My fourth Fulci and I’m begrudgingly in line with the consensus: this is pretty inspired. Took me a while to come around on the story and can you blame me? Every Fulci I’ve seen feels thrown together, seemingly escaping unwatchable status thru the efforts of the cast and crew (kinda impossible for Fabio Testi to not be cool). Once I accepted Conquest for the repetitive effort it is I was moved by the mentor/mentee drama. The fantasy of men changing may be more fantastic than magic arrows, yet its potent stuff when plainly depicted here. It goes a long ways in a film (and filmography) that has little more to offer than rudimentary filmmaking shot with jolts of sadism.

Felt like a real movie and not just thanks to the breathless script, clean photography, and scenic variety. Look at those beautiful sets full of plaster stone, painted gold and genuine props the actors get to hold with their mortal hands. Its in this kind of theatrical reality this brand of fantasy feels most real. Barring a few overly derivative moments at the end (the relic and the owlbear) which this film frankly feels better than, I had a blast. 

God damnit. I’m going to play Baldur’s Gate 3, aren’t I?