Independent films can, at times, make for a tough review. More often than not, the filmmakers are producing content from a budget they have worked hard for, and therefore, there’s a certain sense of leeway given to what they are able to accomplish. At the same time, that can’t give creators a free pass from criticism, or scrutiny, from what it is that they have made.

The Lost Mantle of Elijah, written and directed by Lewis Critchley, is an example of such an indie film.

It should be noted right off the bat that every bit of research made on this film has it listed as being made in 2013. It’s uncertain as to the reasons why it’s made its way 11 years later onto the review circuit, and while technology was distinctly different back then, if it’s being reviewed today, those considerations can only go so far.

This is a highly religious story about a teen named Kai (Louis Levi), who inherits a cloak that is rumored to possess powers that at their most extreme can raise heroes from the dead. Once Kai has this cloak in his possession, he must thwart a rogue propjet, Elijah, and a pirate by the name of Baxter (Paul Sugars). There’s an impending apocalypse associated with this cloak, as well as the added stakes of Kai’s mother, Anfisa (Eaoifa Forward), being held hostage by the rogue pirates, which adds a lot to Kai’s already full plate. It’s up to him to not only save Anfisa, but thwart any world-ending intentions by the pirates that he’s up against.

On paper, The Lost Mantle of Elijah comes across like it SHOULD be a rollicking, lighthearted adventure tale of swashbuckling mutiny, but as well intended as it may be, it falls short of delivering substance that will hold anyone’s attention.

This is not to say that the acting amongst the cast isn’t good for what it is. The performances are believable and emotional, with the right amount of bravato to drive the crux of the story home. Unfortunately, the effects and score are what really distract the viewer from enjoying this film for what it could be if given its full potential.

It makes more sense as to why the CGI effects are what they are when you realize this film is over ten years old. However, even for the time, the digital effects are rough. Surprisingly, more confounding is the near-constant musical score. It runs in the background of scenes when it shouldn’t, and acts as a buffer for almost the entire film. Even when there are sequences made up entirely of dialogue, the adventurous, gusto-filled score remains in the background, distracting from the moments of emotion and development amongst the characters. It’s a confusing, bothersome addition that doesn’t need to be there. 

This is a movie with plenty of fun, adventure-related pirate moments that are well served to have a spirited score backing it up, and would be right in including those. It’s inclusion of this music in the quieter, more subdued moments that make it confounding, and, unfortunately, annoying and distracting. 

The effects, even for the time, are rough to the point of unsettling, and end up detracting from the overall story instead of adding to it. Again, it’s noted that this is an independent film that was made with a modest budget and the creators did the best that they could with their resources 11 years ago, but consideration had to be made for the choices set in place, regardless of the time that has passed.

Ultimately, this is a movie that holds great potential to be a fun adventure tale, regardless of religious beliefs, but falls short due to easily fixable problems that bog it down and distract from the viewing experience. 

2 Out of 10