CROWN OF SHADOWS (2025)

 

PHENOMENALITY: *marvelous* 
MYTHICITY: *poor*
FRYEAN MYTHOS: adventure*
CAMPBELLIAN FUNCTION: *metaphysical*

On one hand, CROWN OF SHADOWS is just another micro-budget fantasy with the usual subpar CGI-FX. On the other, it's a missed opportunity, because it's over two hours of pseudo-Tolkienian nonsense, with even less concept of Tolkien than the awful IN THE NAME OF THE KING series. The writer and director-- who have no other IMDB credits-- act at all times as if they're serving up a grand history of the fantasy-world Aberon, when in truth it's less well-designed than even your basic D&D domain. The creators cover up their lack of design with booming Gregorian music. static shots of well-costumed characters reciting portentous dialogue, and implied connections to the Lovecraft mythos of "The Old Ones." (This is signaled by an opening quote from HPL's "Call of Cthulhu," though the cosmic pessimism of that author has nothing to do with Tolkienian dynastic struggles.) There is enough fighting to qualify the film for combative status, but the performers are not very good with either emoting or fake-fighting.

There was a little potential here, though, in that CROWN concerns family quarrels over power. The previous regime is overthrown by Ginnarra (Megan Tremethick), daughter of the previous king, who perishes in a military battle. The king's death means that his son Elderon (Andrew Gourlay) is next in line for the legitimate throne, but Ginnarra seems to hold all the power. Naturally there's no attention as to how Ginnarra gathered such great armies to oppose those of her late father; all we see is the queen and her high priests making obeisances to their evil gods. I think they may be responsible for the CGI dragons, though we don't see them in combat. Most of the action is low-level, as soldiers burn up time trying to corral Elderon, or Elderon interacting with weird mystical characters. The conflict between Ginnarra and her brother doesn't catch fire till near the end, when she captures him and plans to sacrifice him to her dark lords. But she pauses to torture him first with some magic spell, and this leads to her undoing. 

CROWN is also one of the few dynastic struggles in which the script doesn't make even minor attempts to justify Ginnarra's quest for power. Was she mistreated somehow? Did she resent Elderon being next in line for the throne? Late in the film, the script introduces Ginnarra's grown son, who ends up dueling against Elderon at the end. Who's his father, and under what circumstances was the son raised? The writer doesn't even think it's important. I suppose I've seen worse cheap fantasy flicks than CROWN, but even the cruder sword-and-sorcery flicks seem to have a better sense of what they're copying.