The Reign of Queen Ginnarra is a gritty, Lovecraftian sword-and-sorcery epic with a distinctly Gothic tone. At two and a half hours, it’s a genuine epic charting the tumultuous reign of a terrifying Queen, whose pact with the Old Ones requires a level of inhumanity rarely seen in the fantasy genre.
In a new review on Blazing Minds, I got a chance to take a look at The Reign of Queen Ginnarra, the latest film from HEX Studios and director Lawrie Brewster. The Reign of Queen Ginnarra is a fantasy adventure with a Hammer Horror feel and a Lovecraftian twist. Its great locations and clever special effects show what can be achieved on a modest independent budget.
In a new review on Blazing Minds, I got a chance to look at The Reign of Queen Ginnarra, which is the latest film from HEX Studios and director Lawrie Brewster.
The Reign of Queen Ginnarra is a fantasy adventure, which is delivered with a Hammer Horror combined with a Lovecraftian twist. The film incorporates great locations and clever special effects, which shows just what can be achieved even on a modest independent budget.
Having seen Lawrie Brewster’s previous film The Slave and the Sorcerer, a light-hearted dungeons and dragon style fantasy film; I was intrigued to see what he would do with a more serious story such as The Reign of Queen Ginnarra. Thankfully, Laurie once again has exceeded my expectations. I was impressed with the action and special effects, but it is the development of the characters which kept me invested, as the story continued to unfold with a darker and more sinister tone.
Though the film suggests that it will focus on the title character of Queen Ginnarra, the arc of the story is primarily focused on her exiled brother, Prince Elderon, played by Andrew Gourlay. Eldron is a complex character which Andrew portrays brilliantly on screen. In several action sequences, he showcases his ability with the sword, but it is the weighted portrayal of his character’s emotional turmoil where he really shines.
Coming back to the film’s title character, Queen Ginnarra, Megan Tremethick once again shows why she has already made a name for herself in the horror/fantasy genre. Whilst she may not get as much screen time as you would expect, her performance during her short time on screen is once again extremely memorable. Megan delivers a powerful, constricted performance, which proves that less really can sometimes be more when portraying the sheer gravitas of a character in power. Embodying a Tudor look, her gesture mimics that of a painted white face, lacking any emotion. She is hard to read as her cold eyes stare emotionless; it gives her character a more disturbing presence. With that being said, one of Megan’s most memorable moments occurs in a scene where her rigidness is set aside for a moment. Following a sacrifice, as she is walking through the dark corridors of the castle, overwhelmed with happiness, she begins laughing to herself as she dances gracefully. You can see by the guard’s reaction that this is unlike her normal behaviour, and the context of the previous scene makes this even more maniacal.
Despite having a more limited budget as an independent film, the visual look exceeds the limitations you would normally expect. With a fraction of the budget, it may not look as polished as a blockbuster feature, but having been filmed in Scotland, Lawrie makes the most of the stunning locations to give the film a larger feel. Throwing in some creative special effects, with some well-choreographed battle scenes, are genuinely impressive. The film does look to incorporate the benefits of AI effects, which have come a long way, and some of these scenes will naturally draw a comparison to films such as 300. Whilst this may not appeal to everyone, I think it works well with the film and creates some great shots which would have been difficult to achieve naturally with the budget.
Despite the many positives with special effects in the film, if there were any criticisms, it would be with the dragon fight scenes, which encompass the battle between good and evil. Each dragon representing Prince Elderon and Queen Ginnarra, respectively. Whilst the dragons themselves do look good, the similarities between the two make it difficult to know which dragon is which, and the constant change in angles makes it difficult to really know what is going on.
The script was written by long-term collaborators Sarah Daly, who also serves as producer, and Lawrie Brewster. And whilst the film is impressive with its visual execution, it is the layered complexity to the story and characters which really keep you engaged, as you are constantly questioning the motives and loyalties on all sides.
The Reign of Queen Ginnarra is another entertaining film from Lawrie Brewster, which has a running time of a little over 2 hours. Whilst I feel there is room for a few edits to be made, it did manage to keep me engaged throughout. Lawrie Brewster is now working on several different projects under the banner of the British Horror Studios, with Megan Tremethick also stepping behind the camera. It is great to see filmmakers taking on something different to the mainstream, and I am looking forward to seeing what they will do next.
A gritty, Lovecraftian sword-and-sorcery epic
Movie title: The Reign of Queen Ginnarra (2025)
Movie description: At two and a half hours, it's a genuine epic charting the tumultuous reign of a terrifying Queen, whose pact with the Old Ones requires a level of inhumanity rarely seen in the fantasy genre.
Date published: April 16, 2025
Country: UK
Director(s): Lawrie Brewster
Actor(s): Sam Barclay, Adam Barnett, Chris Capaldi
Genre: Action, Adventure, Drama, Fantasy
Published in various websites, Philip is a reviewer who is best known for his interviews and media coverage of independent projects including; films, books, theatre and live events. Always on the lookout for something different to cover!
