The Reign of Queen Ginnarra

In Raiders of the Lost Ark, the archaeologist René Belloq opens up the Ark of the Covenant, the chest containing the tablets upon which God Himself inscribed the Ten Commandments. "It's beautiful!" he exclaims, after which his face melts off and his head explodes.

This is a superior viewing experience to Lawrie Brewster's The Reign of Queen Ginnarra, which offers neither the glimpse of beauty nor the mercy of death.

Ginnarra is the worst movie I have ever seen. If there is a site where I give it a star or a fraction thereof, it's because that site won't let me give it a zero. Its action isn't impressive, its horror isn't scary, and its characters aren't likeable. Its script is bad beyond the power of any actor to salvage. Of the ten or so people I endured this movie with from beginning to end, not one person had a word to say in its defense. If you don't read any more of this review, at least take away this: Ginnarra is not worth paying for, it is not worth watching for free, and if you are offered money to watch it, don't say yes for anything under four figures.

I go into further detail on the Letterboxd version of this review (which has spoilers), as that site has no character limit. Absent the ample room necessary to recount this movie's laundry list of sins, I will give the short version for IMDb: its script is bad, its plot is incoherent, and the whole things is full of shoddy, AI-generated effects that make it feel cheap and low-effort. It's twenty minutes' worth of substance inflated into over two and a half painful hours. It fails at everything it attempts, and what it attempted was so jejune as to not have been worth trying. Watching The Reign of Queen Ginnarra left me a broken wreck of a man, and my recovery will be the work of decades.

If you wake up in a theater where this is playing, don't walk out, run. In a pinch, see if there's anything within arm's reach you can use to blind yourself.

Do not recommend.

I watch Queen Ginnarra at the Romford Horror Festival. I wanted to support independent film makers and having watched 'The Slave and the Sorcerer' last year, which was also directed by Lawrie Brester and starring Megan Tremethick and Stephen Kerr, I was keen to see what new work the team had brought out.

I was somewhat sceptical at first having seen the run time of 2 hours and 20 minutes, however that time flew by and there was never a dull moment

What struck me initially was what the team were able to do with the budget. It was of a much higher quality than I expected. Moreover, the acting was superb, played with earnestness. Megan Tremethick's performance was certainly a standout performance.

The movie centred around power, family, dragons and betrayal. None of the characters were one dimensional, all of them had many layers and able to portray strength juxtaposed with vulnerability.

For the budget they were able to pull off excellent choreographed fight scenes and superb animation was employed where the budget did not allow.

A movie I will defiantly watch again, and I would recommend to anyone who enjoys medieval fantasy epics.

The story of the rise and fall of a truly evil tyrannical monarch. Queen Ginnarra rules over a land stolen from her father after he is killed in battle. Her brother Prince Elderon has been banished from the kingdom on pain of death. What follows is Elderon's quest to find help to remove his sister from the throne. Ginnarra 'who has help from the malevolent Elder Gods to rule her subjects with an iron fist is sending her minions out to hunt Elderon down.

Produced by The British Horror Studio and Hex Studios this is an impressive epic made in Scotland

The cast all put in excellent performances ,especially Megan Tremethick as Ginnerra. The Queen is a truly evil character and Megan plays her as an unemotional but ruthless woman with a white face reminiscent of an Elizabethan noblewomen.

She says very little, but you feel the power raging from her presence .She orders death and destruction without emotion or remorse.

Dorian Todd is very good as Raemin ,the son of the Queen who seems to relish the pain he inflicts on the populace ,he seems to be like Mordred to Ginnarras Morgana if this were based on Arthurian legend.

Andrew Gourley puts in a lot of emotion as Elderon ,the Queens brother as he desperately looks for help around the ravaged kingdom. He is a broken man after seeing his father die and is wracked by guilt . The supporting players especially Sam Barkley, Shadi El Dah,Stephen Kerr, Stephen Corrall,Adam Barnett and Chris Capaldi all stand out as well.

The film uses its locations very well (especially a beautiful cathedral for the Queens throne room)and enhancing some scenes with well done CGI that includes a massive city, rubble strewn villages and three Dragons.

The fight choreography is also impressive ,especially the fight between two main characters.

Written by Sarah Daly and Director Lawrie Brewster this really is an impressive epic film. Produced on a budget that (I assume)wouldn't even pay a quarter of the catering of a Hollywood film. Lawrie and Sarah(who is also the co producer)have brought to the screen a British film that has not been seen in more decades than I care to mention.

I would wholeheartedly recommend this to anyone who is looking for something out of the mainstream. A film made with a love for a genre of film that you just dont see now.

"Queen Ginnarra" is a captivating film that beautifully weaves together themes of greed resilience, and the pursuit of power From the moment the credits roll, viewers are drawn into the rich tapestry of Ginnarra's world, where the stunning cinematography and vibrant horrors create an immersive experience.

The lead performance is nothing short of mesmerizing, bringing depth and authenticity to the character. The supporting cast shines as well, with each actor contributing to the film's traumatic weight.

One of the standout aspects of "Queen Ginnarra" is its ability to inspire. The story of a young woman overcoming obstacles through murder.

"The Reign of Queen Ginnarra" is an ambitious and visually striking dark fantasy epic that skillfully blends medieval intrigue with cosmic horror, delivering a bold, brooding experience for fans of richly atmospheric storytelling. Director Lawrie Brewster conjures a mythic world, steeped in dread and divine delusion, where the line between prophecy and madness blurs.

Megan Tremethick gives a standout performance as Queen Ginnarra - an enigmatic ruler whose celestial visions and unyielding resolve slowly unravel into a dangerous obsession. Her performance is a compelling mix of regal presence and emotional fragility, capturing the queen's conviction while exposing the vulnerability beneath.

With every measured glance and silken word, Tremethick brings life to a character who is both ethereal and terrifying - a monarch as mesmerising as she is merciless, shrouded in stillness, secrecy and sinister allure, making Ginnarra both tragic and formidable.

The supporting cast, particularly Andrew Gourlay as the exiled Prince Eldoran, provides a grounded counterbalance to Tremethick's commanding presence. Gourlay brings a quiet strength to his role, anchoring the narrative's more mythic elements with emotional depth.

Filmed on location at historic Scottish sites, including the hauntingly beautiful Dunfermline Abbey, the cinematography is both sumptuous and shadow-drenched, evoking a world that feels both majestic and in decay. The production design - steeped in ritualistic symbolism and medieval texture, is equally immersive, enriching the atmosphere of a kingdom teetering on the edge of ruin.

Though its deliberate pacing and introspective tone may prove challenging to some viewers, "The Reign of Queen Ginnarra" rewards those who surrender to its rhythm with a richly woven tale of power, prophecy, and obsession. It's a testament to what independent cinema can achieve when vision, performance, and atmosphere align - and offers a haunting showcase of Megan Tremethick's remarkable talent.