Legions – A Deceiving Introspective Horror Film (Early Review)

With Legions, Argentinian director Fabián Forte returns with a horror flick that promises ample scares, humor and gore which will inevitably draw parallels to the Sam Raimi classic, The Evil Dead. With the upcoming new installment in the series inevitably on the minds of many audiences, this film may very well fill some of that void for some. However, for the most part, the film feels lackluster in a way that amounts to false advertising.

As the powerful sorcerer Antonio Poyju (de Silva) wastes away in an psychiatric hospital, evil forces run rampant and begin taking control of Argentina. If he can escape his imprisonment it is up to he and his daughter Helena (Vega) to save the country. Unfortunately for them, Helena has forgotten her powers and its up to her father to help her relearn her powers before it is too late. Meanwhile, what should appeal to Evil Dead fans are the excess of gore, enthralling practical effects and some effective humor. However, all these aspects don’t quite come together well enough to leave them satisfied.

Forte does deliver some immersive and haunting set pieces, filled with pretty effective jump scares brought to life by creepy cinematography and eerie imagery. That being said, those set pieces were few and far between but were nonetheless brilliantly directed and undoubtedly elevate the film.

As far as the characters were concerned, they were solid with Antonio being the standout, offering plenty of moments that will almost definitely endear himself to audiences. He is arguably among the best demonologists in cinema. De Silva’s performance was also among the films highlights as he gives Antonio depth while making him immensely likable. In terms of humor, the film does fall flat and whilst some of that humor lands, it isn’t enough to justify its inclusion. 

Along those lines, the film is very uneven tonally, constantly fumbling between horror and comedy to the point that it feels like two completely different films. The shifts can be very jarring and if the film stuck to a specific tone instead of trying to do too much, it would have fared much better than it did.

Likewise, the pacing lacked consistency, starting slow before picking up big time after its first third thus making its ending feel rushed. Speaking of the ending, not only does the pacing hold it back but also its lackluster nature. Setting up creative set pieces leading up to it, it’s only normal for audiences to expect a thrilling and scary ending that wraps the film up in a satisfying way. However, this was certainly not the case here.

The biggest disservice the film offers stems from its title therefore audiences must set their expectations accordingly. A more introspective turn will likely leave many audiences disappointed. Setting up what the title suggests through its promotion was surely a ploy to attract more potential audiences but the introspective story it actually was is actually quite intriguing. On paper, following a warlock who hunts down spirits trapped in a psychiatric hospital makes for a very interesting premise that should appeal to a lot of audiences. Fortes does a good job at keeping audiences investing in his story, even though it may not have been the one they expected.

At the end of the day, Legions is an effective horror with effective jump scares whose simple story and endearing main character will keep audiences invested throughout its sub-90 minute running time. However, it may not be the one they expect and may be left disappointed as a result. Likewise, the film’s jarring tonal shift and its pacing issues can’t help but make it amount to a lackluster watch.

*still courtesy of XYZ Films*

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Olly Dyche

Journalist, Writer, Film Critic and Professional Nerd. You will probably find Olly at the cinema chomping down on some popcorn and taking in the glorious visuals of the latest theatrical release.