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Genres: DramaSci
Starring: Genevieve Buechner, Charlie David, Richard Harmon, Laura Kenny, Sean Paul Lockhart, Dennis Bateman, Timo Descamps
Director(s): J.T. Tepnapa
Country: USA
Year: 2011
Available Quality: DivX
IMDB Rating: 4.7 out of 10 (393 votes)
Failed filmmaker Zachary Wells is convinced by his best friend and hotshot director Topher into replacing him as a judge in their film schools annual festival. Zachs one-night stand with a student backfires when that student walks into an interview the next morning calling himself Danny Reyes, the name Zach went by when he attended the school. And Dannys film, Judas Kiss, is a finalist in the competition Zach is judging. Zachs film, also Judas Kiss, won the festival years before. As Zach scrambles for answers, a mysterious, chain-smoking campus tour guide, counsels him Change the kids past, change your future. But how? Zach comes to believe he can mend his life by disqualifying Danny from competition, putting him on a different path than Zach followed. But will Zachs plan work?
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Visitors Review
meijie92 (12 June 2013)
Judas Kiss
Such an amazing movie! At the beginning, I though that was just an LGBTfilm. It gives us a different feeling when we know that the main charactersare gays. The film with nice quality and plot caught ours attentions.After watched this movie. I realize that I should really think about ifthe 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 choiceswhat I had made wrong. It is a movie which worth watching.
itsvivek4u (11 June 2013)
Make your own decision
I just came back from the opening night of Philly LGBT film festivaland saw this film. It is very hard to say at this moment whether thisfilm was the right film to open the festival or not because unless Iwatch some of the other films, it will be very hard to compare. Butstill it was a decent effort. The story line is definitely very noveland I must admit, I could not have thought of it but not every storyturns out well on screen. This film also defied some general logic butmore on that later.Zack is a 30 something failed film-maker. He was a wonder film maker inhis college days but Hollywood glamor and partying brought him fromfame to dust and now he makes wedding videos. On his best friend'sinsistence, he returns to his college to judge a film festival forshort 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 onthe short film 'Judas Kiss' that he has made. The guy is Danny and hisbackground is absolutely same as Zack. WIth turn in events, it turnsout that Danny is no one but his own younger self. Zack is facing hispast. And it was Zack originally named Danny who made the film 'JudasKiss' and won the best film-maker award. With the help of his oldcollege teacher, he finds out that somehow he has been given a chanceto maybe change his past, rectify some of the mistakes and in theprocess change his future. Danny is very confident of winning thescholarship because his film is talk of the campus. Danny catches fancyof Shane who just likes to use the budding film makers. Then there isChris who has a huge crush on Danny since they met but Danny wants tobe with Shane because he is the one who can solve his immediatemonetary needs. Zack explains his younger self hard to see the realityotherwise he will end of being an utter failure like him both inprofessional and in personal life. Zack reveals the truth that Dannywill be disqualified from the competition since he broke the rulesthereby changing what happened in the past and also helps him realizewhy 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 theright path.The theme of time travel has not really been tackled before in gaycinema so that way it was refreshing to watch something new but many aincidents just defy logic. 2 entities of the same body cannot be in thesame time zone but I am sue director was not looking for a scientificjustification. It was an idea which he turned into a film. The firsthalf of the film was kinda suspenseful where the viewer is tying tofigure out what is the actual relationship between Zack and Danny andwhen the truth is revealed, it is a little (just a little) hard todigest but don't we all love escapist cinema? Zack was very good in hisrole. You could feel the struggle and questions that were going insidehim for everything that was happening around him. Surprisingly, I didnot 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 onme over a period of time. Amongst the supporting cast Chris was a feaston the eyes. His innocent looks fit the character. Shane was OTTaccording to me. The production values were pretty good for a gay filmand it did not look like a rushed job. Since it is pretty much filmedin 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 filmsI am going to watch in next few days made this a decent watch for me.It was just OK. (6/10)
RyoDrake (10 June 2013)
An Instant Classic
This stunning film catches the audience's attention, and the message ofthe film has everyone contemplating their own lives well after themovie is over. A compelling, yet controversial, story-plot with acharismatic cast. An instant classic.I have personally seen this film at two major film festivals around thenation. It was well worth seeing more than once because you understandmore of the subtle messages the more times you watch it. I've also seenthat the director has a series of short films available on DVD. I lookforward to the DVD release of 'Judas Kiss' to share with other friendsand fans. I'm anticipating sharing it on campus for other film studentsto watch.
Stan Skaggs (10 June 2013)
Gay crap.
I watched this movie because I thought it was a thriller or somethingdecent. It is not. It is a gay video with gays doing each other as itscentral theme. Do not watch this trash. I was very disappointed in thiscrap. Wasted my money on a gay show...Why does IMDb not label this as gay film as it should be... I ma verydisappointed in IMDb.This description of the movie needs to be up-front in its topicsinstead of making it sound like a decent movie with an interestingstoryline. This description of this movie was very deceptive in hidingits gay agenda encased in the film. There are no descriptions on themovie jacket or here in IMDb.This tells me that I need to look at other sources for movie reviewsand information in choosing movies. I am just glad that my kids did notwatch this trash with me when I brought it home from the video store.I will not trust IMDb again in choosing movies again.
xan_xan99 (03 June 2013)
More than an LGBT film
It's extremely refreshing to see a film touted as an LGBT film wherestory and character are the focus. It's not a coming of age story, acoming out story, or a story where character sexuality takes the mainstage. It is merely a story who's characters happen to be gay. And adecent story as well. I enjoyed watching the narrative boldly andapologetically unfold. It doesn't waste time trying to explain whatstrange phenomenon is going on, it just marches forward.Technically, I found the cinematography very well done. The soundtrackis good. Fx subtle. Direction well done. The performances mixed, butoverall I felt the main cast did very well. At times, I felt the pacingwas a bit off, but that is just a personal opinion. I feel Judas Kissis worth your time and I hope many get to experience it. Lookingforward to the DVD release so I can experience it again!
SBooth83 (03 June 2013)
Magical Realism at it's Finest
I saw Judas Kiss at the Rhode Island International Film Festival inAugust, 2011. Aside from some technical issues on the festival's part,I really enjoyed this film and am looking forward to getting my copy. Ican't help but believe that I will pick up on more symbolism each timeI watch it! It was also great to see a piece Of work from Gay Cinemathat could break the boundaries of the genre and work well inmainstream film festivals like RIIFF!The characters were entertaining and thought provoking, and the writingmade me snicker and laugh throughout while still keeping me enthralledduring dramatic poignant moments. The cinematography was gorgeous, richin color and well composed.I'm not always a fan of magical realism, as many films don't do itjustice, but Judas Kiss ranks up there with Across the Universe in mymind! Unlike the later, it was based more in reality (or perhapsalternate reality), which created a great escape without going too faroutside of the boundaries as we think of them.Great soundtrack as well!
soccerfan217 (02 June 2013)
A winner from the company of Judas Kiss
There are so many emotions in this film it's hard to latch on one thefirst time you watch it. It's not your typical gay-themed film and itbrings a refreshing breath of life to it's genre. One of the bestcharacters in my opinion is C.W-or Christopher Watchowski. Every smallcharacter has been so meticulously planned out the entire film is apleasure to watch. I suggest multiple watchings just to fully get thegist of the plot and see all the characters as individuals andappreciate them. From Danny's father to Shane's parents all thecharacters are a delight to observe. The plot of time travel is alsovery unique in that the way that the time travel occurs is neveractually explained. Yet it doesn't need to be, the film is packed fullof enough action that you never really miss an explanation. Thecinematography is fantastic-very real with sharp colours and smoothtransitions with special effects. I can't wait for the next movie from this crew.
sfdex-1 (01 June 2013)
Top-notch acting, great cinematography, intriguing story -- what more could you want?
I had the chance to see Judas Kiss at the Frameline Film Festival inSan Francisco this year, and walked away very pleased. Rare is the gayfilm with fantasy elements that makes it into a festival, and I cancertainly see why this movie has been making the rounds.Judas Kiss deals with time travel without going into the sci-fi aspectsof it. In fact, you're not even sure it's time travel, but whatever itis, it gives the characters a chance to reconsider some decisions andwhat might happen if some things had been done differently.The acting in this movie is excellent. Charlie David and Richard Harmonas two sides of a coin are outstanding. (Harmon is someone to keep aneye on.) Sean Paul Lockheart is very good as the innocent boy piningfor someone who doesn't notice him. And Julie Morizawa is the best paleveryone wishes they had. She plays the part with enthusiasm and justthe 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 verysubtle and exactly right for the kind of non-descript time travelelements of the story. Most important, though, is that the story is a great exploration ofintegrity, regret, and hope. Even after a few months after seeing themovie, I find myself thinking about the characters, the situation, andwhat if.
anonymus24 (01 June 2013)
3 selves of one man meet each other to help the guy for good
I liked this movie because it's fresh, insightful and mostly deep. Itgets you thinking what would happen if the easy or even opportunist butwrong choices that I make today take me towards the path downhill andwhat if only I am only to blame for if all goes wrong! This film is notunique for it's 'bending the time continuum' theme but the message orconclusion that we receive out of the story is something I never foundbefore in any film. There are a lot of perks of the central characterbeing 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 yourlife choices list(and what's up with that anyway?). Other charactersare sufficiently developed. The character of Abbey Park (The co -producer at school, co - judge when grown up & Mrs. Blossom aged) couldhave had been developed even more. What I like the most about thisfilms is however, the fact that even though the story happens inalternate realism the conflicts in the life of the central character donot magically vanish, certain choices and their consequences remain thesame, which is great because showing Zach's life turned aroundcompletely was possible but the story somehow manages to keep itsomewhat real, and yet at the end of the film we feel good about thecentral character. A good movie to watch at least once.
Rick (31 May 2013)
Fantastic film of regret, hope, and redemption
This film was absolutely amazing, and everyone leaving the filmfestival theater was touched by it and its message of regret,redemption, and hope for the future. Judas Kiss has a little bit ofsomething for everyone, but most especially, it is a story that everyviewer can relate to... reflection upon one's own life, regret overdecisions made, and what you might have done differently if you could.In this innovative film, the character of Zach actually does get achance to change some things in his younger life. But will his youngerself, in that "all-knowing-invincible arrogance" of teenage youth,listen to his older self, and take a different path that will changeboth of their futures? That indeed is the question in this charmer of afilm. 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, SeanLockhart, Timo Descamps, Julia Morizawa, and the rest of the cast trulygive stellar performances, beyond what is often expected in independentfilms. Viewers will be transported to this quirky, mystical intersection oftime and space, and experience similar emotions as the characters onscreen. Viewers will ponder how they, too, could change their own life,and, indeed, change their own future. Beginning right then and there. Iknow this for a fact because everyone at the film festival where itplayed did just that. Everyone was thinking about it. To me, that isthe success of this smart and bright indie film from director/writerJ.T. Tepnapa and producer/writer Carlos Pedraza (who were amazing inthe Question and Answer session held afterward). Be aware, Judas Kiss is an edgy film, and there are several graphic andemotional scenes that are intentionally made to evoke some emotionalresponse from the viewers. That being said, all is done tastefully andartistically, and viewers will be glad that they saw this little gem ofa film. Can't wait for it to be available on DVD.
chester-abernathy (26 May 2013)
Second chances
Judas Kiss is by no means your average story. It has some unexpectedtwists, dabbling in time travel, love triangles and redemption.Zach Wells, a failed filmmaker, reluctantly covers for his much moresuccessful friend by taking his place on the judging panel at theirAlma Mater's annual film competition (a competition that Zach won yearsago). As soon as he gets on campus... well, it's not hi-jinks ensue ina kooky way, but Zach starts to notice that things are not what theyseem.The time travel aspect was a cool way to approach the material;certainly a welcome change from the mainstay "let's do some lameflashbacks to explain how my life got so screwed up." The film has aninteresting cast of characters that all bring something different tothe 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 dida commendable job making a film with gay lead characters, but notdwelling on their sexual orientation. It was obvious that the focus ofthe film was on the story and I appreciated that.
Selek54 (26 May 2013)
Magical realism and good story
Judas Kiss is a huge leap in indie gay story telling and what you cando with a limited budget. While the coming out stories have there placein this genre, it was great to see a movie where being gay is just ahappenstance. Thus, it then gave writer Carlos Pedraza and directorJ.T. Tepnapa time to step up their story while not being bogged down inennui. The lushly filmed movie takes a simple idea -what if you couldgo back in time and change your past- and spins a tale about the pathswe choose when we're young, and how (at the time) we never think aboutthe consequences of our actions. From that idea, the movie borrows abit from The Twilight Zone and adds a dash of A Christmas Carol andtakes us on a journey that while familiar, it is never boring. CharlieDavid has never been better, giving us a new look at a man at thecrossroads who is in desperate search for some sort of redemption forthe sins of his past. Meanwhile, Richard Harmon explodes on the screenas the troubled Danny, willing to sacrifice everything, including love,for the ever elusive gold ring that is success. Mr. Harmon isbrilliantly watchable, despite the character of Danny having so manyflaws. 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 itstunt casting, Sean Paul Lockhart rises to the occasion as a sort ofGhost of Christmas Past. Well known for his gay adult films as BrentCorrigan, Lockhart proves he is more than the sum of his parts. He'slikable, charming and shows a vulnerable side, which is endearing.While certainly not a perfect film, it has great heart and productionvalues (great CGI and location work in Seattle) outweigh a few shortcomings. This is an example of what could be the next evolutionary stepin this genre.
John MERZETTI (25 May 2013)
What a waste of time!
I saw this at the Vancouver Queer Film Festival last Saturday and thinkthat it was a waste of a perfectly good concept! The acting wasterrible (except for, in all honestly, Brent Corrigan who seems to havemoved from porn to mainstream with ease). As well, the story was toldin 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 Iwould 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 thismovie as if it were the latest blockbuster out of Hollywood. Ifanything, the only thing Hollywood about it was the BS on theircollective part. How they sit through this crap at regular festivalshowings is beyond me!
GayFilmViewer (25 May 2013)
well made and enjoyable
The fantasy/sf genres are replete with stories of people going back intime to correct their mistakes or give advice to their past selves inorder to have an effect on the future.But the problem with advice is that the smart don't need it and thestupid won't use it  and, as Booth Tarkington famously wrote in TheMagnificent Ambersons, "Let me explain a little: I don't think he'llchangeÂat twenty-one or twenty-two so many things appear solid andpermanent and terrible which forty sees are nothing but disappearingmiasma. 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 amagainst this type of story because, in the end, we are defined by ourchoices. Danny Reyes/Zachery Wells doesn't have the courage to livewith the choices he's made and build a better future having learnedfrom experience. The idea of going back in time to talk to your pastself and inform him of all the ways in which you screwed up your lifeis pure folly and an abdication of personal responsibility.However, I prefer to read the film as one generation of gay men givingvaluable, fatherly guidance to another. An older gay man says to thetwink, "Watch out, kid, gay life can be a minefield. Here's how tonavigate it." Though the script provides a few cringe worthy moments inthe first act, the solid direction and uniformly good performances makeup for it. Sean Paul Lockhart proved to be a tremendous surprise;though his part was small, the former adult star turned in aperformance with great emotional depth and sincerity. The kid isn'tjust a pretty face.This is one of the best gay titles I've screened in years.
sandover (25 May 2013)
Self-respect bends time, stupid!
Or the time-traveler's mid-life crisis, could be another title, just toconsciously echo the film it obviously borrows after. And where in thatfilm family values bend time, here it, huh, is self-respect onesupposes; just throw in towards the end a huge moon bending overyounger-and-older-version of the lead character self-hugging, and thenyou verge into ludicrous "The Fountain" territory. That is as bad as itgets - oh, no, actually not: with its Scrooge-like moral taletime-shift, Dickens comes, has to come to mind, no? Only here, with thefilm's nauseating badness, dissonances deliver Dickens' name as dickends. Why should Brent Corrigan be here, otherwise, with his faux-puppyeyelooks? He seriously stands out from the other cast, with hisall-American sincerity in the eye, poor débutante. Richard Harmon, now,seriously, has looks that could have helped the film, if one could stopand consider he has some facial affinity with both Robert Pattinson andChristopher Eccleston; for me he was the only true stand-out in thisunsubtle mess. I will pass on Charlie David.So why is this film that bad? Redemption, love, forgiveness, blah blahblah, I do not really care what a film's theme is, given some trueeffort beyond respectful premises; bad realization does not purge thecliché-ridden intention.The film suffers - no, make that drowns six fathoms deep - from theaimless, stupid gratification of watching the failed director go to thefestival who has sex with a youngster who, hello! we are soon todiscover is his younger self. Now this is new territory: timebending/traveling self-incest. The effect is as bland as watching thePeters (identical) twins having sex in "Taboo". But this at least wasporn, that is, did not have to be consistent on a narrative level, toput it that way - for tell me after such a beginning, what kind ofconsistency you're looking for? With a dead-end start, good luck toyou.And then there is one question of the logical order. For a sci-fi filmto succeed, and give your own example here, it somehow must be strongon the logic line; despite the science and the fiction, the better itis thought through, the better it titillates. So the obvious questionis, who was the judge the first time round when the director was hisyoung self? The film has its only interesting moment here, though byobfuscating, by failing to address this question. Ms Dean says that dueto clauses of matriculation, the film cannot enter into competition, sogoodbye to our question. Yet its empty place stays on. What is thisdoubly denied place, who fails to occupy it? And the answer is the Nameof the Father, which doubly alienated means in clinical terms madness.The plot opts for the once-more-molestation-cliché, as if that takescare to explain anything, instead of exposing the badness of "JudasKiss".The Christian Association of America should sue the makers of this filmfor taking the name of our Traitor, Judas Iscariot, in vain on theirposter and the film! May it be banned and burn in hell, amen to that!And, remember, folks, when Oscar Wilde visited America, he saw in asaloon the sign "Do not shoot the pianist, he's doing his best", uponwhich he reflected in awe that bad art merits the penalty of death. Maywe re-enact that in our cinematically permissive societies.- That wouldalso mean love and redemption taken seriously, polemically, not in adeluded, new-age, soft-porn manner, unless you want to have sex withyourself.
westonpa (25 May 2013)
What a gem this film is
I stumbled across the film and didn't know what to expect. I certainlydidn't expect to be so enthralled. I absolutely LOVED this film. Ican't even describe it as a "gay film". It's a film about universalthemes where the characters just happen to be gay. Don't we all wish wecould be given the chance to tell our younger selves that we're on thewrong path? Of course, as this film so beautifully portrays, our youngselves don't want to be told what to do by some weirdo older guy whoknows way too much about ourselves and seems to be plotting to destroyour brilliant career. Fantastic script. Fantastic acting. Fantasticcinematography. And some wonderful twists. This film deserves to beseen by a much, much wider audience.
oaksong (21 May 2013)
Can a broken life be mended
Sometimes we wait too long before we get serious about our careers.Sometimes we start with everything and fall into a hole. What if thathappened to you and you had the opportunity to go back and changesomething in the past that would alter your future?While some people seem thrown by the premise, this is a fantasy and soit has it own rules which it follows scrupulously, if you watch closelyenough to discover what they are.Zack returns to his Alma Mater to judge a film festival when his closefriend Topher is unable to attend. There's a shimmer on the invitationwhen he opens the envelope that is barely noticeable. As he pulls ontocampus he looks up and the clock tower shimmers for a moment.After settling into his digs for the weekend, a dorm room, he goes outto find the towns gay bar where he's attacked by a really cute boy, whosneaks out of his room in the morning. Later that day he is confrontedby the same boy in the interview session for the film makers who arevying 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, portrayedby Sean Paul Lockhart, is especially convincing as a former innocentwho doesn't want to get involved in a possible triangle.The underlying tension that revolves around who might win the festivaland what will happen to Danny's film is particularly engaging. As thestory develops we grow more concerned about the decisions Zach willhave to make.This film has been enjoyed by many audiences across the country at thispoint, receiving a resounding ovation at the screening I attended.
Suradit (20 May 2013)
Runs the gamut of emotions from A to B.
Amazingly Dorothy Parker said of a young Katharine Hepburn:"She runsthe gamut of emotions from A to B." Luckily Ms. Parker died beforeCharlie David gave acting a shot since his gamut doesn't stretch thatfar.Unfortunately in this film he played the lead character, Zach Wells,and could only over-act one emotion, petulant drama queen. Most of theyounger actors turned in reasonably good performances, but Charlieseemed to cast a creepy pall over every scene in which he appeared.As another person who reviewed the movie mentioned, it was refreshingto have a film with a gay presence that didn't focus on someone comingout 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 olderactors and their constipated dialogue delivered in a preachy, roboticmanner made most of the movie a painful experience.Hopefully the actors who played Danny, Abbey, Shane and Chris will beable to build on what I assume was the start of their acting careersand hopefully Charlie David and the others, who spent the filmperforming like they were reading their lines for the first time,haven't given up their day jobs.
gradyharp (18 May 2013)
Trompe l'oeil
JUDAS KISS is a polished little film that successfully mixes gay issueswith science fiction. Written (with Carlos Pedraza) and directed byyoung J.T. Tepnapa it manages to take a dream idea and by incorporatingthe use of sci-fi create a story with which almost everyone can relate.It introduces some fresh talent and allows some seasoned actors to keepthe quality of the film on keel.Zachary Well (Charlie David) is a failed filmmaker who despite apromising career in college left school to respond to the magnet ofHollywood: fifteen years later his life now is in and out of rehab andwaiting tables because his dream of fame in la-la-land didn't happen.Zach's friend Topher (Troy Fischnaller) is successful and when anemergency trip arises he asks Zach to replace him as a judge for thefilmmaking class at Zach's old college. With great trepidation Zachgoes back to his alma mater, is housed in the freshman dorm, visits thelocal gay bar and has an encounter with a student - one Danny Reyes(Richard Harmon). The next day as Zach is preparing for the judging hediscovers the name of his previous night's encounter and cannot believethat Danny Reyes not only has Zach's previous name but also is acontestant in the film contest with a film by the same name that Zachhad written and made 15 years ago. Other characters enter the scene -Chris (Sean Paul Lockhart) who is Danny's paramour but who Danny isrejecting in favor of Shane (Timo Descamps) whose parents are wealthyand are supporting the film contest; Abbey (Julia Morizawa) who isDanny's assistant; and Danny's father (Vince Valensuela). The bizarreaspect of this is that Danny Reyes not only possess Zach's name butalso Danny's life and associations mirror Zach's when he was incollege. Characters form the past and imaginary situations occur andZach sees in Danny the opportunity to make the result of the filmcontest different and thus alter the destiny of Danny Reyes.The story makes sense as a campus story but the interesting aspect ofthe film is the clever way in which elements of science fiction (viacamera work and music and Trompe l'oeil) bring the story to a level ofreconsidering the past and seeing where different actions could havepossibly resulted in a more successful present. It works and bodes wellfor the career of JT Tepnada. Grady Harp
mike-239-815308 (17 May 2013)
Brilliant piece of film. Well worth watching.
As a gay man I don't mind admitting that the draw to watch Judas Kisswas ex porn star Brent Corrigan, under his real name Sean PaulLockhart; but after moments of watching the film, I was drawn in byit's story and it's beauty.The film plays on the idea of a "second chance". It asks us all toquestion whether or not you would go back and change something in yourlife. The story is compelling from start to end; it twists and turnsalong the uncomfortable line of audience viewing. It's beautifullywritten; the story is about characters that happen to be gay, and notgay characters. A refreshing change from a lot of Queer Cinema. It'sabout the people's circumstance, not their sexuality.The story centres on failed filmmaker Zachary Wells, whose moresuccessful friend Topher is invited to judge a film competition attheir old High School. Topher can't make it and so Zach is sentinstead, and so begins a journey of self-discovery. This isn't a comingof age film, although there are elements of that within the storyline.Zach meets Danny, one of the filmmakers entering the competition, andsoon 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. Hisimperfections and indiscretions are underplayed brilliantly. He is acomplex character and David allows the audience to engage with him,sympathise with and understand him. Wells is ultimately the protagonistin 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 thisperformance through the film incredibly well.Richard Harmon as Danny Reyes is buoyant, cocky and at times vulnerableand moving. The character exudes confidence but through thecharacterisation of Harmon we are able to see the torment that torturesDanny on a daily basis. Richard Harmon plays such a complicatedcharacter with such ease and brilliance; his performance alone is worthwatching.The supporting cast including, Timo Descamps, Julia Morizawa & LauraKenny all do a fantastic job of keeping the momentum and pathos withinthis roller-coaster journey of a story. The stand out performancethough, must go to Sean Paul Lockhart. The subtle and delicate way inwhich he portrays Chris Wachowsky is stunning. His performance is sounderstated and yet, at times, you feel the torment in his charactersvoice.The cinematography of the film is beautiful; the long driftingestablishing shots set the scenes perfectly. It's not without it'sfaults though, I don't think the bad CGI was necessary to portray thestory. That aside I would say the film is shot how it ought to be, itfeels real.Overall, Judas Kiss is a great watch. It's thought a thought-provokingpiece with a real pathos and charm. The performances by the cast arenothing short of stunning, in most cases. The film has heart and I cansee it being part of my 'talking points' for a long time to come.
Review total: 20, showing from 1 to 20