SAGA - Curse of the Shadow (2014)

This film is available on Netflix under the title "Curse of the Dragonslayer." One of four titles the film in known by. When a film has this kind of identity crisis, not knowing what it wants to be, you can predict it will be a bumpy ride through B-Film hell. Not that I particularly mind, I quite enjoy campy, cheese, low budget fare if it's fun!This film served well on the fun factor! It's actually really well directed with exquisite cinematography that transforms Utah into a lavish fairytale backdrop. The acting is well above average when it comes to the lower budget fare, with the exception of the lead actress, who is more like a college drama major who tries way to hard to take herself seriously as a rugged, vengeful elf with a bad attitude. She's a far cry from Kate Beckinsale or Cate Blanchett, and sadly her miscasting brings down the film a few notches.The only other thing that really hurts the film is the terrible, beyond abysmal writing that make you laugh at how ridiculous it is when you know you shouldn't. The writers played one to many MMORPG's and borrowed every single trope you can fathom from Everquest, Dark Age of Camelot, World of Warcraft, Lord of The Rings and Dungeons and Dragon, including the stereotypical language which comes off as forced and painfully awkward. With a better screenplay, the film could be stellar, especially with the budget, which we call "low" but in fact is doesn't make you flinch once. The directors managed their special effects and costume makeup with incredible grace and style that is unique to low budget films.It has incredible potential but fell short because of the poor casting of a pivotal role and the beyond clunky dialog that distracts the viewer, preventing immersion within the world they're trying to create.But the score is absolutely astounding and rivals that of any Hollywood Blockbuster.

As some of the other reviewers have said this is good.There is some dross out there, but this was good quality Sword and Sorcery. Made very much on a shoestring, by a 'repertory company' of actors, actresses, and crafts people, but despite that, overall, it was entertaining, the script worked, the VFX were functional and not over-powering, and the actors delivered good performances. Costuming in particular worked well and weaponry - one of my pet hates is stupid swords, and the ones in Saga - the Shadow Cabal, are nice bits of cutlery, good functional swords.There are somethings that could have been done better - some of the fights sequences are little bit over choreographed, and someone tell the extras to stop all that swaying, but I reckon it's well worth effort.

Objectively, this is a low-budget movie with high-quality make-up, choreography and photography. Fighting scenes, costumes/scenery and background music lacks nothing. It is engaging in image as it is in dialogue. It correlates completely with what you would expect from a fantasy/adventure book/movie. The enactment of different races, the small racial details that are so well synergized between actor and environment is perfect.Subjectively, i thought this movie had so many details about races, so well executed, that it surpassed the performances of any orc/elf/human fantasy actors in any other low-budget movie in the genre. Its a story that doesn't have to explain the universe it unravels in, as the story itself and its characters will all alone enthrall you with all the glorious adventure-feel that you love so much. Recommended to all fantasy fans.

Having watched pretty much every fantasy film ever made, Curse of the Shadow is surprisingly good. Although fairly low-budget, with no major actors to speak of, it makes up for this with extremely good photography, outstanding make-up effects and exciting action scenes. The effects are also quite good. Vivid CGI depicts dragons, wyverns and other fantastic beasts.Dialogue is a stilted at times and the simplistic story becomes overly complicated. The story could have used more fleshing out and less annoying dialogue scenes that just stand to pad out of the story. Danielle Chuchran is surely and one-note as the elven bounty hunter, while most of the film's genuine moments come from Richard McWilliams as the cleric warrior. American actors seem to be unable to take this type of fantasy seriously and end up looking like they are in a bad LARP adventure.All in all, this movie was reasonably entertaining. Well crafted and done with obvious affection for the genre. Check it out if you have a chance.