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Thursday, March 04, 2010

Darkmatters Review: The Interceptor / Zapreshchennaya realnost

The Interceptor (15)

Directed By: Konstantin Maximov

Reviewed By: Matt Adcock

Step this way if you’re a fan of the heavy duty action / mystical thrillers such as the excellent Nightwatch and Daywatch from Russia (made by the same team behind this) or maybe The Matrix – which has inspired so many films to up their ‘OMG action’ moments.

The Interceptor is another spectacular fusion of a fantasy parallel world where a mystic brotherhood balance the forces of good and evil and the real world where Russian Special Forces operative Matvey (Igor Petrenko) is double crossed and left for dead by his weapon dealing ‘partner’.

The original name ‘Zapreshchennaya realnost’ translates to something like ‘Forbidden Reality’ and it is into this shady mixture of our world and the spiritual realm that sees an antichrist-alike state minister wielding demonic powers in his rise to power.

The plot is taken from a novel by sci-fi writer Vasiliy Golovachev and tells a story of a new psychotronic weapon. In a Rambo style, Matvey is believed to be dead so he takes the opportunity to drop out, take a new identity and live in peace somewhere far away. His idyll is shattered though when he is forced to return to near future Moscow because a bunch of baddies, who count among them his former partner, plan to use the psychic-powered weapon to take control over the country.

Director Maximov lavishes stylish action sequences upon the viewer at regular intervals – he certainly has a knack for blowing stuff up in jaw dropping, heart racing style. The mystical elements are also brought to eye-popping life as freaky black tentacles burst out of the lead enemy, celestial bodies warp in and out of the action tracking the balance of power and the psychotronic weapon is something that really needs to be seen in action.
"WTF is going on here? Answers on a postcard..."

You might struggle if you don’t appreciate subtitled films but The Interceptor has plenty to recommend it – even if you just sit back and let the amazing visuals sweep over you. The DVD transfer is deliciously crisp and does justice to the expensive special effects.

Sure we’ve seen the battle between forces of darkness and light led by destined 'Chosen One' before many times, But not in quite such startling effects as here – this is the first in a planned trilogy, let’s hope that they keep up the standard and deliver equally kick ass parts 2 and 3!

Darkmatters rating: öööööööö (8 crunching Russian mystical action scenes out of 10)

1 comment:

Clenbuterol said...

Is this film Russian? Zapreshchennaya realinosti is translated as "Forbidden Reality"