There is no denying many of the wonderful things the internet has provided us. Some of the people helped the most have been artists and creators. From YouTube influencers to graphic designers it is now easier than it ever has been to get a large number of people to see your hard work. This is especially true of film. A notoriously difficult industry to get in to, filmmaking is now accessible to almost anyone with a computer and time. Spriggan from film studio Red Cloud Consort is a great example of modern technology helping get more eyes on a movie.
Spriggan is a high fantasy film. The plot follows many characters on their search to collect a bounty. There is a bard, a ranger, a thief, a barbarian, and cultists. If it sounds familiar that is because it is. But stories are never the sum of their parts. Spriggan proves it is more about how things come together in a finished product that matters.
It is important to note that Spriggan was shot on a micro-budget. Along with living in a more technological age, the times tend to be more cosmetic and less interested in subtext. This is not to say the movie automatically gets a pass for the issues it has (we will get to those later). But it is something to keep in mind in a time when even trailers are mini spectacles nowadays.
The first thing that sticks out in Spriggan is the great use of color. The movie is filled with lush greens, vivid pinks, and deep reds. Reds and greens tend to be popular in fantasy settings. Settings are usually in forests and/or fields and there is blood to be shed. There will also be pinks and yellows thanks to a market or festival scene. Again, Spriggan does not reinvent the wheel and instead uses it in new ways.
In Sprigaan, colors stand out more. This is where having less of a reliance of special effects pays off. Everything seems more lively and the colors jump off the screen. Nothing ever gets lost in the noise. The colors are framed in a way that accentuates their natural a beauty. There is even a nice shot early on that is reminiscent of a Mario Bava movie.
The settings are very beautiful. Spriggan demonstrates a film does not have to be shot in the rolling hills of Scotland or Ireland in order to look good. Much of the movie takes place in a heavily forested area. Director Robert Gill is able to transport viewers to another land. While the scenes of babbling brooks are a nice change of pace, moments in which characters are near water do not look as good. These area looks too cleared out. It is as if the movie takes place in a park.
For all the good Spriggan does, there are some noticeable flaws. Some establishing shots work. The aforementioned close ups of running water prevent the film from looking like one long walk through the woods. There are just so many of them. Instead of using a segue to get into the next scene or simply cutting or fading, almost every moment in the movie is introduced with a long shot of surrounding area or with characters walking. This is necessary to give audiences a sense of where everything is taking place, but it is not needed before each scene.
These long shots are usually accompanied by silence. The story and dialogue do a great job of explaining the action. Scenes in which people are just walking in silence ruin immersion. It seems like the filmmakers are just trying to fill time. Spriggan is strong enough to stand on its own and does not need padding.
Shot on a very small budget, Spriggan is a fantasy movie that fans of the genre will immediately recognize. There are elements of comedy and adventure along with some beautiful shots. Spriggan is an entertaining journey that fans of the genre will appreciate.
Watch Spriggan here
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