I did not expect much from this one, having been underwhelmed by previous efforts from both director and star (Kirk Morris); however, the end result was quite tolerable – indeed, highly entertaining, if mainly in an unintentional way (more on this later)! Thematically, the film presents the usual ingredients: villainous potentate, rebel-leader hero, heroine intended to be sacrificed for the common good but saved in the nick-of-time from a fate worse than death, duplicitous other woman, etc.
As I said, this viewing was undercut – or, rather, eclipsed by – a constant stream of hilarity that met such priceless occurrences as: Morris' tents unaccountably being fitted with doors (also the fact when forced to make a run for it, they are able to re-erect the tents, doors and all, elsewhere at the drop of a hat!); genre regular Giulio Donnini's campy appearance as a vampiric adviser (dressed in a red-black cape which he never bothers to change, sporting wiry long moustache and with a sinister expression plastered on his face throughout, I kept expecting him to bare his fangs!); Morris' unceremonious disrespect for mistress Moira Orfei once he has been smitten with the heroine; her own betrayal of him and his sidekick in a tavern (when she cannot possibly have had knowledge of their whereabouts, having been banished from the clan some time before!); the ridiculously-elongated hat worn intermittently by Morris (making him look like a veritable gnome and decidedly conspicuous in enemy territory!); and the novel climactic showdown involving a duel with logs carried around like a cross by hero and villain alike (besides, when Morris – whom his opponent has never actually seen – offers this solution to the apparent battle stalemate, he blasts him with the unflattering remark to his official standing: "You think I'll listen to what the first scumbag who turns up before me has to say!").
