There are not as many fantasy movies as there used to be. Sure, Game of Thrones was a massive success, but that ended years ago. And even during the height of its popularity, there were not many options for fantasy fans. The occasional Dungeons & Dragons movie will come out, but studios seemed to ignore good old fashioned sword and board stories.
A Knight’s War is the latest entry into a genre that is starved for attention. Bhodie (Jeremy Ninaber) is sent to another realm to save the soul of the Chosen One. What starts as a fight against witches and demons becomes a much more personal battle. Just another day for a warrior who is fighting for good.
All the ingredients are here for an exciting adventure story. There are armored knights, magical battles, and alluring women that promise power. A Knight’s War does such a good job of checking items off the fantasy movie list, that it may throw some audiences off. Characters talk in the flowery language that is found in many medieval tales, but not heard as often today. For casual viewers, it will take a little time to get settled into the world.
Thankfully, the setting and characters make the transition easy. While not horror, A Knight’s War is darker than similar stories. Since the majority of the film takes place in what is basically Hell, scenes are dark and even ominous. There is always a sense of danger and gruesome death can happen to anyone at anytime. The character design is fantastic, with the evil lords especially great. There are a number of great masks and the witches are some of the best to come around in years. They are a great mix of mysterious, seductive, and frightening.
Even in the indie space, it sometimes feels like there is not much variety. Films are as good as they have ever been, but it can often feel like picking different types of the same thing. A Knight’s War is an exciting fantasy adventure that is a much needed breath of fresh air. It does not try to reinvent the wheel because it does not have to. It delivers longtime fans exactly what they have been craving.
