User reviews

"I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me."

These are not the words of Joe Crist, the notorious titular bounty hunter, born again to blow the brains out of the bad men terrorizing the town belonging to his best friends, but mirrors the spiritual sentiment of this satirical, semi-religious romp. Framing the story as an homage to all things Sergio Leone, director Mark Allen Michaels entertains the wild energy of a Western, while stripping the genre of its contemplative seriousness in substitution for something super silly.

Fully stocked with Wilhelm screams, whip style camerawork, and cartoonish sound effects to amplify the absurdity, it becomes quickly apparent that JOE CRIST intends to play as parody instead of a straight drama or stereotypical faith based movie. The opening scene makes good and sure that everyone is on the same page that this isn't gonna get played during Bible School study.

The film's religious context is on the forefront of Joe Crist's self righteous journey, but the digital blood bath painting the town red doesn't let the audience forget that violence is the real answer, even if Joe Crist may be the second coming of Christ in lightening wielding form. Because of the outright goofiness up front, it's hard to dial the tone back down, making the movie's less refined qualities more noticeable in its quieter moments - but the brisk runtime allows plenty of room for hootin n hollerin hilarity that makes still it worth a watch. The tangible chemistry of the cast feels like the folks involved had a blast bringing this film to fruition, as some scenes act almost like extended SNL sketches. Perfect to put on at a party packed with lots of booze for some guaranteed good times.

The power of Joe Crist clearly compelled them, will it do the same for you?

There was a time when movie making was an art. A time when a masterfully written script would be cast by exceptional actors and brought to life by a visionary director.

Like three peas in a pod that work together and in unison to achieve one polished finished product.

Now before everyone attacks me and gets my post deleted or banned, I am a mature Christian and have watched my fair share of "religious" themed movies. Many were bad, a few were good and mostly due to the ego centric attitudes of the writers who often think they can also direct or act at the same time.

This movie is not worth a 9 or a 10. A good idea for a script, but a very poorly written script in the end.

Acting was sub par, mostly over the top and very unbelievable and unauthentic. There was zero emotional investment in any of the characters.

Sets were ok, sound was bad in some spots. But the writing was bad, so even with the best intentions of your actors, it failed to deliver.

Directing was sub par.

So it astounds and surprises me that for such a poorly made film, we have raving 9's and 10's, must see comments. Perhaps Gone with the Wind or 12 Angry Men could warrant such high marks. This movie is a 2 at best.

The new western Joe Crist asks you, What Would Joe Crist Do?

At just under an hour of running time, Joe Crist is a crisp(!) western/morality play with very little fat. You're not bogged down with unnecessary subplots. From the opening gunshots to the closing shot of ____, Joe Crist is no brakes western entertainment.

If you're in the mood for some gun-totin' fun, Joe Crist is diverting enough to satisfy the western fans in all of you.

Some eye-rollingly heavy-handed allegory that comes close to beating your head. If that's not your thing it's easy enough to ignore and enjoy the saddles and the giant hats.

Joe Crist is a Western that manages to pull off multiple things at once: It's a rollicking Western with brutal action scenes, it's got tons of humor, it's a sweet love story, and a tale about right vs wrong and not losing hope.

I really enjoyed the characters here. Dallas Valdez' Joe Crist is a wisecracking, charismatic and showy gunslinger. Carrie Keagan's Maggie is a charming bartender who captures Joe's heart and is good with a gun. Curt Lambert's Del is one of Joe's oldest and most trusted friends and always has his back. This trio has wonderful chemistry together and anytime they are on screen it's electric.

The story, while being a Western standard about a good man seeking to rid a Western town of the seedy gang who is running it, is made interesting by its execution. After awakening from a 40 day coma, Joe wakes up with Messiah-like abilities. He can touch people and see their future, he can heal the sick and even resurrect the dead. It lends the film a wonderful freshness that kept me entertained throughout.

The action scenes are fast paced, well executed and bloody. Every time a standoff happened I was excited and itching for the bullets to start flying. The ending is something that I feel might divide audiences but I found it pretty satisfying. Joe Crist is a Western unlike any I've seen before.

Joe Crist is a western film about a bounty hunter who after being almost killed wakes up from a coma to find out he has a higher purpose.

This film is well produced and has some funny moments I wasn't expecting making it the film entertaining. This was a fun watch with moments that shows the filmmakers didn't take themselves too seriously. The film was well cast, Joe Crist played by Dallas Valdez does a really good job being mysterious and humorous at the same time and his friend Del played by Curt Lambert his love interest Maggie played by Carrie Keagan are all on the same page and really play off each other nicely. The whole cast was well acted and each player brought something to the project.

This is a shorter feature and goes by pretty quick with under an hour of length and since it's uplifting it puts you in a good mood. Not a bad idea how to spend your time.

You've never seen a western like "Joe Christ". Seriously. This film is NUTS. And ya really gotta hand it to the film makers for making a film that puts multiple genres in a blender and turning it into a film that entertains, has LOL moments of parody, and tries to reinvent old cliches. And it does it all in under an hour! And for lovers of bloody shoot-'em-ups, the body count is HIGH. Apparently Mr. Christ, as an agent of a higher power, possesses some super human traits that allow him to create miracles. Sprinkled throughout are Biblical references too. So here is the absolute bestestest summary I can offer: if you crave a film that is truly different, combining genres like westerns, horror flicks, action/gun play, faith-based films, fantasy, and parody, you've landed EXACTLY in the film you need!

I'm not really into westerns but I gave it a shot and must say I enjoyed it immensely. It's one of those flicks that doesn't take itself too seriously and it works, with plenty of shooting scenes and comedy I would have to say I would watch it again.

You can tell the film had a lot of heart in making it from the production design to the cinematography to the acting. Great casting!

If you're into vigilante westerns this one is right up your alley and it's not one of those films that drags on. It's pretty much straight to the point from beginning to end. I really enjoyed watching it and you will too.

Written and directed by Mark Allen Michaels, Joe Crist is a wild Western! I love how this movie starts and gets right to the point! It packs a punch into its short runtime. The cinematic style is wonderful; I love how the color of the film, as well as the music, characters, and setting, all pay homage to the Western film genre. The special effects are great too! The sound design and music are top notch. The music, especially, really adds to the Western and pulls you into the movie's world. There truly is something for everyone in this movie: mystery, love, action, crime, and even bits of comedy.

I was down to watch this movie after a friend sent me the trailer, because who doesn't want to watch a goofy western featuring a coma survivor with heavenly powers? I was hoping for something along the lines of Undead or Alive (2007), even if there weren't going to be any zombies in the saloons, and Joe Crist didn't disappoint.

I was hooked from the very start by the liberal use of the Wilhelm screams, a trick gay-run-teed to elicit gut laughs from fans of B movies. Joe comes out swingin' (or shootin'), and the action doesn't stop. With a runtime of only 53 minutes, there's no time to get bored!

While the writing isn't great and some of the delivery feels forced, both of those negatives make a positive when you're paying homage to old western films, because let's be real...we didn't watch those for the quality conversation either.

I will say that Mark Allen Michaels (writer/director/producer) has come a LONG way since Vampirez on a Boat. Joe Crist is still low budget, but it FEELS like a lot more money and time went into this project. Dallas Valdez as Joe Crist was the perfect choice; he's a natural protagonist in Michael's nutty stories. And he has a lot of hats.

If you enjoy bonkers films and can appreciate low-budget projects, definitely give this one a watch. If you don't laugh at the Wilhelm screams, we can't be friends.

Well, that was fun-a good old-fashioned shoot-'em-up western. Joe Crist takes viewers on an exhilarating ride as Joe Crist, a man on a divine mission, sets out to cleanse a Western town of its human vermin.

This film is pure fun and briskly paced, making it an enjoyable watch from start to finish. With its copious body count, Joe Crist could easily double as a great drinking game, yet it manages to keep the violence at an almost cartoonish level with judicous use of the Wilhelm scream, adding a layer of playful sensibility to the action.

Kudos to the cinematography and production design, which elevate this modest-budget movie and give it a big heart. The visuals and setting perfectly capture the essence of a classic Western, immersing the audience in its dusty, rugged world.

If you're looking for a film that combines the charm of traditional Westerns with a unique, modern twist, Joe Crist is definitely worth a watch. It's a spirited, action-packed adventure that promises a good time.

Joe Crist is a gunfighter on his way to redemption. Ask any sportin' women, or daughters of sin, and they'll tell you Joe Crist looks real good for a guy who took a shotgun blast to the face and chest 40 days ago. Not only did he walk away from certain death (rather than limp away looking like the Toxic Avenger), but he's now filled with frightful purpose. Dallas Valdez is the eponymous Joe Crist and like Doc Holiday was to Wyatt Earp, Curt Lambert is Del: Joe's force-to-be-reckoned-with, boozing sidekick. They're on a mission from God. And while "Joe Crist" has plenty of gunfire and brimstone, it's high-adventure comedy. It's a feel-good movie that's beautifully shot, and never takes itself too seriously.

Joe Crist is a cinematic experience unlike any other. I was sitting in the theaters watching this last night and oh my goodness I was hooked from the beginning. When Joe Crist said "It's Joe Cristing time" and cristed all over the audience, I could feel the Joe in my Crist.

The movie centers around Thanos2 (they made another one) fighting against Joe Crist, a tax evader. The movie is lowkey the best movie ever ad when Joe Crist said "I am actually an actor" I peed on the couple in front of me out of excitement, and they drank it to die and meet Joe Crist in heaven.

You cannot prove me wrong because you have not seen this movie.

Because it was fun.

If you like westerns, this is a goofy good one.

If you like religious films, it's no Ten Commandments nor The Exorcist, but it gets the job done, plus unlike The Ten Commandments, this film is quite funny. Also the budget is smaller.

If you hate religious propaganda, it will read like satire, so you can be mutually entertained when watching this with your religious family & friends, yknow, so long as you can all refrain from trying to convert one another to your world views.

If you like romance, he has a girlfriend.

If you like supernatural phenomena & superheroes, this also has that.

What a romp of a short/ long film! I loved this film which actually had me laughing out loud, especially at the great acted side kick character played by Curt Lambert. It's not in the same league as Blazing Saddles and the film only occasionally lost its galloping rhythm but the 53 minutes spun by faster than a quick draw. The level of western parody even extends to the credits where I had to stop and re-read them (example 'Bridge Financing supplied by "We smell blood in the water LLC").

The acting is fairly solid for an indie movie and given the parody script and genre, any wooden dialogue delivery seems to fit well with the intended humour. As a solid Christian I wasn't offended by any parallels with Jesus (apart from the obvious vengeance theme - but hey, it's a movie!!) and the film neatly pulls together a western gunslinger saviour character just as easily as a Clint Eastwood flick.

Definitely worth the watch! Oh....nice hat!