Nerds That Geek Movie Review: ‘Knights of Badassdom’

Written by Scott Edwards 

​The world can be a very unforgiving place at times and there has to be some sort of release for everybody. As different people have their own ways to cope with this, there are ways for everyone to get away and do their own thing without hurting anyone, including themselves. Some of those hobbies, however, are judged very harshly as others do not recognize what is going on. Although you could be ridiculed for what you do, never let other people keep you from what helps, as your life is your own to live.

Joe is loving life, he has the girlfriend of his dreams, is able to express himself in his doom metal songs, and lives with his childhood friends in a castle on the hill. Having everything he wants; his girlfriend wants more. Beth is sick of his childish behavior and is looking to make a change herself. Not caring for his lifestyle, his friends and his job, she breaks up with Joe sending him into a downward spiral. 

Arriving home, Joe is given advice by his friends on how to deal with the situation of just being dumped, but it is not enough so they push him to his limits until he passes out. Waking up in a strange parking lot, Joe finds himself armored up and ready to fight in a massive Dungeons and Dragons-esque LARP. Not wanting to participate in the battle, Joe tries to pack up and leave, but his friends work their magic and make sure that he stays and recount some old memories of the fun they had when they were just kids. 

Although Joe does not truly understand what is happening around him, the other characters playing in the match know how to proceed with everything. Being allowed to join, Joe has to be resurrected from the dead, for the game, and his friend Eric reads a resurrection spell from an old book that he purchased on EBay that is much more powerful than he could ever imagine. Opening a portal, Eric releases a succubus on the battle field that cannot be stopped from feeding on the unknowing players. With the proper equipment, the beast can be stopped, but not knowing what each spell in the book actually means, the beast will grow mightier than the group can battle on their own.

Not a bad idea for a movie at all, and with a comedic cast, there is nothing that can go wrong. I dig the idea of not knowing what power can be derived from ancient texts, along with using the true power of friendship to defeat the all-powerful, beast or normal human. With plenty of laughs, there is enough gore for any horror fan to enjoy. This is not the scariest movie you will ever see, but when you are looking for something that will not keep you awake all night, it is definitely one to check out. Stay Scared.

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