The Wild Hunt
In the depths of a forest, illuminated by fiery torchlight, there’s a medieval set-to. A princess is captured by men in goatskins. In a hut, knights in armour argue with Vikings about when and how to win her back.
In the depths of a forest, illuminated by
fiery torchlight, there’s a medieval set-to. A princess is captured by men in
goatskins. In a hut, knights in armour argue with Vikings about when and how to
win her back.
The argument gets heated, and weapons are
drawn. A blow is struck, and the shout goes up – “you’re totally dead, dude.”
“No way. I have an invisible cloak of protection.” “Oh come on – REF!”
So this isn’t the Middle Ages and that’s no
Viking. These people are from IT support and the local coffee house. They live
in shitty apartments next to modern, clogged eight-lane highways. They’re
weekend warriors, living out their Tolkein fantasies at a camp for Live Action
Role Playing.
In the real world, Erik (Ricky Mabe) wakes
up next to that same princess (Tiio Horn). She mumbles early morning words
about needing some space, and heads back for some Mordor escapism, leaving Erik
to care for his ailing father. Erik’s brother, Bjorn, is also immersed in the
fantasy world, leaving Erik at his wits end. His woman and his brother would
both rather romp around the woods than take part in his life.
Frustrated, he goes to get her back. After
talking his way into the camp he reluctantly dons peasant garb, but steadfastly
refuses to join in with the mead drinking and pseudo-Hobbit nonsense.
Erik finds Lyn, or the Princess Evelina as
the role-players know her. To his chagrin, she’s engaged in a little dark ages
seduction with a sinister figure by the name of Shaman Murtagh, leader of the
‘tribe’ opposed to that led by Erik’s brother. He’s still skeptical, but Erik
is miffed enough to join in his brother’s princess rescue mission.
Things don’t go quite as planned, and
pretty soon the Lord of the Rings gives way to Lord of the Flies.
Foam swords are forsaken for real weapons,
and fantasy grievances for real beefs. Some take to it with enthusiasm; others
run and hide, their warrior delusions shattered by the drawing of actual blood.
And there’s some pretty nasty bloodletting
when things go wrong.
Screenwriters Mark Antony Krupa and
Alexandre Franchi (the latter also directed) are sharp enough to both mine the
oh-so-serious role-playing world for some wry humour – and a nod here to
Nicolas Wright, who infuses his role as King Argyle with the spirit of Alan
Rickman – but also have the skills to switch to full-on action mode when the
violence kicks in.
Among many good performances, Krupa also
stars as Bjorn, a man tapping his distant Icelandic heritage for full immersion
in his fantasy world. A nod also to Ricky Mabe as the principled, narked Erik.
Smart, sharp and funny, The Wild Hunt is a
solid directorial debut. Track it down.
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