Watch The Devil's Sword For Free

Good concept, poorly executed.

A great movie, one of the best of this year. There was a bit of confusion at one point in the plot, but nothing serious.

One of the most extraordinary films you will see this year. Take that as you want.

It's simply great fun, a winsome film and an occasionally over-the-top luxury fantasy that never flags.

There exist only two types of conditions and circumstances under which I'm willing to watch a movie like "The Devil's Sword", and that's either together with a group of friends completely intoxicated by alcohol or other (slightly more illegal) drugs OR at a special type of themed festival in a ramshackle theater surrounded by a crowed of equally over-enthusiast genre fanatics! In this case, it was option number two, as the Belgian Off-Screen festival scheduled a crazy Indonesian 80s double-feature with "Lady Terminator" and this "The Devil's Sword". Now I already knew that the former was guaranteed entertainment; a completely bonkers and shameless "The Terminator" rip-off starring an unknown beauty (Barbara Anne Constable) as the reincarnation of a mythical Indonesian sea-queen on a relentless killing spree. I didn't know anything about "The Devil's Sword" yet, but the plot description and still looked equally amusing. Like "Lady Terminator", the film is also based on national heritage (legends, comic books…) but still grabs every possible opportunity to blatantly imitate the biggest Hollywood blockbusters. They really must have worshiped Arnold Swarzenegger in Indonesia back then because here the main inspiration comes from the Fantasy/Sword & Sorcery classic "Conan the Barbarian". The story is senseless and I won't bother too much to summarize, just keep in mind the following key words: atrocious acting, laughable dubbing, silly crocodile costumes, flying rocks, badly choreographed swashbuckling and chopped off heads. However, in sheer contrast to "Lady Terminator", which is truly a masterpiece in its own and very secluded league, "The Devil's Sword" quickly gets dull, repetitive and uninteresting. Around halfway through the film, I really had difficulties staying awake and even the cheerful crowd had tempered down. The long and tedious samurai/swashbuckling fights are supposed to cover up that the plot is weak and substantially void, but that naturally only works for about half an hour. Therefore the first 30 minutes are hilarious, with a crazily yelling freaks flying down a mountain on a piece of rock, only to interrupt a small town's wedding, claim that the husband is property of the subterranean Crocodile Queen and then subsequently slaughter the entire community. The only person that fights back more or less decently is the bride, whereas the broom cowardly hides behind his father-in-law. 5/10. Half of the points because I was entertained for about half of the film. The most interesting part of the night was actually the introduction. For these two screenings, the festival's organization had invited one of the founders of the Mondo Macabro DVD-label that specializes in fancily releasing this type of globally neglected cinematic trash. This person, and I sadly forgot his name, shared a couple of lovely trivia facts with the audience. For example, Barbara Anne Constable was furious when she discovered via her 14- year-old daughter that "Lady Terminator" was released by the DVD label, because she hoped that the movie would never be shown outside of Indonesia. Another story was about the lead star of "The Devil's Sword", Barry Prima, who was quite a big star in Indonesia during the 1980s, but allegedly hated acting and particularly loathed the films he starred in. During an interview with the label, he stated that he only came to the interview to see the idiots that want to put the rubbish that were his films on DVD.

Think the special effects in LORD OF THE RINGS are decent? Think again! You haven't seen anything until you've watched THE DEVIL'S SWORD, another extraordinary and fantastic offering from Indonesia. Old friend Ratno Timoer (who seems to direct just about every Barry Prima film ever made) once again delivers a fast-paced, ultra-cheap and ultra-entertaining film of heroic sorcery and superhuman battles. Similar in feel to Barry Prima's classic WARRIOR trilogy (although, it has to be said, not quite as entertaining), this is a rip-roaring film with plenty of outlandish goofiness and outrageous blood-and-gore action to recommend it.Instead of Dutch colonists, the bad guys this time around are the scantily-clad Crocodile Queen, her sorcerer and her evil strongman (didn't catch the guy's name). She lives in a plasticky cave full of male sex slaves (!) and a bunch of cannibals who remain locked in a pit. You see, the Crocodile Queen is a nymphomaniac, who just can't get enough of young male sex sacrifices (neat twist, huh?) and the trouble begins when she sends her strongman to capture a man just married. An outstanding display of Indonesian martial arts action follows, always surprisingly well-shot. It wouldn't be complete without those meaty "thwack" sound effects dubbed in afterwards either. Huge cardboard weapons, tiny little costumes made out of sparkly stuff and a deadly umbrella are a few more of the treats to be had in this scene. Of course, our hero Barry Prima (here a warrior named "Mandala") turns up, and joins up with the distraught bride (who actually kicks ass pretty good) and goes to rescue him. Oh, and there's some sub-plot about four evil warriors fighting for control of the Devil's Sword – which Prima ends up getting anyway, so you wonder why they bothered with all that.Of course, as is usual with these movies, the acting is appalling but the actors are always athletic and put their all into it. The dubbing is crude and often hilarious (ie such lines as "you dirty dog" and "you bastard" are the order of the day). The special effects bring new meaning to the word 'tacky' whilst the music is little more than a dirge. The inspiration for this film in particular seems to be CONAN THE BARBARIAN and the wake of similar (mostly Italian) barbarian sword-and-sorcery movies to flood the market at this time, although this is a noticeably gory variant. Expect to see numerous decapitations; a witch who is cut in two, grows back together and explodes; leg removal; the infamous "flying guillotine" in action again (YES!); guttings; tearings; slashings; whippings and all manner of impalements. While not as gory as some other Indonesian offerings, it certainly makes one take notice.The special effects (or the fantastic elements) are pleasingly ambitious, done on a shoestring budget with lots of love and affection. We get guys flying around on levitating rocks, a guy getting gutted and flying up into the air before crashing back into the earth (my favourite scene, happens 14 minutes into the film – I had to rewind this bit) and a bunch of "crocodile men" (the most pathetic rubbery costumes you'll ever see!). Plus numerous old hags, a skeleton boatman leading Prima across a swampy river (cool stuff) and a giant cyclopean monster with a glowing eyeball! There are golden crocodile statues which shoot burning rays and an evil scarf which can whip people to death! Spike traps, acid baths and other pleasures await the discovery of the discerning viewer of trash and exploitation. They don't make 'em like this anymore, more's the pity.

When a mystical, magical and powerful sword is forged from a meteor that crashes to earth, everyone wants to get their hands on it. That includes the evil Banyunjaga (Bangun), as well as a host of other baddies. Luckily, the brave hero Mandala (Prima) is going to try to make sure the sword falls into the right hands. Master Abirama trained both men, but one chose the path of good, and the other evil. Meanwhile, underneath the earth, the Crocodile Queen reigns. She abducts men from the surface world to satisfy her urges. When she spirits away the innocent Sanjaya, his wife, Princess Retaloca hires Mandala to rescue him. Many fights and battles ensue...who will take possession of the DEVIL'S SWORD? Here we have a wild and wacky Indonesian adventure. It's impossible not to love the spirit of downright weirdness and the homemade special effects. Sure, the dubbing is preposterous and the many fight scenes are ridiculous, but that's what is so enjoyable about a gem like this. It shows that every country in the world loves action movies, and what makes this movie so special is that it displays its own ethnic quirkiness and charm onto what they produced. Nowhere else in the world could have produced something like The Devil's Sword.Barry Prima deserves more visibility as an action star. In that corner of the globe, he was the man. Some of his movies came out on VHS in the golden age in various countries so people do know who he is. But more of the movie viewing public should be aware of him.Seemingly inspired by myths and legends, there are some fascinating sets and great costumes. The visuals are great thanks to the organic special effects. The whole thing is exotic, inventive and fun. It's very entertaining. You gotta give it up to Mondo Macabro for putting this out. Us westerners (or anyone for that matter) are lucky to see this movie. Rapi Films productions never really made it to the U.S. in any significant way back in the 80's. Thanks to Mondo Macabro and other DVD labels, the world is truly getting smaller and we can see movies we never thought possible.Beware of crocodile men and stone giants and see The Devil's Sword.For more insanity, please visit: comeuppancereviews.com

Berry Prima. Witches and warlocks. Monsters. Lush jungle locales. In-camera special effects. Pastel parasols that kill people. "The story of THE DEVIL'S SWORD makes absolutely no sense, the acting is often appalling and the special effects a re a no-budget riot." Pete Tombs, Mondo Macabro. No argument there, pal, but this film aside from MYSTICS IN BALI is what I love about Indo films in the first place. Nonstop, colorful nonsense that recalls Italian muscleman peplum at its most indulgent. A one-eyed Cyclops whose eye is a very obvious car headlight is just one of the many bizarre delights offered. The dismal musical score that sounds like the backdrop of an outdated video game just adds to the appeal.Production note: Why are we treated to a male swimmer's anus in one shot?Bottom line: "Movies are so rarely fine art, that unless we cultivate an appreciation for great trash, there really is no reason in going." -- Pauline Kael