B-Movie Addiction says...
Night of the Templar (alternatively titled 'Knights Templar') is a unique movie to say the least. It's a medieval revenge story wrapped in a modern-day horror mystery wrapped in a suspense thriller. It's somewhat all over the place, and you do need to pay attention to sort out what's what since there are two parallel plot-lines. If you don't, you'll find yourself wondering what the hell is going on.
The story begins in the year 1095 CE, following a leader of a band of templar knights named Gregoire (Paul Sampson) during the crusades. We see him at the pointy end of a sword uttering a curse to the unseen man holding the sword that he will return from the grave to send him and his accomplices to hell. The film cuts between modern day and 1095 as we learn more about the characters and exactly what happened with the Templars. As the story unfolds, we learn that the reason for the betrayal is as minimal as the acting from the female cast. Greed. Plain old greed. Templars want to get laid and have money while doing it. Gregoire says no. Murder and betrayal follow.
The modern-day plot focuses on a fantasy-weekend getaway to a European castle, almost in a reality TV show format except that there is a looming purpose over it. Everyone starts to recognize that they are the reincarnations of the templars, good and bad, after reading the story over the course of the night thanks to a conveniently placed coffee-table version of the story left out. It's done in a NeverEnding Story-esque style, the guests read the story out loud between scenes of what happened in the past to Gregoire. Surprisingly, the story begins to come alive! People start getting murdered, the first by... *gasp*... someone dressed as a templar knight. The murder mystery begins to kick in when bodies start turning up in slightly stranger ways: a body nail-gunned to the wall, a cook's tongue removed. The difference in methodology between the templar's holy justice and just plain cruel murder gives reason to believe there is slightly more to the tale. And I do mean slightly.
This movie is not really that complex to figure out if you are paying attention. It's shockingly straight forward as it goes on. The host of the weekend, the reincarnated Gregoire, discovers the bodies and without emotional reaction says brilliant phrases such as "great... I have to cook... and clean..." Not to mention right from the beginning he experiences stigmata-type pains of getting stabbed in the back, literally, by his former comrades. The guests take turns in voicing their opinions on whether they would have supported or betrayed Gregoire, letting you figure out who they are or could possibly be rather quickly.
The murder scenes are laughably bad. The actual killing is done slightly off camera while they zoom in on the faces. Despite the lameness, there's something incredibly satisfying in seeing a Scream-style knifing committed by a templar knight. The big battle at the climax is equally is terrible. "I shall cut you ten times! One for each life of excess!" is screamed by Gregoire as he achieves his justice. The fighting is just as corny as the dialogue. The two big matches are between the young knight and a 60 year old priest and a young girl vs. David Carradine. Not really blockbuster action, it's pretty funny and I think it was meant to be. One of the battles is even won through the power of love.
A big part of the strange allure is the strange cast of characters and their actors as well. Udo Kier plays a mysterious priest, whose motives are unclear through most of the movie. Billy Drago plays the chef named Shauna in full drag. Super creepy. Norman Reedus, a.k.a Daryl Dixon from The Walking Dead, makes an appearance as an asshole who enjoys choking himself while receiving fellatio. David Carradine plays the local shopkeeper who has a couple incredibly corny scenes. Awesome to see him in one of his last hurrahs. Paul Sampson has a really unique and awkward screen presence that's strangely addicting to watch. The combination results in a blend of strange awkward creepiness that somehow works.
And with all that said, this review is like the movie itself... All over the place. I actually did enjoy this movie a lot despite the sarcasm. It's allure lies in just how weird it is. From Paul Sampson's strange Boston/Little Nicky accent to his templar speech delivered like an Oprah "...and you get a car! and you get a car!" pointing with his sword at his knights. It's just loveable. A definite guilty pleasure. It looks good too. For an indie film the production quality and camera work is quite exceptional. Interesting semi-twist at the end too, that will give you something to talk about whoever you're watching it with.
Night of the Templar is definitely worth a watch. It will keep you entertained from start to finish. It's a loveable oddity in film, venturing far from the path of Hollywood predictability. Watch the trailer below and the film on PutLocker, WatchFreeInHD, HDPlay or SockShare.
.jpg)
.jpg)
