When I read the synopsis & saw the trailer, I knew I had to see it. Although sold-out at the Montreal Fantasia Film Festival, I hung around at the door until screening time in case I'd get lucky, even though I had a sentimental alternative ("Death Match", by the progenitors of "Wolf-Cop" I & II) still available but held out due to a gut-feeling.
The special effects are not only good but funny & interesting ( Some good-great sword slashes on the "Fears", the flying-creature attack sequence on the motorcycle-rider, single combat with a soul-sucking i-phone, the beast coming down the wall in the mass monster night attack in the village...
New & sympathetic interpretations on stock characters: Are demons necessarily evil or can they change? Does the frumpy priest actually have at heart the best interests of his parishioners? Is the hero necessarily young & dashing with rippling muscles?
Quixotic appearances of elder Portuguese T. V. stars, notably a ventriloquist act woven into the story & a ghost's soulful soliloquy commented on by the Demon-Sword.
Frequent & interesting exchanges between the village drunk & his demonic weapon, a curiously likeable demon once freed from its' sword, hilarious variety in creatures & a twist ending,
Been going regularly (& intensively) to the Fantasia Film Festivsl since at least 2009 & I've just had 1 other unknown film previously that I had to see based only on a trailer ("Dead Snow").
Seen a variety of brilliant but far more expensive pictures in the Festival so far but "Velho e a espada" punches above its' weight & wins in the audience sympathy vote.
Remarkable for a picture using many non-professional actors, a story sometimes fashioned by the difficulties & brevity of the shoot, one wonders what these creators on a no-budget production, will do with greater resources & backing...
