legend (1985) Review
There is very little ambiguity or shades of grey amongst the characters in Legend. This is a comfortable and well-worn conceit of classic fantasy stories and the film leans hard into it. The intentional lack of nuance is a very effective narrative device for a story set in an unknown place in an unknown time. Everyone is clearly Good or Bad. Tim Curry’s antagonist is literally named Darkness and he has no interest in anything other than snuffing out the sun forever. He’s the Devil, capital E Evil, and not trying to be anything but. Curry disappears completely into the makeup and prosthetics. Darkness, a blood-curdling shade of crimson red, doesn’t just hold up in 2020, he’s just as terrifying and menacing now as he was then. Interesting that Curry, known for comedic roles, was able to create one of the most enduring (and underrated/underseen) villains in cinema history. I highly recommend the blu-ray to those who’ve seen only the theatrical version that would play on television. There you will find the Ridley Scott Director’s Cut (quite different than the theatrical cut) as well as a version with an alternative score. Changing the music changes the feel and energy of the film completely. It’s a fascinating study in the power of post-production.
Legend receives a score of 7/10 for general audiences and 9.5/10 for fans of the fantasy genre or Tom Cruise wielding a longsword while wearing a somehow-still-masculine sequin dress.