The Masked Saint

I've been aware that Christ and Wrestling go well together for a few years now, and now the Mask Saint is the movie to prove it.

It reminds me of the faith based film, I'm in Love With a Church Girl, but while that movie hit you with the speech about how Christ loves Hip Hop, the Mask Saint, like a good wrestling movie should, comes down to the point that talk is cheap.

But the wrestling is not. Though you can tell(mostly by their size) that most of the actors may not be wrestlers in a past life, that did not stop them from giving us some impressive in the ring scenes. It was pretty action packed and exciting.

Outside the ring, it's a cool story about a vigilante in a wrestling mask whose secret identity is that of a Pastor in the neighborhood church. The fact that this really happen makes it even more interesting.

Over all it's a good low end superhero flick about Christian wrestling worthy of being the late great Rowdy Roddy Piper's last.

Don't pay much attention to the reviews from the atheist cheap seats. They don't get it or never will (Emjay 61066) . The movie is very inspirational at A time when we need such things. You must take it for what it's worth a true story of a great man doing great things. Sorry there is not enough sex or violence or big named stars. The true star of this movie is Dr. Chris Whaley who gives of his time freely and ministers now to hundreds of firefighters in need of his spiritual guidance. The is a great movie go see it. If you like the movie Courageous or Fireproof then you will like Mask Saint Sorry Emjay I will pray for you

This is one of those movies where you don't expect a lot out of it, but it ends up being way better than you thought it would be..

Unlike maybe other action type movies in the "B" category, where you expect maybe something half decent and it doesn't perform..

This is sort of one of those B movies that is well worth watching.. Much better than most other action type movies out there..

Well I guess I should not say its an action movie, but it ends up being one but actually has a solid storyline behind it as well and some funny moments..

Some cheesy humor but the good type of cheesy..

I guess what I would say its got sort of that Kickboxer type feel to it.. Decent story, decent buildup, decent action..

Wouldn't say expect some spectacular movies or anything .. We are talking WWE wrestling type stuff here.. But definitely good enough to get your blood pumping..

Brett Granstaff plays Chris who is an ex Professional and masked wrestler. He retires to become a Pastor in a parish that is on the wrong side of the tracks. Once there he sees the crime and violence and a church in the grip of a megalomaniac and a congregation that is dwindling beyond the point where the church could be economically viable.

So he resurrects his old job to help his new community. This film is based on the true life of such a Pastor – so is the film any good? Well yes and no, it is watchable in a very basic way. The good guys wear white and the bad guys black. There is no subtlety here at all of ambiguity that would help to give the plot any kind of authenticity.

The acting and dialogue is terrible in places and the direction is almost missable. It is though the story that lacks credibility and the idea of marrying a Christian story with the violence of 'wrestling' seems a bit incongruous – and it is. It is funny – when it is not meant to be and cringe worthy when it tries. If you like a guilty pleasure of a film though this sort of works. I found it to be watchable but no one was preparing an Oscar acceptance speech whilst this was in production.

The wrestler Chris "The Saint" Samuels (Brett Granstaff) has his leg broken in his final game against The Reaper (James Preston Rogers). The result was arranged by his manager Nicky Stone (Roddy Piper) since The Saint will retire to dedicate to be the pastor of the Baptist Church in a small town in Michigan. He moves with his wife Michelle Samuels (Lara Jean Chorostecki) and their daughter Carrie Samuels (T. J. McGibbon) to a decadent church in an awful neighborhood in Michigan. When they miss their arrogant sponsor Judd Lumpkin (Patrick McKenna), Chris realizes that he needs to return to the ring to get money to support his church and his house. Meanwhile he helps his outcast neighborhood of prostitutes and drug addicted people nad gives their dignity back.

"The Masked Saint" is a religious film with some attractions. Maybe, the first one is that is based on a true story of a wrestler that turned into pastor of the Baptist Church that has returned to the ring to help his church. The second is that is the farewell of Roddy Piper, an average actor that has been brought to the spots with his lead in the cult "They Live". Lara Jean Chorostecki and T. J. McGibbon are excellent in their roles. "The Masked Saint" is enjoyable since the cast is very charismatic and provides good messages. My vote is six.

Title (Brazil): "O Vigilante Mascarado" ("The Masked Vigilante")