Psycho's Movie Reviews #165: MYTHICA {Movie Series 1-5}

Mythica is a series of primarily direct-to-video fantasy films. The films are produced by Arrowstorm Entertainment, with first film Mythica: A Quest for Heroes being partly funded by a Kickstarter campaign that collected $94,294. There are five films in the Mythica series, all produced and co-written by Jason Faller and Kynan Griffin. The films star Melanie Stone as Marek, an escaped slave girl and budding magician, and co-star Kevin Sorbo as Gojun Pye the magician who trains her, along with Adam Johnson, Jake Stormoen, and Nicola Posener as those that team up with Marek on various quests together.

Production

The film was partly funded by a Kickstarter campaign that collected $94,294, and which described the proposed film as an "epic fantasy". It was produced by Jason Faller and Kynan Griffin for Arrowstorm Entertainment, directed by Anne K. Black, and written by Black, Faller and Griffin.

Mythica was filmed in Utah, where producers/writers Faller and Griffin are from, and where Arrowstorm Entertainment is based. The films received a tax credit of up to $278,000 in 2015 for filming in Utah from the Governor's Office of Economic Development Board.

Kevin Sorbo, who plays one of the roles in the film, said about the project: "Mythica"— a movie like "The Lord of the Rings", where I play someone like Gandalf...

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A Quest for Heroes

Mythica: A Quest for Heroes is a 2014 Arrowstorm Entertainment fantasy film written and directed by Anne K. Black and starring Melanie Stone and Kevin Sorbo. The movie is the first of a five-part film series, and was partly funded by a Kickstarter campaign that collected $94,294.

Plot

Marek, a young aspiring magician and slave girl, dreams of escaping her drab life and taking on exciting adventures, while being taught by sorcerer Gojun Pye. When she meets the priestess Teela in Hammerhead's tavern who is seeking help, Marek offers her assistance, running away from her owner. While beginning to use her magic abilities and using a brace to help her with her injured leg, Marek assembles a motley troupe, consisting of herself; Teela; Thane, who is a former soldier/warrior and who rescued Marek from a harassing Peregus Malister; and Dagen, who is a half-elf, thief, and womanizer. Together, they go in search of Teela's sister, who is in possession of a mysterious stone that was taken from a temple of Teela's people, and who was kidnapped by a wild ogre and a few orcs who want the stone for their necromancer master, Sung Hill.

My Review

I've been a loud advocate of Saga: The Shadow Cabal movie. It was a film with a good story, character development, realistic fights and obvious dedication from all concerned. While some other Arrowstorm movies were not so fortunate, that movie's quality by itself has kept me interested in watching everything they come up with. Mythica is not as good as Saga, in my opinion, but it comes damn close and, what's more important, it does so while being a completely different type of movie.

But first, let's get Kevin Sorbo out of the way. Despite his many horrible performances, I still like the guy and wait for him to do something really good. Mythica is not it because Sorbo doesn't really play in this film. He has a very small role as a wizard from which the main character has learned spells, then he leaves. It's the kind of bait-and-switch thing that I DO NOT appreciate.

Luckily, the rest of the story and the characters were entertaining and, rarely seen these days, following an actual script. Not an adaptation of a book, not actor improvs, a real story, with a start, and believable characters. Bravo! Even better, the lead protagonist is a woman. Not a scaredy cat, not a damsel in distress, not an idol of pure virginal goodness, not a scantily dressed big breasted warrior, but a complex person, with both good, bad, and ugly, and a motivation that made sense.

Not everything is rosy though. The sound quality was bad. I know doing good sound is difficult and expensive, but it was one of the more damaging flaws of the film. Then the story is more like an episode in a series. It starts with an orc attack, looking for a magical stone, but by the end of the film - complete with a to be continued - nobody explains what the stone does and why it is important. A good introduction for the characters, it probably continues the story in Mythica 2, for which they just released the trailer. That's not to say that the film cannot stand alone. This is not some 50 page story split into three films, it's just the first chapter of a saga that I can't wait to see how it unfolds.

Personal wish, bring back Danielle Chuchran, she was awesome in SAGA and a female fighter that raised the bar to a level that the scenes in Mythica sadly do not reach. Other than that, great fun film, congratulations Arrowstorm! 7.7/10!

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The Darkspore

Mythica: The Darkspore is a 2015 Arrowstorm Entertainment fantasy film, the second instalment in the Mythica series. It is directed by Anne K. Black and co-written by Jason Faller and Kynan Griffin, starring Kevin Sorbo and Melanie Stone.

Plot

Following immediately from the end of the A Quest for Heroes, Teela's sister is killed by Kishkumen, a dark magician with yellow eyes, who also steals the mysterious stone that she was carrying, and wants to give it to his master Szorlok.

Meanwhile, sorcerer Gojun Pye tells Marek about the stone: a fragment/shard of the full Darkspore, a piece that can give the user a great immense power, which once belonged to the Lich King, and that was found by Szorlok and his followers years ago, split into fragments, but after using his followers to reunite the Darkspore he was stopped by Gojun Pye and other sorcerers from getting the power from the piece, and in the aftermath, the sorcerers split the piece into four fragments/shards and hid them apart in the world (one was with Teela's sister and her people, a second was hidden in a dragon's lair in an ancient ruined city).

Gojun Pye also tells Marek about who she is: a necromancer, just like Szorlok, and that is why Szorlok also wants Marek at his side, because the potential power she holds within. That power is also what Teela sensed in the previous film, while trying to heal Marek's leg, and it's also what might drive Marek to the darkness if she is not careful when using it.

Marek and her company must go on a journey to the ruined city, and prevent the evil necromancer Szorlok from obtaining all the shards of the Darkspore, or all will be lost. Therefore, they must get the hidden shard from the ruined city before Kishkumen does. Along the way they meet Qole, a mysterious dark-elf warrior with his face marked with strange drawings that allows him to be unharmed by dark magic, who allies himself with Marek after she saves him from faeries, and they are also pursued by Peregus Malister and his forces, who wants revenge from events of the previous film.

My Review

Mythica: Darkspore' wastes no time, essentially picking up right where its predecessor, 'A quest for heroes,' left off, with a small measure of added exposition. It's once again clear that the series is a passion project, and an audience's entertainment will depend largely on willingness to engage with the movie on that level. For those willing to entreat with the picture honestly, though, there's a lot of merriment to be had.

The same cast returns, helmed by Melanie Stone as runaway slave turned burgeoning mage Marek. While limited by the writing, I've seen enough of her elsewhere to know she's very capable, and a fine choice as lead. I'm less familiar with the other actors present, but they seem to demonstrate no less potential. That said, I'm also absolutely thrilled that 'Darkspore' introduces Matthew Mercer, of all people, as antagonist Szorlok. For all the acting chops he gets to exercise in his voice work and in Critical Role, to see him a feature film - even with limited time on screen, in this instance - is a true delight.

The same strengths and weaknesses we recognized in 'A quest for heroes' are echoed here, though all elements feel decidedly improved. Costumes, props, sets, and filming locations, fantastic in their contributions to the movie, join with swell action sequences and grand musical themes to build and sustain our suspension of disbelief. They outweigh the (presumed) budgetary constraints that somewhat restrict special effects, but even these are sharper than in 'A quest for heroes,' as illustrated with the fine use of a disintegration spell. Writing is direct and fast-paced, emphasizing plot advancement over subtlety and nuance, yet is so geared toward adventure and fun that it's easy to get swept up in the saga.

Some liberties are taken with narrative flow in the early exposition to kickstart the plot. Like in the first movie, however, those flaws that follow from the screenplay can be waved off with the cheeky, amusing perspective that 'Mythica' echoes the tone and flavour of a Dungeons & Dragon campaign. Less than solid planning or decisions, creature or NPC (supporting character) encounters, in-party fighting or dialogue revealing personal details, comedy - in nearly every scene and story beat, 'Darkspore' feels like a tabletop RPG campaign, given life on film. High stealth bests lousy perception checks; character classes and alignments figure into the story; character stats are markedly increased with experience; rolls for history, religion, or arcana - all this and more is readily recognizable in this tale. With this in mind, the film becomes an absolute blast.

Does 'Darkspore,' or the 'Mythica' series as a whole, meet the same standards of major studio-backed fantasy features? No. Any viewer with demanding expectations of, say, a Peter Jackson epic, may be put out, to say nothing of how the fantasy genre is rather niche in the first place. Yet whatever its frailties, this is deeply entrancing, with drama, suspense, and emotional beats that surpass its antecedent, let alone what we anticipate of "second-rate" would-be blockbusters.

Once again: 'Mythica: Darkspore' is nothing if not bent toward heroic undertakings and grandiose entertainment. While not everyone will get as much out of the film, broadly speaking anyone who enjoys an imaginative flight of fancy should find revels to appreciate. 7.6/10

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The Necromancer

Mythica: The Necromancer is the third instalment of Mythica, directed by A. Todd Smith and written by Jason Faller, Liska Ostojic, and Justin Partridge. It stars Kevin Sorbo and Melanie Stone.

Plot

Marek is beginning to master more advanced magic, by training with Gojun Pye and receiving a staff from him, and even helping him stop some orcs who had set a trap for him, although he reminds her that she needs to be careful about her necromancer powers which can lead her to darkness, because by taking life force from someone it would be hard for her to come back from it. He details a bit more of the past (which he began telling Marek in the previous film) and about his former team of sorcerers and their enemy Szorlok: they were called The Red Thorns, they were powerful and invincible, the envy of the realm, and Szorlok wanted to stop the invading vitalian soldiers, by becoming the Lich King and thus rising and controlling hordes of undead. By defeating Szorlok, one of the sorcerers sacrificed himself, and that led to the disband of the group, and also to the accomplished invasion by the vitalian soldiers as a side-effect. For the ritual to become the Lich King, after gathering the four pieces of the Darkspore, Szorlok will need other necromancers, and that includes Marek, so she must lay low as to not be found by Szorlok. Gojun Pye reminds Marek that Szorlok already has two pieces of the Darkspore.

Meanwhile, Marek and her group have become respected in Hammerhead's tavern, they adopt the name of Red Thorns, and Thane becomes more involved with Teela. When he is taken hostage by Peregus Malister, the cruel master of the Thieves Guild who is seeking revenge for having been forced to sign for the freedom of Marek, she must embark on a corrupt mission to serve the Thieves Guild with her team of would-be heroes, by retrieving some ilystrium from The Eel (his name later revealed to be Kelton) whose whereabouts are known to a Captain named Purio, while in the midst of creatures called gooches, and also several golgotians, as well as cave demons.

My Review

'Mythica: The Necromancer' continues the fun, fantastical chronicle of enterprising mage Marek, ever growing in her powers, as she journeys forth with her friends in a great quest. There's no questioning that these pictures fall below the big-budget standards of major feature films, yet it's easy to get swept up in the adventure and just have a good time. That said, there's a distinctly darker tone at hand here as the series goes on.

Once more, technical aspects of this entry are quite fine. Wardrobe and costume design above all looks outstanding, but filming locations, set design and decoration, props, makeup, hair, prosthetics - it all does so much to build our engagement. Visual effects may not be top of the line, but they certainly exceed what we generally expect from "second-rate" would-be blockbusters. At that, I think there's even still more improvement over predecessor 'Darkspore,' let alone the first film 'A quest for heroes.'

As was the case with the first two movies, the writing is direct and fast-paced with intent to advance the plot. However, I feel like from the very beginning we see dialogue of greater intelligence, and characterizations with considerably expanded depth and complexity. I've previously found the cast to be quite capable, if inhibited by the screenplay. Yet as the writing feels notably better this time around, the actors are afforded more opportunity to explore their roles.

That's true of the secondary supporting cast, yes, but moreso of the principals. Melanie Stone again performs admirably as chief protagonist Marek, showing a range and strength of personality that goes beyond the limits of the parts she most often takes on. Co-stars Adam Johnson, Jake Stormoen, and especially Nicola Posener share in that increased illustration of acting aptitude, if to a marginally lesser extent (admittedly appropriate to their status as major supporting characters). Matthew Mercer gets more screen time as overarching antagonist Szorlok, and it's a joy to see him here. New to the ensemble for 'Necromancer' is Philip Brodie as shady oppositional figure Betylla, giving the heroes a complicated companion for some of their trek.

As with the prior films, the narrative here very much bears the air of a Dungeons & Dragons campaign, brought to life. Just as the production values seem to have obtained a level-up for this third 'Mythica' feature, the characters also show more of what they can do. The party members show improvement of their skills, boosted not just with experience but arguably with training akin to multi-classing. We get dialogue of a high-level wizard supporting character/NPC instructing their relatively fresh-faced protégé to NOT to rush to seek out the end-game villain. The story here centres on a surprise B-plot that distracts the party from their long-term goals and destiny - yet which ultimately dovetails into that larger picture. We see spells or abilities echoing D&D staples like Illusory Wall, Light, or the wild intuition and bond with animals of a ranger. With that perspective in mind, it's ever easier to get caught up in the story being told.

The overall saga progresses ever further toward a grand showdown, and the increasing stakes carry with them heightened drama and emotional beats. This portion of the tale is unmistakably grittier, yet that shift in atmosphere works to keep us invested.

This series is a passion project, guided not by multi-million dollar studio backing but by heart and will. As such, it's a fair guess that no one will be watching 'Mythica: The Necromancer' who hasn't already committed to its antecedents, but even so, it's a fun fantasy adventure worth checking out for any fan of the genre. 7.5/10

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The Iron Crown

Mythica: The Iron Crown is the fourth film in the Mythica series. Directed by John Lyde and written by Jason Faller and Kynan Griffin.

Plot

When daring young wizard Marek steals the final piece of the all-powerful Darkspore she embarks on a desperate quest to deliver the cursed artefact to the gods. But is caught in a death race between a ruthless team of elite mercenaries and a trinity of demons.

My Review

This fourth film, continuing a grand saga, immediately impresses upon us that the heroes grow in their capabilities as the stakes and dangers escalate. The movie rather quickly launches into an action sequence with shinier outfits, prettier special effects, and overtly fantastical set pieces.

'Mythica: The Iron Crown' improves further upon the technical craft of its predecessors, while also angling for a more over the top presentation replete with some overacting by the supporting cast, vehicles that strain our suspension of disbelief, and a heightened sense of humour. Even with the more outlandish tone of a romp, though, varying somewhat from its predecessors, this remains great fun, and a worthwhile addition to the journey.

Despite the more garish aspects of this entry, the production design is certainly another step up in the 'Mythica' mythos. Wardrobe and costume design is superb, ever more refined, and other such less commonly celebrated elements - filming locations, set design and decoration, props, hair, makeup, fight choreography - are just as fetching in our sight. The special effects, typically considered lesser in any feature lacking the support of a major Hollywood studio, have similarly advanced compared to 'The Necromancer,' 'Darkspore,' or especially 'A quest for heroes.' It's clear that great effort was poured into elevating the series further, and I for one think it's paid off.

Of course, writing is also historically a sticking point for features outside the studio system. As has been true previously in this series, the screenplay is direct and fast-paced, seeking to keep things moving and advance the plot. It's so fast-paced that it was two-thirds over before I knew it. There may not be a great deal of subtlety in the screenwriting, but story beats are enjoyable as they build the epic, and the narrative flow is cohesive and believable. Characterizations continue to show more depth and complexity than is generally true in movies of this sort, dialogue is suitable, and the marginally greater attention to humour provides no small amount of amusement.

While somewhat limited by the writing, the cast once again shows their capabilities. Star Melanie Stone continues to demonstrate great range and force of personality as protagonist Marek, and her co-stars handily inhabit their roles. Matthew Mercer is given still more screen time as chief antagonist Szorlok, and it's as much a delight to watch him in a feature film as in Critical Role. Given a small supporting part as a zombified girl, Paris Warner gets to have a good time while literally chewing scenery.

'The Iron Crown' notably leans away a bit from the commonality of its antecedents, feeling less like the realization of a Dungeons & Dragons campaign on film. This is perhaps attributable to the increasingly high levels at which the characters operate in the narrative - and maybe even the strengthened writing and production values that allow the feature to stand taller on its own merits. Then, too - while this entry remains a piece of a larger whole, the grand overall quest feels less prominent, deemphasized as the party's current task differs a little from their mission in the prior movies. And it's also worth considering that as the grand saga approaches its finale, this chapter perhaps works as much as anything to set up the conclusion.

This fourth films feels the most distinct yet in the 'Mythica' series, but absolutely maintains the same broad qualities of fantasy, adventure, action, and fun. It's worth mentioning that at this point there's little to be gleaned from the movie if one hasn't already committed to viewing the saga in its entirety - one would hardly watch the second film of a trilogy, let alone the third, without first having knowledge of its origin. Still, for anyone interested in these niche genres, 'Mythica: The Iron Crown' is an unexpectedly well-made picture that contributes substantially to an even bigger engrossing tale.

Worth watching? I sure think so - with the caveat that you should watch three other movies first. 7.5/10

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The Godslayer

'Mythica: The Godslayer (titled Mythica: The Dragon Slayer in the United Kingdom) is the fifth installment of Mythica, directed by John Lyde and written by Jason Faller, Kynan Griffin, starring Kevin Sorbo and Melanie Stone.

Plot

As the Lich King's zombie legions ravage the world, Marek and Dagen embark on a quest to obtain a weapon from the gods.

My Reviews

Undead hordes make war on the world - servants of the terrible Lich King whose soul has been restored in the necromancer Szorlok. A cleric and a paladin struggle to build a resistance against the evil armies while their friends, a rogue and a mage, seek the legendary means that can end the destruction.

'Mythica: The Godslayer' marks the conclusion of an epic saga, the fifth film in a series originating in part through crowd-funding. The dire stakes and course of events that have been building from the beginning take their darkest turn yet - but the film-makers have endeavoured greatly to make this finale as worthy as any story could be.

'Godslayer' strikes a tone immediately more grim, tragic, and desperate - especially compared to immediate predecessor 'The Iron Crown' - with an additional heavy dose of atmosphere pervading throughout. Whatever emotional beats the previous instalments brought to bear, Number 5 holds nothing back and leans fully into realizing and resolving every story line, every heretofore unexplored scrap. Action scenes, no less entertaining, feel more intense both in their narrative heft and in their choreography.

As the gloom of Szorlok spreads, much colour has been drained from the picture, and the excellent wardrobe and costume design reflects that shift with a generally darker, more muted palette. Other "behind the scenes" aspects of the production - filming locations, set pieces and decoration, hair, makeup, props - remain just as consistently marvellous, carefully crafted and attentive to detail. The special effects began in 'A quest for heroes' a step above what we expect from films outside the studio system, and have progressively improved from one movie to the next. Here they are most solid of all, appearing to these eyes to be as realistic and seamless as in any such genre feature. Once more: the film-makers worked hard to make 'Godslayer' the best it could be. I think it's paid off.

For what seems like the first time in the 'Mythica' series, the writers have striven to build a screenplay that largely allows for story beats to manifest, linger, and resolve on their own good time, with whatever nuance seems fitting. The quick pace and directness of the prior movies, that served to advance the plot with all due speed, hasn't been entirely vanquished - but it's significantly reduced to strengthen what this finale could be broadly, and to allow the cast the most room possible to explore their roles. For all the hard work of Anne K. Black, Jason Faller, and Kynan Griffin before now, Faller and Griffin have noticeably refined their skills here.

The chief cast, primary or supporting, flourish in the relative laxity the writing gives them here, embodying the greater depths and complexities of their characters as best they can. Melanie Stone once more shines as protagonist Marek, steadily bearing the weight of the mage's burden, purpose, and resolve - while also clearly revealing in the overacting that comes with throwing about magic. Jake Stormoen's major supporting role as rogue and love interest Dagen is more complete and well-rounded than before, as is Adam Johnson's part as fighter-turned-paladin Thane, and both illustrate that they're well able to bring out what subtleties they can in their portrayals. Nicola Posener is slightly less prominent in 'Godslayer' as cleric Teela, but she's still a strong anchor with considerable force of personality. And Matthew Mercer, having slowly gotten more screen time in each entry starting with 'Darkspore,' finally gets to play up every ounce of foreboding and ominous charisma as archvillain Szorlok, channelling the same sinister energy he brings to his antagonists in Critical Role.

Not to belabour the point, but I'm also pleased that 'Godslayer' sees the return of an element - largely absent from 'The Iron Crown' - that made the first three 'Mythica' movies all the richer. Those earlier instalments, especially in their direct writing, felt very much like the realization on film of a Dungeons & Dragons campaign. And here that aspect lends significant flavor to the narrative; it's hard not to draw comparisons. We see the visualization of TTRPG concepts including and certainly not limited to PvP, spell slots, saving throws, and upgraded weapons and armour. Characters are so advanced in their abilities and experience that one could well say this is a mirror of "epic level D&D" - appropriate for the plot that... well, just look at the title!

If I have any particular criticism to make, it's that some story beats plainly echo much more recognized fantasy epics. While the 'Mythica' series as a whole is a saga all its own, it's impossible to tell a 100% original story - yet even some shots and lines of dialogue outright recall moments from 'The Lord of the Rings' trilogy or other antecedent tales. Even when the writing in this saga has faltered in some way, it looked and felt like 'Mythica,' and not anything else. It's a shame that in 'Godslayer' that inventiveness stumbles and pointedly mimes readily identifiable established works - going so far as to employ a questionable deus ex machina at the climax.

Still - whatever its flaws - 'Mythica,' as a series, is greatly entertaining. 'Godslayer,' specifically, represents the most concrete effort of all involved to craft an excellent fantasy film. It has its issues, yet the strengths far outnumber the weaknesses, and ultimately is deeply satisfying.

At risk of repeating myself: However good this is, however much one may enjoy it, there's no mistaking that it doesn't attain the same level as well-known fantasy classics of the cinematic pantheon. This isn't a journey to take for anyone who isn't receptive to films of any possible genre, production standard, or anticipated quality; if you're looking for Peter Jackson But Not - as much as I readily admit that I love 'Mythica' - this isn't it.

Yet for anyone willing to engage with the film honestly, and on its level - this is simply a blast. It's pure entertainment and good storytelling, warts and all. 'Mythica' is a grand saga worth checking out for anyone who can't get enough of fantasy, and 'The Godslayer' above all is a swell finale to bring the tale to a rewarding close. 7.8/10

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THE SERIES AS A WHOLE = 7/10!!!!!!