Phantoms of the Levant
- Tagline
- In veiled whispers, the past isn't the only thing haunting us.
- Description
- In the gaslit corners of a Victorian-era Middle Eastern bazaar, a wry fugitive, Rashid, played by Ernest Beeswaxnine, finds his world intertwining with a cunning undercover agent, Leila, portrayed by Carolyn Bones. The two are entangled in a mystery that transcends the natural world, when items of ancient power unearth supernatural threats lurking in the shadows. Together with the skeptical, yet intelligent, historian Jonathan, played by Jon Berthyme, they embark on a quest to solve paranormal enigmas. Directed by the visionary Federico Fellamingo, 'Phantoms of the Levant' is a sardonic adventure through mystical enigmas where our heroes come face-to-face with what was once thought to be mere legend.
- MpaaRating
- PG
- PopularityScore
- 3.10
- ReleaseDate
- 03/28/2024
- Genre
- Mystery
- Director(s)
- Cast
Critic Reviews
5.50
Ah, 'Phantoms of the Levant,' where do I start with you? It's as if the director, Federico Fellamingo, took a gander at the map, plucked out the Levant region and thought, 'Yes, this will do for dousing a Victorian-era story with some undisclosed exotic flavor.' But lo and behold, Ernest Beeswaxnine as Rashid and Carolyn Bones as Leila traipse around in gaslit splendor so intentionally blurring the lines between serious drama and parody, it’s hard to tell if they're stifling laughter or just bemused by their lines. Jon Berthyme's portrayal of Jonathan, the 'intelligent' historian, gives us a delightful sip of skepticism strong enough to kill the mood at a seance. This merry band embarks on what seems like a fetch quest right out of a video game circa 1995, uncovering 'ancient items of power' and 'supernatural threats.' At times one can't help but think that the biggest threat they face is the temptation to become self-aware and walk off the screen. It boasts the tagline 'In veiled whispers, the past isn't the only thing haunting us.' Indeed, but what truly haunts us is the question, 'Who allowed this oddly meshed genre pie to be baked in the first place?' With all that said, the cinematic endeavour is such a bizarre juxtaposition of elements that it becomes marginally enjoyable, much like rubbernecking a carriage accident. Has it got adventure? Sure. Is it sardonic? To the point of caricature. Does it redefine anything at all? Only the viewers' patience. So a 5.5 it is, for some neat gaslight vibes and a chuckle at their own expense.