Like most nerdy youngsters, I went by a Greek mythology part in my youth. And amongst geeky disappointments like discovering out that Hercules was really a jerk and realizing that Xena: Warrior Princess wasn’t a canonical Greek hero, I used to be additionally fairly bummed by the truth that filmmakers by no means appeared to get my favourite mythic yarn proper – that of Theseus and the Minotaur.
Actually, I nonetheless suppose that we’ve but to see a definitive cinematic tackle this historical story of bovine terror, however that doesn’t imply there haven’t been some honorable makes an attempt at turning the story into an exciting film. So right now, I’d prefer to look again on a principally forgotten film that makes an attempt to re-imagine the parable as a fantasy-horror epic akin to Mathew Robbins’ Dragonslayer. Naturally, I’m referring to Jonathan English’s 2006 Sci-Fi authentic Minotaur, an bold creature function that I imagine has extra redeeming worth than its detractors would have you ever imagine.
Jonathan English isn’t any stranger to incorporating horrific components into his action-heavy work, along with his heavy-metal siege film Ironclad virtually feeling like a medieval John Carpenter flick, however Minotaur stays the director’s scariest endeavor. A horror movie with unusually epic sensibilities, the undertaking was backed by a myriad of abroad manufacturing corporations who managed to scrounge collectively $7 million {dollars} for a fantasy blockbuster that was speculated to be shot like a slasher film.
Relocating the manufacturing to Luxemburg as a result of nation’s tax breaks, English managed to safe sufficient leftover funding to recruit an assortment of proficient thespians that might carry this historical world to life. And whereas the auxiliary forged is usually makes up for recycled units and questionable costume designs, the director’s largest achievement right here was in recognizing the younger Tom Hardy as a decent main man regardless of the actor’s troubled historical past with indie productions (in addition to an arrest-record that prevented him from capturing in America on the time).
Within the completed movie, which premiered on SyFy in March of 2006 (again when the community was nonetheless known as The Sci-Fi Channel), we’re introduced with the Bronze-Age story that supposedly impressed the unique Greek delusion of the Minotaur. As an alternative of Theseus, we comply with a younger man named Theo (Hardy), a shepherd from the village of “Thena” who decides to problem the tyranny of King Deucalion (Tony Todd) after years of seeing his countrymen being taken away to be sacrificed to the fearsome Bull God that resides beneath the Minos Empire.
SO WHAT WENT WRONG?
Whereas the straight-to-video launch and Sci-Fi Channel premiere imply that Minotaur was virtually actually worthwhile, the movie was virtually unanimously maligned by critics. Most reviewers in contrast the flick’s manufacturing worth unfavourably to related fantasy flicks like The Scorpion King, whereas others criticized what they perceived to be a Frankenstein’s Monster of a script produced from disparate elements of different, higher, motion pictures.
Whereas I wouldn’t be penning this piece if I didn’t disagree with the final evaluation that that is an irredeemably dangerous film, I’ve to concede that the critics made just a few truthful factors. For starters, the script is clearly borrowing extra from cinematic fantasy than any form of historical mythology, although that is par for the course with regards to motion pictures based mostly on Greek myths. Sadly, this creative license additionally extends to the titular monster, with our horned antagonist baring little resemblance to the half-man/half-bull that everyone knows and love.
Past these conceptual flaws, the movie additionally suffers from the acquainted lack of assets that you simply normally see in made-for-TV productions. As a fan of trashy style TV that reaches additional than its assets can grasp, I don’t personally thoughts the usage of low-cost armor that appears prefer it was borrowed from a pleasant LARP group (even when the horned helmets look extra like antelopes than bulls) or units that have been virtually actually repurposed from Stargate Atlantis, however I can perceive why different viewers have a tough time taking this film significantly.
Lastly, I really feel that I’ve to say the movie’s barely misguided portrayal of individuals of shade. At first look, having the conquering empire not be comprised of English caricatures feels refreshing after a long time of Star Wars clones (particularly because the film goes out of its method to clarify that it doesn’t happen in historical Greece), however between the exoticized sexuality and weird drug use on show right here, there’s one thing decidedly uncomfortable about how this predominantly Black empire is depicted onscreen.
THE SILVER LINING
I’m usually extra forgiving of movies which might be clearly punching above their weight regardless of the restrictions of their budgets, so I can’t assist however admire Minotaur regardless of all its faults. And after revisiting the film with an open thoughts, I really suppose that there are many fascinating concepts buried beneath all of the made-for-TV jank.
For starters, I actually just like the pre-history angle that justifies the flick’s deviations from established historical past and mythology, with this added inventive liberty harkening again to the fantastical works of writers like Robert E. Howard. That’s why it doesn’t make sense for critics to complain about historic inaccuracies and even the monster’s design, as all of this stuff can technically be defined by future storytellers embellishing the “details.”
I additionally actually recognize Minotaur’s badass casting. Whereas Rutger Hauer solely has little greater than a short cameo because the Chieftain of Thena, Tony Todd makes use of the film’s fantastical setup as an excuse to unleash his classical coaching in fascinating methods. Positive, Hardy makes for a surprisingly compelling lead regardless of the script not doing a lot for his character, however Todd’s presence is downright magnetic as King Deucalion schemes to conceive a baby along with his personal sister and engages in determined one-sided conversations along with his so-called god.
In fact, the Minotaur itself is the star of the present right here, with the mixed use of each life-sized puppetry and CGI making for some thrilling results sequences – and that’s not even mentioning the film’s unimaginable use of gore. The monster’s first on-screen impalement is a splendidly brutal shock, and I really like how English teases us with the design for fairly some time earlier than revealing the total creature. Actually, the final word reveal is form of underwhelming when in comparison with the wonderful buildup that got here earlier than, although I nonetheless benefit from the distinctive undead design that the filmmakers got here up with.
I’ve by no means actually cared if a film boasts expensive-looking units and visible results as long as it tells an fascinating story. And whereas Minotaur is on no account a hidden gem, it’s no much less ridiculous than fan-favorites B-movies like The Beastmaster which additionally dared to inform tales bigger than their budgets ought to have allowed. So if you end up hungry for a foolish but entertaining creature-feature that includes loads of sensible gore results in addition to a starry-eyed Tom Hardy, I’d positively advocate trying out Minotaur.
Watching a nasty film doesn’t essentially need to be a nasty expertise. Even the worst movies can boast a good suggestion or two, and that’s why we’re making an attempt to look on the intense aspect with The Silver Lining, the place we shine a lightweight on the very best elements of historically maligned horror flicks.
