Midlands Review of Gallowglass
midlandsmovies • November 2, 2020
Midlands Review of Gallowglass
Directed by Ed Kirk
2020
Acamas Video
"A lone mercenary is hired to hunt a mysterious woman in the forest."
Lincoln-based filmmaker Ed Kirk releases the latest cut of his new medieval fantasy short film Gallowglass which promises mystery and intrigue in a forest from a time long gone.
A suitably old-fashioned guitar score opens the tale as we see a mercenary (Lewis Gemmill) take a knee at a small fire in a wooded plot. Staring into its dancing embers, we then cut back to a conversation in a tavern where another gentlemen (Marcus Houden) warns this ranger about a “lady in the woods” - somewhat reminiscent of an Arthurian legend.
Despite the mercenary’s reputation, he refuses the task put to him saying he’s no longer the man for the job despite being a “gallowglass”.
The gallowglasses do in fact have a real history and were elite warriors of Norse-Gaelic Scotland between the 13th and 16th centuries.
And here, the historical group is used as a jumping off point as this expert combatant is asked to help save a township, yet despite his initial reluctance we join him later on his heroic noble quest.
Once in the forest, we hear an ethereal voice and see a blindfolded woman (Ellie Pickering) who is unnervingly stalking our hero amongst the trees. With a dash of Galadriel and a touch of Melisandre, the solitary sorceress trope has been seen many times but gives this film an instant familiarity and connection during its brief runtime.
The costumes and design very much look the part and the widescreen filming and excellently balanced lighting gives the images a cinematic quality suitable for such a classical tale of yore.
Epic in themes but not in time (the fleeting short comes in at under 4 minutes), the film definitely leaves you wanting more as it weaves its web of mystery. But with a lot to recommend, and despite its rapid pace, this campfire fable will draw you in like the red-haired temptress of the film itself.
Michael Sales
Find out more about the film and filmmaker here: www.acamasvideo.com
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