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.

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.

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.

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.