“A fantastical voyage deep into uncharted territory to chart it. FORBIDDEN EMPIRE is a magical romp into the 18th century with monsters, mayhem, and mystery."
An 18th century English cartographer, Jonathan Green (Jason Flemyng), sets out on a journey to map the uncharted lands of Transylvania, only to discover the dark secrets and dangerous creatures hidden in a cursed, fantastical Ukrainian forest (IMDB).
Forbidden Empire is a fantastical voyage deep into uncharted territory to chart it. It is a beautifully
shot and amazingly complex film that stars Jason Flemying as an inventive cartographer that knows he is meant for a higher calling. Though he may be a bit of a screw up, he is all heart when it comes to love and dreaming. Dzhonatan is the perfect character for Flemying as he vies to win his future father in laws favor by proving that his inventions will chart the world and make it a less scary place. Speaking of scary places, where else could one be sent that may lead to their demise in a time such as this? Why Transylvania of course! The land of vampires, witches, and countless other evil monstrosities that may only exist in the psyche of the local inhabitants, especially if they are drunk on their own brand of home made hooch. Of course they may be real too. Director Oleg Stepchenko does a masterful job blending the possible reality and fiction of Transylvania in a flurry of special effects and color dazzling to the eye. How much is real and how much is invented by the vindictive local priest remains to be determined.
Under Stepchenko's direction, Forbidden Empire looks and feels like a Terry Gilliam film with a
twist of M. Night Shyamalan. That is to say, there is a twist, with a twist, but looks fantastically
cinematic. Our cartographers inventions would make Gilliam proud and DaVinci prouder. In fact
they do, since a Da Vinci of sorts aids our hapless hero in his endeavors.
At this point I must admit I need to climb down off of my soapbox, by now everyone of the
Creepercast audience has heard my tireless rants about M. Night Shyamalan. But I have just
compared Stepchenko and writer Nikolai Gogol 's masterpiece to none other than he. In my defense I also said Forbidden Empire looks and feels like a Terry Gilliam film, and I love Terry Gilliam for his cinematic eye and comedic timing. So though the story has a touch of Shyamalan, I wouldn't go so far as to say the twists are like his at all. Stepchenko masterfully uses the twist technique, mixed with monsters, mayhem, and mystery!
Full of outrageous comedic action, to force us to question the story's validity. Then when we think we got it figured out he twists it again in obvious horror fashion. Thus taking two juxtaposing styles of story telling and turning them into a visionary spectacle. That much said, Forbidden Empire's executive producer usually gets a bad wrap for his work too. Although I've gone record on many occasions about his poor decisions as a film maker in the past, I can say, without a doubt, Forbidden Empire is not one of them. The Creepercast has gone on record.
Forbidden Empire is a magical romp into the 18th century with monsters, mayhem, and mystery.
It's a must see for adventure fanatics and a voyage into dark lands for horror fans.
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