Huge thanks to everyone for the long list of classic fantasy and sci fi to review! This week, a lot of people have asked for 1985’s Legend, featuring Tim Curry as the Horny Demon (as opposed to Rocky Horror Picture Show, featuring Tim Curry as the Horny Alien).
Legend was directed by Ridley Scott, who was taking a break from dystopian sci-fi horror, and co-written with William Hjortsberg, a classical fairy tale featuring unicorns, fairies, a princess and true love. That said, the storytelling deals a few tricks that are worth pointing out.
First off, the story begins from the villain’s perspective, who delivers a short exposition. I’m usually against block exposition but this is a good twist, as it sets up the villain’s motives from the word go. The Darkness, a demon who rules an evil tree house/castle, needs to kill the unicorns, as by doing so he can bring about eternal night. Meanwhile, Princess Lili is out to spend time with her forest-dwelling boyfriend, Jack (played by a 20-something Tom Cruise). When he takes her to see the unicorns, Lili’s impetuousness leads to one of the creatures losing their horn and the other getting captured, along with the princess. From there, the race is on for Jack, supported by a group of Fae, to break into the castle, save the unicorn, retrieve the stolen horn, and free the princess.
The pacing is great, and we are already across all the main characters and general idea of the plot within the first 12 minutes. After this the story slows down, taking the time to flesh out the different characters before Jack begins his raid on the castle at the halfway point of the film. The other characters introduced include Gump, the disturbingly intense Peter-Pan like leader of the Fae, and Oona the fairy, who was so irritating that I swear she was the inspiration behind Navi in the Nintendo 64’s Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time. At the other end of the scale, the halfway point is when the Darkness, who had only been glimpsed at up until this point, finally makes his entrance.
THE PRESENCE.
THE POWER.
THE HORNS.
I understand Tim Curry spent 5 hours a day in makeup for this role. Worth every second. The Darkness isn’t just treated as a faceless BBEG, just as Lili is no longer treated as the cloyingly pure princess. This sets up what I think is the most interesting relationship in the entire story. The Darkness, a demon hell-bent (pun intended) on destroying everything pure and good, genuinely pines for Lili. For her part, the princess, who was already set up as having a bit of a rebellious streak, permits herself to be seduced, changing her white dress for something dark and revealing. That’s right folks, going dark side turns you into her a smoking hot goth girl. Unfortunately (don’t judge me), Jack breaks in, having reflected sunlight on giant dinner plates throughout the castle to stun the demon then deal the killing blow with the stolen unicorn’s horn. I’m a bit confused by the fact that the sunlight literally blew apart the Darkness’s doors in the finale – perhaps the demon lord shopped at IKEA?
Anyway, Lili falls into a swoon and Jack awakens her with true love’s kiss. I’m aware of the problems with consent but I was more worried about the fact that A) someone carried her, unconscious, all the way back from the castle, and B) dressed her back into a flowing white gown. Yeah, I have questions. I’m certain her father, the king, would as well.
But these are minor quibbles. Overall, the plot is tight, the characters interesting and the visuals an absolute delight. If anyone else has their favourite moment in this film, please leave a comment below!
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