This movie is the proof that the world is becoming a sick and dumb place

Best movie ever!

The performances transcend the film's tropes, grounding it in characters that feel more complete than this subgenre often produces.

The joyful confection is coated in a sparkly gloss, bright enough to gleam from the darkest, most cynical corners.

Think the special effects in LORD OF THE RINGS are decent? Think again! You haven't seen anything until you've watched THE DEVIL'S SWORD, another extraordinary and fantastic offering from Indonesia. Old friend Ratno Timoer (who seems to direct just about every Barry Prima film ever made) once again delivers a fast-paced, ultra-cheap and ultra-entertaining film of heroic sorcery and superhuman battles. Similar in feel to Barry Prima's classic WARRIOR trilogy (although, it has to be said, not quite as entertaining), this is a rip-roaring film with plenty of outlandish goofiness and outrageous blood-and-gore action to recommend it.Instead of Dutch colonists, the bad guys this time around are the scantily-clad Crocodile Queen, her sorcerer and her evil strongman (didn't catch the guy's name). She lives in a plasticky cave full of male sex slaves (!) and a bunch of cannibals who remain locked in a pit. You see, the Crocodile Queen is a nymphomaniac, who just can't get enough of young male sex sacrifices (neat twist, huh?) and the trouble begins when she sends her strongman to capture a man just married. An outstanding display of Indonesian martial arts action follows, always surprisingly well-shot. It wouldn't be complete without those meaty "thwack" sound effects dubbed in afterwards either. Huge cardboard weapons, tiny little costumes made out of sparkly stuff and a deadly umbrella are a few more of the treats to be had in this scene. Of course, our hero Barry Prima (here a warrior named "Mandala") turns up, and joins up with the distraught bride (who actually kicks ass pretty good) and goes to rescue him. Oh, and there's some sub-plot about four evil warriors fighting for control of the Devil's Sword – which Prima ends up getting anyway, so you wonder why they bothered with all that.Of course, as is usual with these movies, the acting is appalling but the actors are always athletic and put their all into it. The dubbing is crude and often hilarious (ie such lines as "you dirty dog" and "you bastard" are the order of the day). The special effects bring new meaning to the word 'tacky' whilst the music is little more than a dirge. The inspiration for this film in particular seems to be CONAN THE BARBARIAN and the wake of similar (mostly Italian) barbarian sword-and-sorcery movies to flood the market at this time, although this is a noticeably gory variant. Expect to see numerous decapitations; a witch who is cut in two, grows back together and explodes; leg removal; the infamous "flying guillotine" in action again (YES!); guttings; tearings; slashings; whippings and all manner of impalements. While not as gory as some other Indonesian offerings, it certainly makes one take notice.The special effects (or the fantastic elements) are pleasingly ambitious, done on a shoestring budget with lots of love and affection. We get guys flying around on levitating rocks, a guy getting gutted and flying up into the air before crashing back into the earth (my favourite scene, happens 14 minutes into the film – I had to rewind this bit) and a bunch of "crocodile men" (the most pathetic rubbery costumes you'll ever see!). Plus numerous old hags, a skeleton boatman leading Prima across a swampy river (cool stuff) and a giant cyclopean monster with a glowing eyeball! There are golden crocodile statues which shoot burning rays and an evil scarf which can whip people to death! Spike traps, acid baths and other pleasures await the discovery of the discerning viewer of trash and exploitation. They don't make 'em like this anymore, more's the pity.

There was a time back in the early 80's when sword and sorcery action flicks were all the rage. The Devil's Sword is part of that phenomenon. But, in truth, it is probably unlike most you may have seen. It's more similar to the Japanese series Monkey than Conan the Barbarian at times. This is partially due to the hokey special effects but just as much to its East Asian origins. Really, its Indonesian flavour is what makes it most interesting. It's exotic and bizarre in ways that are a result of the culture that produced it. For any fan of weird cinema from around the globe, this makes it quite fascinating.It's about a nymphomaniac crocodile queen who lives in a cavern under the earth. She sends out her evil minions to capture men, whom she puts to use as sex slaves. The wife of one of these 'unfortunate' men teams up with a warrior and together they set out on a quest to find a magic sword that will help them defeat the forces of evil.This film is quite simply insane. Its chock full of action, which consists of lots of fights and lots of gore. There are crocodile men, a Cyclops, a laughing man travelling on a flying rock and cannibal slaves. It features a couple of extended fights involving a trio of evil warriors. They all have their own individual skills and weaponry – one is a granny with a brush and another appears to have a helmet on a piece of rope. It's that kind of film. It's utterly delirious.

When a mystical, magical and powerful sword is forged from a meteor that crashes to earth, everyone wants to get their hands on it. That includes the evil Banyunjaga (Bangun), as well as a host of other baddies. Luckily, the brave hero Mandala (Prima) is going to try to make sure the sword falls into the right hands. Master Abirama trained both men, but one chose the path of good, and the other evil. Meanwhile, underneath the earth, the Crocodile Queen reigns. She abducts men from the surface world to satisfy her urges. When she spirits away the innocent Sanjaya, his wife, Princess Retaloca hires Mandala to rescue him. Many fights and battles ensue...who will take possession of the DEVIL'S SWORD? Here we have a wild and wacky Indonesian adventure. It's impossible not to love the spirit of downright weirdness and the homemade special effects. Sure, the dubbing is preposterous and the many fight scenes are ridiculous, but that's what is so enjoyable about a gem like this. It shows that every country in the world loves action movies, and what makes this movie so special is that it displays its own ethnic quirkiness and charm onto what they produced. Nowhere else in the world could have produced something like The Devil's Sword.Barry Prima deserves more visibility as an action star. In that corner of the globe, he was the man. Some of his movies came out on VHS in the golden age in various countries so people do know who he is. But more of the movie viewing public should be aware of him.Seemingly inspired by myths and legends, there are some fascinating sets and great costumes. The visuals are great thanks to the organic special effects. The whole thing is exotic, inventive and fun. It's very entertaining. You gotta give it up to Mondo Macabro for putting this out. Us westerners (or anyone for that matter) are lucky to see this movie. Rapi Films productions never really made it to the U.S. in any significant way back in the 80's. Thanks to Mondo Macabro and other DVD labels, the world is truly getting smaller and we can see movies we never thought possible.Beware of crocodile men and stone giants and see The Devil's Sword.For more insanity, please visit: comeuppancereviews.com

Fans of bizarre foreign trash, oddball martial arts movies, low-budget gore-fests and crazy ninja flicks should find plenty to enjoy in this bonkers Indonesian fantasy film featuring loads of frantic fight action, spurting blood and bad special effects.A tasty nymphomaniac crocodile queen abducts men from nearby villages, and keeps them trapped in her sub-aqua palace where she uses them to satisfy her sexual urges. When the evil queen sends one of her top fighters to kidnap a man about to be married, the ever-so-miffed wife-to-be teams up with good warrior Mandala (Barry Prima) to search for a magic sword which can help them defeat their enemies.I enjoy bad films almost as much as I enjoy good ones and, if you feel the same way, then it is highly likely that you will find much to enjoy about this totally weird 80s effort from director Ratno Timoer. With its dreadfully executed, but very bloody, gore effects and non-stop fights, it is hard not to enjoy a movie which scores so high on the silly-ometer.Invite a few friends round, have a few beers and sit back and enjoy watching endless hordes of crocodile men getting sliced by Barry, vicious killers battling each other for possession of the magical sword, a creature that is a serious contender for 'worst movie monster of all time', and bargain basement visuals that need to be seen to be believed.The Devil's Sword might not be a great film, but it is definitely unmissable if you dig strange cinematic offerings from all corners of the globe. I give it 6 out of 10 (although it almost got a 7 for its excessive use of dry ice).