The Gaelic King (2017)
1h 28m | PG-13
Set in war-torn 800AD Scotland, The Gaelic King tells the story of warrior-king Alpin mac Eachdach. When his young brother is captured, Alpin must hunt the kidnappers though a dark forest that hides an ancient evil.
Director: Philip Todd
Studio: Fellowship Film
Genre: Fantasy, History
Video: 720p
Cast
Jake McGarry
as Alpin
Shona Melrose
as Edana
Kerry Browne
as Nathara
Noah Irvine
as Finn
Laurence Whitley
as Lachlan
Peter Cosgrove
as Fergus
Reviews
Set amongst the glens of the ancient kingdom of Dalriada, this is quite a decent no-budget fantasy adventure that follows "Alpin" (Jake McGarry) and his young son "Finn" (Noah Irvine) as they traverse the wilderness trying to find a means to reclaim his regal inheritance. They arrive in the village of "Unust" (Simon DeSilva) where after a bit of a tussle, they discover that their children have all been kidnaped by an evil sorceress ("Riada"). An alliance looks the best plan and off into the forest they go. Along the way, they are set upon by the Pictish queen "Nathara" (Kerry Browne) whom they must also convince to join their quest... It's all pretty standard storytelling fayre, this film - but there is some lovely Argyllshire photography and a last twenty minutes that actually deliver some mystical visual effects quite effectively bringing about the entirely predicable denouement before a Clannad-style closing balled. The acting and the writing are entirely forgettable, though, and the action scenes are distinctly uncomplicated - sort of sword going under the armpit sort of style that you'd have used in school play. It's adequate.