The Writer’s vision for the Vord is such that it’s a fantasy horror film which takes spiritual stands in exploring mythology through the protagonist Jillian. The film abstracts from Norse John’s mythology and clashes it with the Christian spirit and essence to develop themes of redemption, struggle, faith and betrayal.
Synopsis
The plot revolves around Jillian who was originally born as a Pagan Asatru believer but due to influence of the church, she now fights against Shattered beliefs. Jillians’ personal struggle intensifies when a germanic god (of the underworld), “The Shadow,” Ivar in Norse mythology, aims to take her away. The Shadow also uses a priest to convince Jillian that if she gives up her soul to an ancient god known as “The Old One” than she will be free.
Jillian’s journey comes to be spiritual warfare when she realizes the very two systems that are trying to save her are the very ones that are destroying her. All the while, The Vord, a spirit guide that is hidden from the sight of people, comes to clear the vision of both Jillian and the corrupt priest to once again lead them to the right path. This story stresses the fact that redemption doesn’t come from fulfilling prophecies but it’s more of a mental change.
Characters Breakdown
Jillian (Alexis Baca) : The protagonist who is in conflict. The contours of the narrative develop as she strikes to reassert her self-identity and faith as her spiritual odyssey unfold.
The Priest (Chiko Mendez) : A man who, for whatever reason, has come to be morally bankrupt of his sentiments and is in need of pardon. His plight of desperation for pardoning forgiveness is an inverse to Jillian’s struggle for light.
The Shadow (Steve Wallenda): Incarnate guilt of an ancient figure who believes that by providing sacrifice of others he will eventually be able to redeem himself from the past. Brought about by guilt and a sense of offering, Shadow is a complex character of villainy.
Sten (Logan Schmucker) and Mother/Katrina (Lydia Manson): Other crucial ingredients in Jillian’s history that equally represents treachery and expectancy.
Officer Sam (Kevin Tan): The Collapsing of worlds of spirit and unnaturalness, bold in presence of police force
Key Themes
Faith and Betrayal: The idea of how over the course of time and due to certain circumstances institutions can be perverse is depicted, while at the same time how restorative an individual’s faith can be.
Redemption vs Damnation: Although characters are constantly looking for redemption, the film’s position is that this should not be about making exchanges with higher powers, but rather developing oneself.
Light vs Darkness: Depicts Jillian’s defeated self and The Shadow who seeks out rather dominantly to control Jillian.
Critical Reception
The film is rated 6.2 on IMDb with reviews widely varied. The film’s critics appreciated the creative interweaving of myths and the intricacy of the plot. Strong feelings were evoked by fine performances from Alexis Baca and Chiko Mendez. However, some found the story too convoluted for them to grasp due to the many layers of mythology background and the slow pacing of the film.
Conclusion
The Vord is a fascinating movie that can be classed in multiple genres like horror, fantasy, and religion. As it forces the audience to contemplate belief, forgiveness, and healing, it’s sure to leave a mark. The movie’s deeply rich mythology and its slow-paced narrative may not suit all audiences, it will surely be a delight to those who seek a different perspective on the age old battle of good and evil and myths, horror, and psychological drama as the narrative is not without its challenges.
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