign in to vote.
Permalink
3/10
Another Charlie David Mess
robtyrrell-9860714 February 2020
Why is every Charlie David film an overwrought mess? Uneven acting, bad music, lumpy dialogue, inconsistent plot development...this one has it all.

This is another one of those tiring gay movies with minimal redeeming qualities, such as cute boys who occassionally get naked. Other than that, try leaving the sound off and do a crossword or something while you watch it.

And Charlie David needs to go to acting school before he cranks out even more of these bombs.
2 out of 3 found this helpful. Was this review helpful? Sign in to vote.
Permalink
9/10
Top-notch acting, great cinematography, intriguing story -- what more could you want?
sfdex-14 October 2011
Warning: Spoilers
I had the chance to see Judas Kiss at the Frameline Film Festival in San Francisco this year, and walked away very pleased. Rare is the gay film with fantasy elements that makes it into a festival, and I can certainly see why this movie has been making the rounds.

Judas Kiss deals with time travel without going into the sci-fi aspects of it. In fact, you're not even sure it's time travel, but whatever it is, it gives the characters a chance to reconsider some decisions and what might happen if some things had been done differently.

The acting in this movie is excellent. Charlie David and Richard Harmon as two sides of a coin are outstanding. (Harmon is someone to keep an eye on.) Sean Paul Lockheart is very good as the innocent boy pining for someone who doesn't notice him. And Julie Morizawa is the best pal everyone wishes they had. She plays the part with enthusiasm and just the right amount of self-aware amusement to be adorable.

The cinematography is rich and lovely, and the direction is fluid, keeping the movie moving and entertaining. The visual effects are very subtle and exactly right for the kind of non-descript time travel elements of the story.

Most important, though, is that the story is a great exploration of integrity, regret, and hope. Even after a few months after seeing the movie, I find myself thinking about the characters, the situation, and what if.
7 out of 15 found this helpful. Was this review helpful? Sign in to vote.
Permalink
9/10
Brilliant piece of film. Well worth watching.
mike-239-81530815 December 2011
As a gay man I don't mind admitting that the draw to watch Judas Kiss was ex porn star Brent Corrigan, under his real name Sean Paul Lockhart; but after moments of watching the film, I was drawn in by it's story and it's beauty.

The film plays on the idea of a "second chance". It asks us all to question whether or not you would go back and change something in your life. The story is compelling from start to end; it twists and turns along the uncomfortable line of audience viewing. It's beautifully written; the story is about characters that happen to be gay, and not gay characters. A refreshing change from a lot of Queer Cinema. It's about the people's circumstance, not their sexuality.

The story centres on failed filmmaker Zachary Wells, whose more successful friend Topher is invited to judge a film competition at their old High School. Topher can't make it and so Zach is sent instead, and so begins a journey of self-discovery. This isn't a coming of age film, although there are elements of that within the storyline. Zach meets Danny, one of the filmmakers entering the competition, and soon finds out that his life will never be the same again. Literally. Will this trip be the key to Zach's future? Given this 'second chance' will he take it? Charlie David plays Zachary Wells perfectly. His imperfections and indiscretions are underplayed brilliantly. He is a complex character and David allows the audience to engage with him, sympathise with and understand him. Wells is ultimately the protagonist in the film, but as a character he is there to represent the audience. He is asking the questions we want the answers to; David carries this performance through the film incredibly well.

Richard Harmon as Danny Reyes is buoyant, cocky and at times vulnerable and moving. The character exudes confidence but through the characterisation of Harmon we are able to see the torment that tortures Danny on a daily basis. Richard Harmon plays such a complicated character with such ease and brilliance; his performance alone is worth watching.

The supporting cast including, Timo Descamps, Julia Morizawa & Laura Kenny all do a fantastic job of keeping the momentum and pathos within this roller-coaster journey of a story. The stand out performance though, must go to Sean Paul Lockhart. The subtle and delicate way in which he portrays Chris Wachowsky is stunning. His performance is so understated and yet, at times, you feel the torment in his characters voice.

The cinematography of the film is beautiful; the long drifting establishing shots set the scenes perfectly. It's not without it's faults though, I don't think the bad CGI was necessary to portray the story. That aside I would say the film is shot how it ought to be, it feels real.

Overall, Judas Kiss is a great watch. It's thought a thought-provoking piece with a real pathos and charm. The performances by the cast are nothing short of stunning, in most cases. The film has heart and I can see it being part of my 'talking points' for a long time to come.
2 out of 7 found this helpful. Was this review helpful? Sign in to vote.
Permalink
Unbelievable, unresolved premise
hddu10-819-3745826 September 2019
Without writing spoilers, let's just say the entire premise of this mess is completely unbelievable, specifically because there is no explanation given as to WHY or HOW such a time-leap could happen. Yes, there is definitely something about "second chances" that makes us all wonder "what if?" But this was just too arrogantly concocted and executed (as if we're just supposed to swallow it all at face-value...and if not, then we're just not "cool enough" to get it). I honestly can't think of one good reason to watch this.
5 out of 6 found this helpful. Was this review helpful? Sign in to vote.
Permalink
8/10
A very different twist
bgoo-1989017 January 2018
Warning: Spoilers
This is not your typical LGBT movie. Not the coming out or typical angst riddled movie. The LGBT aspect was actually just another character in the movie The plot of being dropped into your past and being able to effect a change in your life. The thing that got me most was the confrontation of the Main character and his younger self. Realizing just how stubborn and narcissistic his younger self was. Charlie David and Richard Harmon showed how complex the older and younger sides of their character are. Worth the time!
1 out of 3 found this helpful. Was this review helpful? Sign in to vote.
Permalink
9/10
3 selves of one man meet each other to help the guy for good
anonymus2421 April 2012
Warning: Spoilers
I liked this movie because it's fresh, insightful and mostly deep. It gets you thinking what would happen if the easy or even opportunist but wrong choices that I make today take me towards the path downhill and what if only I am only to blame for if all goes wrong! This film is not unique for it's 'bending the time continuum' theme but the message or conclusion that we receive out of the story is something I never found before in any film. There are a lot of perks of the central character being gay, like you can sleep with younger you if you go back in time, or you can have 'being somebody's sexual property' as an option on your life choices list(and what's up with that anyway?). Other characters are sufficiently developed. The character of Abbey Park (The co - producer at school, co - judge when grown up & Mrs. Blossom aged) could have had been developed even more. What I like the most about this films is however, the fact that even though the story happens in alternate realism the conflicts in the life of the central character do not magically vanish, certain choices and their consequences remain the same, which is great because showing Zach's life turned around completely was possible but the story somehow manages to keep it somewhat real, and yet at the end of the film we feel good about the central character. A good movie to watch at least once.
1 out of 5 found this helpful. Was this review helpful? Sign in to vote.
Permalink
An Instant Classic
RyoDrake4 October 2011
This stunning film catches the audience's attention, and the message of the film has everyone contemplating their own lives well after the movie is over. A compelling, yet controversial, story-plot with a charismatic cast. An instant classic.

I have personally seen this film at two major film festivals around the nation. It was well worth seeing more than once because you understand more of the subtle messages the more times you watch it. I've also seen that the director has a series of short films available on DVD. I look forward to the DVD release of 'Judas Kiss' to share with other friends and fans. I'm anticipating sharing it on campus for other film students to watch.
18 out of 30 found this helpful. Was this review helpful? Sign in to vote.
Permalink
10/10
A winner from the company of Judas Kiss
soccerfan21724 January 2012
There are so many emotions in this film it's hard to latch on one the first time you watch it. It's not your typical gay-themed film and it brings a refreshing breath of life to it's genre. One of the best characters in my opinion is C.W-or Christopher Watchowski. Every small character has been so meticulously planned out the entire film is a pleasure to watch. I suggest multiple watchings just to fully get the gist of the plot and see all the characters as individuals and appreciate them. From Danny's father to Shane's parents all the characters are a delight to observe. The plot of time travel is also very unique in that the way that the time travel occurs is never actually explained. Yet it doesn't need to be, the film is packed full of enough action that you never really miss an explanation. The cinematography is fantastic-very real with sharp colours and smooth transitions with special effects.

I can't wait for the next movie from this crew.
1 out of 7 found this helpful. Was this review helpful? Sign in to vote.
Permalink
Magical realism and good story
Selek544 October 2011
Warning: Spoilers
Judas Kiss is a huge leap in indie gay story telling and what you can do with a limited budget. While the coming out stories have there place in this genre, it was great to see a movie where being gay is just a happenstance. Thus, it then gave writer Carlos Pedraza and director J.T. Tepnapa time to step up their story while not being bogged down in ennui. The lushly filmed movie takes a simple idea -what if you could go back in time and change your past- and spins a tale about the paths we choose when we're young, and how (at the time) we never think about the consequences of our actions. From that idea, the movie borrows a bit from The Twilight Zone and adds a dash of A Christmas Carol and takes us on a journey that while familiar, it is never boring. Charlie David has never been better, giving us a new look at a man at the crossroads who is in desperate search for some sort of redemption for the sins of his past. Meanwhile, Richard Harmon explodes on the screen as the troubled Danny, willing to sacrifice everything, including love, for the ever elusive gold ring that is success. Mr. Harmon is brilliantly watchable, despite the character of Danny having so many flaws. Meanwhile, newcomer Timo Descamps (an actor/singer from Belgium) scores as Shane, the Big Man on Campus who has an agenda of his own, while Julia Morizawa is dazzling as Abby. While some might call it stunt casting, Sean Paul Lockhart rises to the occasion as a sort of Ghost of Christmas Past. Well known for his gay adult films as Brent Corrigan, Lockhart proves he is more than the sum of his parts. He's likable, charming and shows a vulnerable side, which is endearing. While certainly not a perfect film, it has great heart and production values (great CGI and location work in Seattle) outweigh a few short comings. This is an example of what could be the next evolutionary step in this genre.
13 out of 22 found this helpful. Was this review helpful? Sign in to vote.
Permalink
More than an LGBT film
xan_xan997 October 2011
It's extremely refreshing to see a film touted as an LGBT film where story and character are the focus. It's not a coming of age story, a coming out story, or a story where character sexuality takes the main stage. It is merely a story who's characters happen to be gay. And a decent story as well. I enjoyed watching the narrative boldly and apologetically unfold. It doesn't waste time trying to explain what strange phenomenon is going on, it just marches forward.

Technically, I found the cinematography very well done. The soundtrack is good. Fx subtle. Direction well done. The performances mixed, but overall I felt the main cast did very well. At times, I felt the pacing was a bit off, but that is just a personal opinion. I feel Judas Kiss is worth your time and I hope many get to experience it. Looking forward to the DVD release so I can experience it again!
12 out of 20 found this helpful. Was this review helpful? Sign in to vote.
Permalink
An error has occured. Please try again.

See also

Awards | FAQ | User Ratings | External Reviews | Metacritic Reviews


Recently Viewed