'Realm of Shadows' Review: Ambitious Horror Anthology Starring Tony Todd
- Becca Johnson
- Jun 4
- 3 min read
By Becca Johnson - June 4, 2025
Directed by Jimmy Drain, Realm of Shadows invites viewers into a world of mystery, possession and shadows, in an anthology of short horror-themed tales woven into a full-length feature presentation. With a supporting performance from horror royalty Tony Todd (Candyman), even the most shocking narratives originate from real stories, and Realm of Shadows promises to intrigue with its fear-themed sketches.
Despite hitting low on the horror scale, Realm of Shadows uses its modest budget to the best of its ability with a unique blend of filmmaking styles.
Any successful horror anthology must have a strong connecting story to tie it all together, which impressively, Realm of Shadows has. Even though each segment features different characters, aesthetics and even ways of telling the stories, the overarching themes of evil and love gives everything a sense of cohesion. Bringing all seven segments together is a story about a group of priests who are battling a coven of witches over a dagger that was used to stab Jesus. It sounds pretty out there, but it works well - especially when you realize many of these tales are based on events that actually occurred. Like any anthology, some segments are better than others, and it may peak early with its strongest story being the first, but this cohesion and ending that ties things together ensures it largely succeeds.
The most impressive element within Realm of Shadows is the inventive filmmaking used. Drain doesn’t abide by any rules here, using a blend of unique and engaging methods to tell the story. From black and white cinematography to completely dialogue-free segments, and even some animation towards the latter end, it goes above and beyond to not only make the most of its budget but appear to exceed it. The above not only highly improves the visuals and makes for an aesthetically pleasing treat, but it takes your attention away from the otherwise standard locations. Everything is maximized to its greatest potential here, which is a sign of talent from Jimmy Drain.
The performances are nothing to write home about, but it’s not only Tony Todd as Father Dudley that makes Realm of Shadows worth pressing play for. Vernon Wells, best known for his performances in Mad Max 2, Commando and Weird Science also makes an appearance, alongside Mel Novak (Game of Death) who has been starring in popular films since 1974. It’s also worth noting that filmmaker Jimmy Drain flexes his acting chops as well as his filmmaking skills, taking on many of the performances himself. Vida Ghaffari (RoboWoman), Lauren C. Mayhew (American Pie Presents: Band Camp) and Audrey Walters (Our Souls at Night) also star. Overall, the acting is hit or miss but has plenty of highlights - especially when Tony Todd is present.
Realm of Shadows does lack finesse in some areas, which prevents it from hitting a home run. With some ropey dialogue, a typo during the introduction of a new segment and a couple of uninteresting segments, there are some things that can’t be forgiven even with its modest budget. Furthermore, the lack of horror in here is perhaps the biggest disappointment. It may feature deals with the devil, werewolves, a coven of witches, an exorcist and the overarching theme of evil, but it is completely lacking in gore, jump scares or anything that invokes fear. It’s likely best considered a thriller, a mystery and occasionally even a comedy at times, but Realm of Shadows is highly unlikely to scratch the spooky itch that horror fans desire. On that front, it’s disappointing.
Realm of Shadows manages to impress with its experimentation, showcasing a keen eye for filmmaking and plenty of engaging visuals to chew on. It may not be scary and it certainly could’ve used a polish-up in a few areas, but the supporting performances from some fan favourites and a succinct bow tying everything together means it’ll be worth a viewing for some.
'Realm of Shadows' is out now on digital platforms
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