Blu-ray Review: Low Budget Fantasy THE REIGN OF QUEEN GINNARRA Impresses
The general rule of thumb for low-budget filmmaking is to keep things simple and work within the confines of your budget. That’s the reason why you see so many one-location thrillers and found footage horror movies. It’s very rare to see low-budget filmmakers take big swings, shooting for a larger scope, and offering up something that pushes the envelope – and budget – to deliver a film that looks and feels much bigger. Lawrie Brewster and company do just that with The Reign of Queen Ginnarra, an epic fantasy that blends a variety of disparate elements to craft a film that impresses. A tonal convergence of John Boorman’s Arthurian fantasy Excalibur, the political machinations of Shekhar Kapur’s Elizabeth, as well as Roger Corman’s Edgar Allan Poe adaptations, HBO’s epic television behemoth, Game Of Thrones and even the work of H.P. Lovecraft, The Reign of Queen Ginnarra borrows from the best and delivers the goods. It might be a little rough around the edges, but that’s all part of its charm.
The film follows Queen Ginnarra (Megan Tremethick), a villainous monarch who has stolen her kingdom from her father and her brother Elderon (Andrew Gourlay). Ginnara rules with an iron fist and uses dark magic to keep her subjects in line, but when Elderon rises up to reclaim his kingdom, sister and brother face off in a deadly battle of wills.
Considering the scope of vision and the limited budget, The Reign of Queen Ginnarra could very easily have been a disaster, but Lawrie Brewster has a real grasp on the different elements, and he manages to make this low-budget fantasy film work. The tone is played straight and the imagery is well composed. This features some impressive visuals and effects – okay, they might not be up to blockbuster standard – but there’s a handmade element that has echoes of Ray Harryhausen’s iconic stop-motion effects from the 1960s and 1970s. The score (by co-writer), Sarah Daly is excellent, adding real atmosphere and scope to the onscreen action. This might be a small film, but the score is big.
Performances in low-budget films can often be hit and miss, but everyone acquits themselves well here. The standout is Megan Tremethick’s titular Queen Ginnarra. Tremethick’s turn is quietly charismatic, and she’s able to do a lot by doing very little. It’s a great performance, and I’d say that one of The Reign of Queen Ginnarra’s main flaws is that it doesn’t feature enough of Tremethick – she is playing the title character after all. Another flaw is that the film runs a little on the long side, but that’s a small niggle for a film that you can watch in your own home, on your own terms.
It’s never going to (nor should it ever have to) compete with the latest Marvel movie, but The Reign of Queen Ginnarra is perfect for a certain type of film fan who is willing to search for a certain type of entertainment. Those who like old-school fantasy films will be enamoured by its style, tone and inspirations. You might have to seek it out, but The Reign of Queen Ginnarra is an intriguing piece that feels refreshing because of its big ambitions.
