In the mid-eighties Charles Band’s legendary Empire Pictures released a lil’ ditty on us horror hounds called Necropolis. The fright flick layed down the tale of a 17th century Satanic witch named Eva (LeeAnne Baker) who had a life line a mile-fuckin’-long as she is reborn as a “modern day” cycle-slut punk rock wonder who drained victims of their life force and quested for a Thing ring that would let her do her thing!
Flash forward to today, and Band’s Full Moon Pictures is releasing a re-imagining of the flick courtesy of co-writer (along with Brockton McKinney)/director Chris Alexander. Let’s begin our review 0f Necropolis: Legion, shall we boils n’ ghouls?
In the 17th century, evil vampire witch Eva (Ali Chappell) spends her nights using her breast mouths to suck the essence of comely sacrificial victims, as we all have at one time or another. This bit of tomfoolery cheeses of her hubby, Maynard Gandy (Joseph Lopez who is a bit like Reggie Nalder by way of Richard Lynch, and all around awesome), so badly he puts the murder biz upon her and sends her and her terror tits tumbling into the abyss.
In the modern day, occult scribe Lisa (Augie Duke) moves into Eva’s ol’ digs and begins havin’ weird ass dreams and premonitions as the blood from an injured foot begins resurrecting Eva who seeks to possess Lisa body and soul!
Holy hell; I love me some Necropolis: Legion! If Jess Franco wrote a comic for Glenn Danzig’s Verotik, then turned it into a film it would be just like this putrid picture for sure! Now, that isn’t to say Alexander doesn’t bring anything to the plate… my dude is a talented mother fucker through and through, and the narrative he presents is filled with comely babes, fever-dream logic and imagery, gorgeous lighting that is at times reminiscent of a Basil Gogos painting brought to life, and gobs of grizzly gore (practically realized).
Also of note is the fantastic acting on display. Duke is an engaging heroine, and Chappell makes for a hellish high-priestess par-excellence, but the supporting cast are surely their match with the aforementioned Lopez stealing every scene he is in, and horror biz great Lynn Lowry adding class and panache to her role as Zia; the only one that knows of the terror to come!
The only negative I can think of is that this is a quick watch at a lil’ over sixty minutes. I wanted to spend more time in the wicked world created by these fearsome filmmakers, but alas my stay was all too brief!
If you are looking for a psychotronic fright flick experience, Necropolis: Legion is the pic for you cats n’ creeps, and is a strong entry in the sprawling Full Moon library!
