Hopefully someday we’ll be able to see the director’s cut of “Knights of Badassdom” as originally envisioned by Joe Lynch. Truth be told, he’s a very talented director, and I’d be more than willing to watch this again. Anything with Summer Glau gets a free pass by me. In its current state as the Producer’s Cut, “Knights of Badassdom” is still a great horror comedy that takes a bunch of LARPERs and drops them smack dab in the middle of a horrific situation involving a flesh eating demon with the face of a goddess.
Joe is an ex musician who has yet to get over his ex girlfriend. Living with his millionaire best friends, both of whom are obsessed with medieval times and Live Action Role Playing, he is tricked in to playing a big campaign at the local woods. Steve Zahn and Peter Dinklage steal the show as LARPERs Hung and Eric, two aspiring warriors that take the game very seriously. Eric is so intent on being taken seriously as a wizard that he decides to initiate Joe in to the group by reading a spell from a mysterious book he bought online. Little does he or anyone know that he’s accidentally invoked a succubus from the pits of hell. Freed and running loose, she begins feasting on LARPERs left and right, roaming without difficulty within the fold of people convinced they’re in a game. When she begins slaughtering more and more LARPERs, Joe decides to send her back to hell along with the help of the fellow players.
One of whom is the enigmatic Gwen (Summer Glau) a gorgeous LARPER who is followed around by her giant mentally unstable cousin. Producers Cut or not, “Knights of Badassdom” garners a unique concept that works surprisingly well. Director Lynch is able to perfectly balance gruesome horror and hilarious comedy all the while dropping our inadvertent heroes in to a situation they can’t possibly overcome. The sad fact becomes clear that they have no choice but to battle the seductive succubus before she feasts on every LARPER within a two mile range. The true glory of “Knights of Badassdom” is the pedigree of supporting cast members Lynch has assembled. There are welcome appearances by Danny Pudi, and Brian Posehn, while Steve Zahn and Peter Dinkage successfully liven the tone of the narrative with their amusing interplay and all too serious approach to LARPing.
Ryan Kwanten is great as the underdog hero Joe whose confrontation with the succubus soon becomes a symbolic quest to confront his past and strike it down once and for all. Summer Glau is also the perfect feminine element who is never helpless and ready to strike at the beast when the body count rises dramatically. Glau is stunning, and really plays this heroine for all she’s worth. Director Lynch posits the LARPERs as character hopelessly lost in their game, but who immediately transform in to worthy adversaries for the succubus when they apply their knowledge of combat to her carnage. Events take a turn for the worse when she transforms in to a larger more ferocious beast, allowing for a very raucous blood soaked finale, filled with fantastic beast effects. “Knights of Badassom” is a spectacular horror comedy never afraid to dabble in the silly, and I had a ball. I hope to see director Lynch’s original vision someday, soon.
The Blu-Ray comes with an interview with co-star Peter Dinklage, as well as a “Hottie Montage” featuring the insanely gorgeous Summer Glau. There’s an interview with co-star Steve Zahn, as well as two Dorr-O-Medy featurettes. There’s an interview with director Joe Lynch, as well as the original theatrical trailer. Finally, there’s the full panel for the film at the San Diego Comic Con that viewers may just enjoy.