Fantasia International Film Festival (FIFF) – Nothing goes right for Zorn (Matthew Gray Gubler) in writer/director Richard Bates Jr.’s offbeat comedy King Knight, which debuted at the Fantasia International Film Festival on Aug. 8. Zorn’s coven of weirdos wants to ditch him. His mother, Ruth (Barbara Crampton), thinks he worships Satan. His high priestess girlfriend, Willow (Angela Sarafyan), is shocked, SHOCKED to learn that her Wiccan boyfriend was voted most likely to succeed in high school and a prom king. Some secrets can really change a relationship. Zorn’s unburied past causes him to embark on a personal journey. The result is an endearing indie comedy strengthened by a terrific cast.

Zorn and Willow live in a sleepy town. Candles, pentagrams, and spell-making books adorn their wooded house. Nightly, their coven of outcasts convenes to share everything from relationship woes to various microaggressions they’ve faced. This film features an excellent supporting cast. Kate Comer is great as Rowena, a self-empowered young woman who speaks up about the daily plight Wiccans face in the conservative town. Emily Chang is fantastic as Echo, a social justice freelance writer, bothered by everything and not afraid to namedrop her biggest bylines. The rest of the coven also plays up various stereotypes, but their characters are so goofy and loveable that they work well as a family of freaks.

Willow discovers one of Zorn’s emails about a high school reunion and thus unearths his past. Not only was he prom king, but also a jock. Further, at the reunion, they want him to dance in front of everyone. The problem is that the black-cloaked spell-conjurer doesn’t dance. The rest of the film centers on Zorn’s identity and his relationship to the coven. So much of the dialogue crackles with perfect comedic beats, but Zorn’s personal journey grounds the film and gives it purpose. The high priest has much to sort through, including the rocky relationship with his mother. It’s delightful to see horror royalty Crampton play such a conservative, overbearing figure who’s certain her character’s son worships the devil. She only has a few scenes, but she makes the most of her screen time, upping the comedy.

Ultimately, King Knight is a feel-good film. While Sarafyan and Gubler are the main stars, the film works so well because of the collective cast. They play off each other so well, especially during their coven meetings. Yes, these characters are stereotypes, but the point is to roast those caricatures. The film would be lesser if any single character was removed. There are a few scenes that contain trippy visions Zorn encounters, including a visit from famed wizard Merlin, but they’re never so outlandish that they throw the viewer out of the narrative. Everything works quite flawlessly.

While I’m unsure how an actual Wiccan would feel watching King Knight, I certainly laughed. The film casts an effective spell and is a charming comedy. The performances are great, and the jokes land. The conclusion, meanwhile, contains a fitting wrap-up for an unlikely hero.

The film will screen as part of the Fantasia International Film Festival, happening August 5-25.

9 Out of 10 Cauldrons