With this sort of thing I always seem to start off with a rant about the DVD cover and how misleading it is. Previous experience has taught me that certain people are more than happy to repackage a film as something it isn't in search of some fast money.
In this case, there has been a certain amount of camouflage going on but it's not as blatant as certain other films I could mention.
For starters the original title was "The Veil" and right away we're looking at a film that isn't the smack-inna-mouth brawlfest the cover hints at.
(There's also the small issue of the three cover stars wielding Viking broadswords which does not happen in the film. )
So, what film did we actually get?
Well, I would definitely give the producers credit for trying something a bit different.
"Barbarian..." is essentially a film about a warrior finding a new path for his life. In the process his arrival causes drastic upheavals in the new society he's joined. There is some fighting at start and finish but the bit in between is slow-moving and trying to be reflective and a bit dreamlike.
There's some stuff about the prophecy, lots of shots of the moon for some reason that's presumably important and our hero does some serious brooding.
I'm not saying this is a bad film exactly, as there's several things I did like. By and large the acting is decent, somebody has taken time and effort to make the camera work effective and I was particularly impressed by the props department. Rather than the usual medieval/mud age outfits the design aesthetic incorporates subtle elements of Mayan and Native American into something that does look good.
Having said all that, the film itself was not easy to become immersed in. Maybe it's the aforementioned slow-moving narrative. Or the way some aspects seem to have been explained in scenes that got cut. And the ending is ...enigmatic.
If you're willing to take a chance you might enjoy "Barbarian/ Veil" under whatever name you find it. Or you might struggle as much as I did.
How much did I pay for this: £1.50
Was it worth it? Well, it was an interesting viewing experience but I'd hesitate to say I enjoyed this film. Approach with caution.
There's some stuff about the prophecy, lots of shots of the moon for some reason that's presumably important and our hero does some serious brooding.
Personally I found it hard to get into.
I'm not saying this is a bad film exactly, as there's several things I did like. By and large the acting is decent, somebody has taken time and effort to make the camera work effective and I was particularly impressed by the props department. Rather than the usual medieval/mud age outfits the design aesthetic incorporates subtle elements of Mayan and Native American into something that does look good.
Having said all that, the film itself was not easy to become immersed in. Maybe it's the aforementioned slow-moving narrative. Or the way some aspects seem to have been explained in scenes that got cut. And the ending is ...enigmatic.
If you're willing to take a chance you might enjoy "Barbarian/ Veil" under whatever name you find it. Or you might struggle as much as I did.
How much did I pay for this: £1.50
Was it worth it? Well, it was an interesting viewing experience but I'd hesitate to say I enjoyed this film. Approach with caution.
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