If the name doesn’t already give it away, Jesus Christ Vampire Hunter is a zany independent film about Jesus Christ returning to help fight a plague of vampires.
What the name alone can’t convey is that the film takes as much inspiration from Kung Fu films, as it does from musical comedies, wrestling, spy films, and Blaxploitation. Here, the Church has called in Jesus to get to the bottom of the mass disappearances of members of its flock. As it turns out, many of them have fallen victim to vampires.
The vampires particularly target lesbians to sire more vampires and harvest their bodies to help them withstand daylight. While Jesus (Phil Caracas) eventually gets to the bottom of why they chose lesbians in particular, the film also portrays him (along with his mom and Mary Magnum (Maria Moulton) — a clear stand-in for Mary Magdalene) as lovers and supporters of queer people.
Perhaps Jesus makes the perfect rival to vampires. As the film points out, they have a lot in common: they both rose from the dead and they both have eternal life. However, the vampire’s are a challenge, so when Jesus can’t defeat them alone he calls in Santos (Jeff Moffet), a Mexican wrestler. With a wrestler at his side, and vampires and atheists who appear to be martial arts experts as his rivals, the fight scenes are spectacular. Some of the best battles are fought with crutches, toothpicks, and intestines.
