Watching this early '90s Charles Band production, one might be forgiven for thinking it's a long-forgotten early attempt at bringing Marvel's uncanny comic book hero Doctor Strange to the screen - it's not, but the titular character of Doctor Mordrid is uncannily similar to the MCU's occult superhero. In fact, I'm surprised that lawsuits weren't filed.
Of course, this being a low-budget Full Moon movie, it's wise to keep expectations low: there are no jaw-droppingly extravagant special effects set-pieces to wow the senses, the direction (by Charles and Albert Band) is unremarkable, and the plot is basic (a villainous wizard wants to rule the Earth; Mordrid vows to stop him). It's cheesy straight-to-video nonsense, with B-movie stalwart Jeffrey Combs in the title role, and character actor Brian Thompson as his nemesis Kabal, who aims to release demons into the world using alchemy. Yvette Nipar plays police consultant Samantha Hunt, who helps Mordrid battle the forces of darkness.
Most of the visual effects are cheap and forgettable, and for the most part, the film feels a lot like a pilot for a TV series, establishing its characters for future adventures; however, the final act does deliver some fun stop motion animation as the skeletons of a woolly mammoth and a tyrannosaurus rex do battle in New York's Cosmopolitan Museum, and several demonic entities try to escape from their floating island prison.
5/10. A passable time-waster, but nothing more.
Of course, this being a low-budget Full Moon movie, it's wise to keep expectations low: there are no jaw-droppingly extravagant special effects set-pieces to wow the senses, the direction (by Charles and Albert Band) is unremarkable, and the plot is basic (a villainous wizard wants to rule the Earth; Mordrid vows to stop him). It's cheesy straight-to-video nonsense, with B-movie stalwart Jeffrey Combs in the title role, and character actor Brian Thompson as his nemesis Kabal, who aims to release demons into the world using alchemy. Yvette Nipar plays police consultant Samantha Hunt, who helps Mordrid battle the forces of darkness.
Most of the visual effects are cheap and forgettable, and for the most part, the film feels a lot like a pilot for a TV series, establishing its characters for future adventures; however, the final act does deliver some fun stop motion animation as the skeletons of a woolly mammoth and a tyrannosaurus rex do battle in New York's Cosmopolitan Museum, and several demonic entities try to escape from their floating island prison.
5/10. A passable time-waster, but nothing more.