This film is so underrated - Realm of Shadows is a nice dark feature with awesome characters. I hope there's a sequel to this.
5 Reviews
This should be shared out
james-steer24 June 2021
There's something good in this
BandSAboutMovies7 June 2024
Warning: Spoilers
Directed by Jimmy Drain, who also appears in this movie and co-wrote it with Robert Bieber and Lewis Leslie, Realm of Shadows is an anthology horror film that boasts appearances by two pretty famous talents in Tony Todd and Vernon Wells, as well as Richard Tyson (Kindgergarten Cop) and Harley Whalen (Ash and Bone).
The connecting story -- all horror anthologies need them! -- is about a group of priests -- Bishop Lucian (Mel Novak) and Brother Charles (Michael S. Rodriguez) -- battling a coven of witches led by Nalum (Erika Monet Butters) -- there's even a Ouija board! -- over a dagger that was used to stab Jesus in the side. Their battle brings the stories to life, several of which are based on tales that have actually happened.
The stories are:
Mallick's Dreamlady: A man named Mallick (Drain) is able to pick up his dream girl (Leah Saxon) after help from a bartender (Mike Apple) who may not exist. This story was originally a short film directed by Drain and written by Tim Keller that was made in 2009.
Hike: The same man (Drain) keeps waiting to propose so long than his girlfriend (Morgan Weaver) leaves, which makes him loses his sanity. This is another short that Drain directed and Keller wrote in 20111.
Abashed: Jane and Thomas (Cassie Kelso, Mark Mook) have a bad break-up but when black magic gets involved, it turns out that true love may be the only enemy of evil. This is the short Abashed that was made in 2020.
The Initiation of Professor Kimmer: A new professor named Daniel Kimmer (Drain) is seduced by a student named Starr (Luba Bocian) and could lose his happy world with Jamie (Emily Absher). Starr wants more than just lovemaking. She may want his soul. But perhaps that soul is already owned by Jamie and her coven. This is taken from the 2011 short of the same name, directed by Drain and written by Lewis Leslie.
Cadaver: Peggy (played by Jodi Lynn Thomas, voiced by Ashe Medina) finds one of those witchcraft dancing schools we've all seen in movies, this one owned by Beedham (Caustic Scifidelic, who also did the score). It may cost so much more than money.
Meet Michael: Gaylen (Mara Davala) is a five-year-old girl so afraid of monsters that her parents hire an exorcist. This is from the 2017 short of the same name, directed by Brian McCulley and written by Drain.
Finally,Fate Upside Down has the witches and priests fight it out for the dagger, which brings in Father Dudley (Todd) and his son Robby (Drain). This has animation and werewolves, as well as the characters from the first two stories, plus a last second appearance by Wells soon follows.
Realm of Shadows is a lot better than most streaming anthologies. It seems to have a central idea about love and evil, as well as moments of experimentation, even silent movie elements. It definitely looks way better than its budget would suggest and I'd love to see where Drain takes this in the sequel that is built by the ending.
The connecting story -- all horror anthologies need them! -- is about a group of priests -- Bishop Lucian (Mel Novak) and Brother Charles (Michael S. Rodriguez) -- battling a coven of witches led by Nalum (Erika Monet Butters) -- there's even a Ouija board! -- over a dagger that was used to stab Jesus in the side. Their battle brings the stories to life, several of which are based on tales that have actually happened.
The stories are:
Mallick's Dreamlady: A man named Mallick (Drain) is able to pick up his dream girl (Leah Saxon) after help from a bartender (Mike Apple) who may not exist. This story was originally a short film directed by Drain and written by Tim Keller that was made in 2009.
Hike: The same man (Drain) keeps waiting to propose so long than his girlfriend (Morgan Weaver) leaves, which makes him loses his sanity. This is another short that Drain directed and Keller wrote in 20111.
Abashed: Jane and Thomas (Cassie Kelso, Mark Mook) have a bad break-up but when black magic gets involved, it turns out that true love may be the only enemy of evil. This is the short Abashed that was made in 2020.
The Initiation of Professor Kimmer: A new professor named Daniel Kimmer (Drain) is seduced by a student named Starr (Luba Bocian) and could lose his happy world with Jamie (Emily Absher). Starr wants more than just lovemaking. She may want his soul. But perhaps that soul is already owned by Jamie and her coven. This is taken from the 2011 short of the same name, directed by Drain and written by Lewis Leslie.
Cadaver: Peggy (played by Jodi Lynn Thomas, voiced by Ashe Medina) finds one of those witchcraft dancing schools we've all seen in movies, this one owned by Beedham (Caustic Scifidelic, who also did the score). It may cost so much more than money.
Meet Michael: Gaylen (Mara Davala) is a five-year-old girl so afraid of monsters that her parents hire an exorcist. This is from the 2017 short of the same name, directed by Brian McCulley and written by Drain.
Finally,Fate Upside Down has the witches and priests fight it out for the dagger, which brings in Father Dudley (Todd) and his son Robby (Drain). This has animation and werewolves, as well as the characters from the first two stories, plus a last second appearance by Wells soon follows.
Realm of Shadows is a lot better than most streaming anthologies. It seems to have a central idea about love and evil, as well as moments of experimentation, even silent movie elements. It definitely looks way better than its budget would suggest and I'd love to see where Drain takes this in the sequel that is built by the ending.
Not really worthwhile in the slightest
kannibalcorpsegrinder25 May 2024
Locked in a struggle between good and evil, a group of witches spread several stories that help to examine this while battling against their tormentors.
This was a wholly convoluted and underwhelming anthology. The vast majority of the segments here are generally quite problematic, mostly ranging from a problematic setup that makes it difficult to figure out what's going on with repeated actors doing different characters with the same name with little context to denote what's going on. As many of them are so haphazardly introduced with a lame starting point of the strange women with the Ouija board fighting off a priest and cardinal out to stop them for whatever reason since we're dropped into it without context, this whole setup offers no cohesion for the segments to come as everything just feels random afterward. On top of that, very few of the segments are actually interesting, and even fewer are scary. The first one about a guy whose dream girl magically decides to be with him following an encounter with a mysterious bartender is painfully dull and not even remotely close to horror, a follow-up segment involving dreams and fantasies coming to life doesn't add much to a bland story from the start, a set piece involving a college professor trying to talk to his class about issues he's facing leads to nowhere thrilling, and a lame wraparound segment featuring the truth about the rival forces at play from the beginning here is so bogged down in explaining this overarching setup between good and evil that it borders on tedium. Now, several stories are decent enough to be redeemable. A stylish, dialogue-free story about a family tormented by a Satanic coven of witches has some intriguing ideas and visuals that belie its brief running time that's over before it veins, a fantastic segment about a mother accused of killing her infant son generates plenty of intriguing ideas at play as things play out to a wholly chilling truth that again could've used more time, and a monster story about a family preyed upon by a mysterious creature and the circumstances surrounding it has some fun moments here. However, the lackluster other segments and a confusing structure for how these all come together really doom this one.
Rated Unrated/R: Violence and Language.
This was a wholly convoluted and underwhelming anthology. The vast majority of the segments here are generally quite problematic, mostly ranging from a problematic setup that makes it difficult to figure out what's going on with repeated actors doing different characters with the same name with little context to denote what's going on. As many of them are so haphazardly introduced with a lame starting point of the strange women with the Ouija board fighting off a priest and cardinal out to stop them for whatever reason since we're dropped into it without context, this whole setup offers no cohesion for the segments to come as everything just feels random afterward. On top of that, very few of the segments are actually interesting, and even fewer are scary. The first one about a guy whose dream girl magically decides to be with him following an encounter with a mysterious bartender is painfully dull and not even remotely close to horror, a follow-up segment involving dreams and fantasies coming to life doesn't add much to a bland story from the start, a set piece involving a college professor trying to talk to his class about issues he's facing leads to nowhere thrilling, and a lame wraparound segment featuring the truth about the rival forces at play from the beginning here is so bogged down in explaining this overarching setup between good and evil that it borders on tedium. Now, several stories are decent enough to be redeemable. A stylish, dialogue-free story about a family tormented by a Satanic coven of witches has some intriguing ideas and visuals that belie its brief running time that's over before it veins, a fantastic segment about a mother accused of killing her infant son generates plenty of intriguing ideas at play as things play out to a wholly chilling truth that again could've used more time, and a monster story about a family preyed upon by a mysterious creature and the circumstances surrounding it has some fun moments here. However, the lackluster other segments and a confusing structure for how these all come together really doom this one.
Rated Unrated/R: Violence and Language.
A reality thriller/horror film that transcends the genre!
fireknighttvmohawkbob25 May 2024
Dive into the eerie depths of "Realm of Shadows," a spine-tingling anthology film presented by the Emmy-winning talents of Safier Entertainment and ThunderKnight Ltd. This cinematic gem intertwines mesmerizing short segments, each more chilling than the last, framed by an entrancing epilogue and prologue that draws viewers into the mysterious quest for the fabled Dagger of Destiny.
On a bewitching full moon night, prepare to be captivated as "Realm of Shadows" delights and terrifies with its unique blend of horror and intrigue. Watch as Tony Todd delivers a spectacular performance as Father Dudley, a benevolent priest whose formidable task is to save his friend Robby, portrayed by the dynamic Jimmy Drain, from succumbing to his sinister demonic alter ego. Their journey is not just about survival, but also about the redemptive power of true love.
One of the standout tales within this anthology, "Cadaver," weaves a horrifically fascinating story of a young woman driven to unspeakable acts for acceptance into a darkly enchanting witch coven masquerading as a dance troupe. This segment is sure to send shivers down your spine with its intense and haunting narrative.
Erika Monet dazzles as the cunning witch Nalum in the epilogue and prologue, masterfully setting the stage for each chilling tale and ensuring that the thrill and mystery linger with the audience long after the credits roll.
"Realm of Shadows" is an ultimate thrill ride for horror aficionados and fans of psychological thrillers alike. It offers a refreshing departure from typical slasher gore, engaging your mind while still delivering the frights.
Don't miss this enthralling anthology that promises to entertain and horrify in equal measure. Earmark your next movie night for "Realm of Shadows," and gear up for a truly magical and spine-chilling experience that epitomizes the art of storytelling in the realm of supernatural cinema. Keep your eyes peeled for more thrilling projects from ThunderKnight Entertainment and the inventive mind of director Jimmy Drain. Your journey into the shadows awaits!
On a bewitching full moon night, prepare to be captivated as "Realm of Shadows" delights and terrifies with its unique blend of horror and intrigue. Watch as Tony Todd delivers a spectacular performance as Father Dudley, a benevolent priest whose formidable task is to save his friend Robby, portrayed by the dynamic Jimmy Drain, from succumbing to his sinister demonic alter ego. Their journey is not just about survival, but also about the redemptive power of true love.
One of the standout tales within this anthology, "Cadaver," weaves a horrifically fascinating story of a young woman driven to unspeakable acts for acceptance into a darkly enchanting witch coven masquerading as a dance troupe. This segment is sure to send shivers down your spine with its intense and haunting narrative.
Erika Monet dazzles as the cunning witch Nalum in the epilogue and prologue, masterfully setting the stage for each chilling tale and ensuring that the thrill and mystery linger with the audience long after the credits roll.
"Realm of Shadows" is an ultimate thrill ride for horror aficionados and fans of psychological thrillers alike. It offers a refreshing departure from typical slasher gore, engaging your mind while still delivering the frights.
Don't miss this enthralling anthology that promises to entertain and horrify in equal measure. Earmark your next movie night for "Realm of Shadows," and gear up for a truly magical and spine-chilling experience that epitomizes the art of storytelling in the realm of supernatural cinema. Keep your eyes peeled for more thrilling projects from ThunderKnight Entertainment and the inventive mind of director Jimmy Drain. Your journey into the shadows awaits!
An Unexpected Gem
kendra_kessel18 May 2024
I will be honest-this is not my usual type of movie to watch...at all. But you may want to hear me out. I wanted to give it a try because I had heard interesting things about it. And I was surprised, to say the least! There was something very raw and something completely different about this film that drew me in and held my attention. I actually wanted to keep watching it to see what happened next. And, the ending even got me wanting more. I won't ruin the ending, but it was skillfully done. This movie is not your normal movie at all. But, it is these things...Unique, Gripping, and Makes you think. An Unexpected Gem!
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