This post may be a few years too late, but I recently had the opportunity to re-watch DC Universe Animated Original Movies' 28th offering, 2017's Teen Titans: The Judas Contract. Unlike 90% of folks with much bigger digital platforms, I fully understand that I am not even remotely qualified to review films, so I'm simply going to treat this post as more of a commentary.
Teen Titans: The Judas Contract is an animated adaptation of Marv Wolfman and George Pérez classic 1984 Tales of the Teen Titans storyline of the same name (Tales of the Teen Titans #s 42 - 44 and Annual #3), and is also a continuation of the story that began in the 2013 DC animated film Son of Batman. Those of you who have not yet seen the film or are unfamiliar with the classic Judas Contract story may wish to stop reading this post now as spoilers will appear below.
SPOILERS BELOW!! SPOILERS BELOW!!
For those of us familiar with the source material, it is strange to see the Damian Wayne Robin and the Jaime Reyes Blue Beetle in this context, even though a verbal exchange between Damian and Deathstroke (recounting the events of Son of Batman) does seem to somewhat validate Robin's involvement. It is also puzzling that Brother Blood and his Chuch of Blood appear in this film as the church was merged with H.I.V.E. for no other reason than to justify Blood's role as the film's big bad rather than Deathstroke. It seems to me that the story would have a bit more emotional resonance were Deathstroke the main villain as he was in the source material, but then again I am biased toward Slade. Deathstroke's son, Jericho, was even relegated from an important character making his big debut, to a blink-and-you'll-miss-him Easter Egg, though this was somewhat remedied by a post-credits scene.
The central plot points of the original story are still present in this adaptation. A troubled Terra is taken into the Titans' fold, though most of the Titans, save a smitten Changeling/Beast Boy, are cautious of her stand-offish nature. Terra is revealed to the audience to be a traitor to the Titans in the service of Deathstroke. Though she is definitely enamored with Slade, her sexual advances are deflected by him as he strings her along with promises of a true and full relationship after the job of destroying the Teen Titans is done, unlike the original version where it is clear that their relationship is a sexual one. One hallmark of the comic's version of this story that was wonderfully recreated in the film was the iconic "super window jump" scene as Deathstroke crashed through a plate glass window to ambush Nightwing in his civilian identity leading to what was easily the best fight scene in the entire film.
Any analysis of this film would be incomplete without mentioning some key performances from the voice cast. Deathstroke was brilliantly brought to menacing life by the late character actor, Miguel Ferrer, in one of his final roles. The talented Christina Ricci also masterfully portrayed Terra as both heartlessly ruthless and emotionally fragile. Stuart Allan is also to be commended for making Damian Wayne, a character I personally find difficult to stomach, sympathetic and, dare I say, likable.
Teen Titans: The Judas Contract is a flawed film that at times suffers from being stuffed into a box of animated universe continuity that just doesn't fit. Story elements and characters that were randomly added, or fundamentally changed do little to contribute to the overall enjoyability of the film. But with the basic plot from the source material intact, strong voice performances for key characters, and some pretty cool action sequences, Teen Titans: The Judas Contract can still be a pretty fun way to spend a weekend afternoon.
