JP Nunez
The line between horror and fantasy is fuzzy at best. The difference between these two genres is often a matter of emphasis and tone, so it should come as no surprise that I’m both a horror fanatic and a fantasy aficionado. I love everything from Ti West’s X trilogy to The Lord of the Rings, so when I first heard about The Old Man and the Demon Sword, the film sounded like it was tailor-made just for me. The Fantasia plot synopsis promised a heartfelt blend of these two genres, and I absolutely couldn’t wait to check it out.
The Old Man and the Demon Sword was written and directed by Fábio Powers, and it stars António da Luz and the voice of João Loy. In the film, a monk wielding a demon-possessed sword arrives in a small Portuguese village, and when he’s killed by a group of demons, his sword is picked up by Antonio, the town drunk.
He’s the absolute last guy you’d ever expect to be a hero, but surprisingly, he and the sword work well together. In their fight against evil, the pair quickly discover that the town is under a mysterious curse unlike anything the demon has ever seen before, and it’s up to them to find a way to undo it.
I have to be honest, I have very mixed feelings about The Old Man and the Demon Sword. There are a couple of things I quite liked about the movie, but there’s also plenty that simply didn’t jive with my sensibilities. Let’s start with the good. Hands down, the best thing about this film is António da Luz’s turn as the titular swordsman.
His performance is ridiculously and comedically over the top, but it also feels like he’s holding a little something back. The guy never goes completely maniacal à la Nicolas Cage, and that perfect middle ground imbues the character with a nearly irresistible charm. From the first moment you meet Antonio, you can’t help but love seeing him whenever he’s on screen, and when he goes for a laugh, the gags almost always land.
But don’t get the wrong idea. Antonio isn’t just comedic relief writ large. There are a few scenes where da Luz has to convey genuinely heartfelt emotion as well, and he absolutely nails it every time. One of these moments might even bring a tear to your eye, so as a character, Antonio is pretty much the complete package. He’s funny, he’s surprisingly sympathetic, and he’s charming, and that trifecta helps keep The Old Man and the Demon Sword afloat for a large portion of its runtime.
Along similar lines, the dynamic between Antonio and the sword is also pretty fun. It’s like a harsher version of the relationship between Eddie Brock and Venom in the recent Venom films, so if you’re a fan of that franchise, you’re probably going to get a kick out of the conversations these two characters have.
However, as great as Antonio and the sword are, they’re not strong enough to carry The Old Man and the Demon Sword past the finish line. To begin, this movie is super low-budget, and that’s very evident in just about every frame. Even when you don’t see anything particularly egregious, the whole thing just feels like it was made for about $10, and that will probably be a huge turn-off to some viewers.
To be fair, obviously low budgets don’t always bother me, but some of the visuals in The Old Man and the Demon Sword are so bad even I had a tough time with them. In particular, the demons Antonio fights are mostly CGI with a few practical effects thrown in, and they’re atrocious. There are even a few shots that look entirely animated, and after a while, I simply couldn’t take it anymore. Film is a visual medium, so no matter how good the story is, if a movie doesn’t look convincing enough to suspend disbelief, it simply won’t work. And unfortunately, that’s exactly what happens here.
On top of that, the film also ends in just about the worst way imaginable. See, in the first two acts, The Old Man and the Demon Sword sets up an interesting mythology I was eager to learn more about, and it also deals with some really interesting themes that resonated with me quite a bit.
But right before the credits begin to roll, the film literally throws that all away in favor of a comedic twist, and that puts the final nail in the coffin. Even if the weak visual effects didn’t completely sink the movie, this ending would’ve finished the job. I’m obviously not going to spoil the unexpected third-act turn of events, but I can say that it’s very reminiscent of a critically acclaimed genre flick from the 2010s, and if you’re familiar with that film, you’ll know exactly what I’m talking about when you watch The Old Man and the Demon Sword.
So at the end of the day, I’m sad to report that I didn’t enjoy this movie. Sure, it has some bright spots, like Antonio da Luz’s performance and his character’s relationship with the titular demon sword, and for a while, I actually thought I was going to end up liking the film. But unfortunately, the weak visual effects and disappointing ending ultimately won the day, so if you ever get a chance to check out The Old Man and the Demon Sword, I suggest giving it a pass.
The Old Man and the Demon Sword played at the Fantasia International Film Festival on July 21.
