It wouldn’t truly be the Easter Season without the release of the next film in the Good Friday the 13th horror franchise. As always, the story follows hockey mask wearing, machete wielding serial killer, Judas Iscariot, the former Apostle who betrayed Jesus to the Romans.
In this, the fifth movie in the series, Judas once again rises from the grave (can anything keep this guy down?) and seeks out more victims for his murder sprees. Having already killed all the other Apostles, Pontius Pilate, and every Roman Soldier he could find, Judas spends this movie fighting off the Zombie reincarnations of all the other Apostles, Pontius Pilate, and every other Roman Soldier that he slaughtered in the first four flicks.
I’ve always been a fan of horror movies, but this Modern Philosopher has started to think that Judas and his hockey mask have hung around too long. Yes, the first in the series was an incredibly frightening tale of bloodshed, redemption, religious re-education, and intelligent storytelling.
It’s been all downhill after that. If we choose to believe, as the original urges us to, that Judas was set up to be the fall guy for Jesus’ death, then that movie is a fulfilling masterpiece. It certainly made me rethink everything I was taught in Catholic School about The Last Supper, The Crucifixion, and Easter.
Judas got his revenge, killed everyone who wronged him, and walked off into the sunset. Why does he keep coming back for more? (Maybe it’s the box office receipts…The Good Friday the 13th franchise will become the highest grossing horror series of all time if this sequel performs like its predecessors).
I guess the only thing left to figure out is the true identity of Rachel, the beautiful Jewish girl, who Judas stalks in every movie, but has yet to be able to kill. How does she always manage to get away? Is she an Angel, which is the popular theory of GooFris, the films’ fanatical fans, who obsess over the franchise all over the internet? Does Rachel finally figure out a way to dispatch of Judas forever?
I must admit I was impressed with the film. Despite the recycled plot, the introduction of Zombies does breathe new life into the franchise. Judas comes up with some intriguing new ways to kill his enemies, the scares are definitely still there, and the ending will leaving you wanting a sixth film. Plus, Rachel is totally hot and really kicks ass!
I give the flick 3.5 Crowns of Thorns out of 4. My faith has been renewed…
The Return of the Modern Philosopher 
Actually, some people say that the maiden name of Judas’s mom was “Jewel Mizer.” 😉
If this is correct, that makes Judas a relative of the Snow Mizer.
Which explains why Judas is stalking Rachel in every movie.
Rachel is an old girlfriend that dumped him for someone else.
(Everyone knows that MIzer men go bezerk when their girlfriends break up with them.
They can’t help themselves. It’s in the genes. They keep coming back for more rejection. Why? No one knows ).
I’m glad to here that Rachel finally turned around and “kicked ass.”
Hopefully, Judas won’t find her totally hot kick appealing and stalk her again in the sixth film, if there is one.
Goodness, Snow Miser and Judas are related? That would be awesome! One of the things I love about horror flicks is the fact that there’s always a strong, kick ass female character that knows how to dispatch of evil!
Sitting here, reading through your blogs and mine,
I have come to the conclusion that the Catholic school and those nuns really made a big impression on both of us. Perhaps you should write a action movie about nuns (kick ass female characters) wandering around dispatching evil.
oooops….blasphemy.
Ben Affleck already made a movie about kick ass nuns…The Town. I love the scene where they rob an armored car disguised as nuns. Awesome!
Not disguised as nuns….real nuns.
With a 12 inch ruler in hand and a box of chalk, they’ll rule the world. I can see the movie poster in my mind…
Nun of This Nonsense…a thriller… 🙂
Yikes ….. Adult children who went to Catholic school will cringe with fear when they hear your awesome title.
~~~~Nun of this Nonsense~~~
Listen to the cold, bone-chilling sound of heavy shoes pounding on the linoleum floor….clunk, thump, clunk, thump….she’s storming down the hallway with her rosary beads dangling menacingly from her black belt. Say your prayers while you still can. Nun on the rampage….and nun survived.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Yikes! I’m scared…
Enough with this guy. Time to put him under.
But it’s kind of an Easter theme for the dead to rise… 🙂
Really – I don’t think so. I have more faith in Hollywood (I use that word generically) to provide entertainment that provides me stories I can ponder and think about long after they are over. I’m really tired of the same old thing being on at the box-office. I love going ‘out to the movies.’ I don’t want to stay home and watch them on the big screen. I’m counting on you, Austin, to bring me quality that’s truly worthy of those big buck tickets. They are worth every cent when I have quality viewing. I will qualify and say if a movie is made for HBO or some other venue, I will watch it and appreciate it for the category it has been developed for.
I promise my real screenplays are better than the silly movie reviews I post on my blog. 🙂
doesn’t the cheerleader always get killed first?
I don’t think they had cheerleaders back in the days of Jesus and the Apostles…
what are you kidding me?! what about all the marys that were hanging around and up to no good? are you telling me they were not organized into some sort of cheer or pom team? c’mon –
Cheerleading wasn’t inventing until Salem Witch Trials. It’s a fact. Look it up…
Did you ever watch the one where Judas fought off Frederico, the butt pirate, who wears only red and black stripes, and has a really bad skin condition? 😀
I’ve seen them all, and I don’t remember that plot. I think you’re mocking a really cool horror movie franchise. Shame on you. Maybe Judas will visit you next!!!
Me? Mock someone?! Never. Okay.. maybe just a little. Judas can bring it on. I will sick good old Ash WIlliams and his chainsaw arm on him. 😀
I think Judas was a brave choice by the filmmakers as their anti-hero. Clearly, the audience approves based on the box office. And it’s always nice to have a cool new movie out Easter weekend when you just need to get away from family for a little while… 🙂
Reblogged this on The Return of the Modern Philosopher and commented:
Happy Good Friday! Sounds like this flick might be an Easter classic…
What an inventive way to resurrect a series (which is totally appropriate for the holiday BTW)
Nice word play! 🙂
I dunno. The concept of the masked killer having to atone for his killings sounds a little too similar to the extremely necessary installment of the Friday the 13th series: Jason Goes to Hell.
When would that ever stop Hollywood from trying to squeeze another sequel out of a tired series??? 🙂