PEGASUS VS. CHIMERA

Full cover of the official DVD for Pegasus Vs. Chimera (© John Bradshaw/Shaw Media/Chesler-Perlmutter Productions/Vesuvius Productions/Sony Pictures Television – reproduced here on a strictly non-commercial Fair Use basis for educational/review purposes only)

On 8 July 2020, I watched another of my Region 1 (North America-only) DVD films. This one was a TV movie entitled Pegasus Vs. Chimera, but although it features these two formidable adversaries from Greek mythology, the movie's storyline was entirely different from the classical Greek myth.

In the latter myth, the chimera is slain by hero Bellerophon riding Pegasus, but Bellerophon is in turn killed when he then attempts to ride Pegasus directly to the gods on Mount Olympus, Pegasus shrugging Bellerophon off so that he plummets to his death on Earth.

Conversely, in this wholly new, original story the land of Tirrin (whose basic geographical location is never revealed but its scenery doesn't look remotely Greek) is being devastated and its people decimated by an egomaniacal emperor, Orthos, assisted by his equally evil second-in-command, General Actae, who is versed in the black arts, feeding his own blood to Orthos in order to keep him perpetually young. Moreover, to speed up the massacre of Tirrin's people albeit at great spiritual cost to himself, Actae conjures forth the monstrous chimera, a terrifying mega-beast that duly sets out upon a hideous rampage of slaughter.

But fear not, you good people of Tirrin – because intent upon thwarting this bloodthirsty horror are two unlikely allies. Namely, a courageous blacksmith named Belleros (played by Sebastian Roche), who as a boy witnessed his father purposefully killed for fun by Actae; and the warrior-trained Princess Philony of Tirrin (Nazneen Contractor), whose own father the king was beheaded by Orthos. Assisting them is a powerful witch named Mayda, whose incantations call down from his heavenly constellation to Earth none other than the legendary winged horse Pegasus, to assist them in their forthcoming battle against the chimera, Actae, and ultimately Orthos himself.

The special effects are good but not outstanding - the chimera is definitely of the bargain-basement variety inasmuch as it lacks the classical Greek chimera's second, goat head rising forth from its leonine shoulders and also its venomous living serpent for a tail. Instead, it simply resembles a large lion with several horns encircling its head and a normal lion's tail but with spikes instead of hairs at its tip.

As for Pegasus: somewhat amusingly, and no doubt to keep the sfx costs down, his wings only appear when he is flying; when on Earth they are invisible.

Overall, however, Pegasus Vs. Chimera is entertaining enough, a product of Syfy Channel and first screened in 2012. It was directed by John Bradshaw.

And here is a short trailer on YouTube that shows both Pegasus and Chimera in action!

Finally: to view a complete listing of all of my Shuker In MovieLand blog's other film reviews and articles (each one instantly accessible via a direct clickable link), please click HERE!