Genre: Fantasy, Horror, Sword & Sorcery
Directed by: Timothy Paul McCarthy, Ry Barrett, Jason David Brown
Release Date: September 18, 2026
Platform: Premiered at Fantastic Fest 2026
Star Rating: 3/5
By Bryce Payne
“A strange, bloody fantasy adventure that proves you don’t need a massive budget to create something
completely its own.”
A gory medieval fantasy following a gang of weird puppets as they try to escape a labyrinthine cave
system probably isn’t something that would catch the average moviegoer’s attention, but KYLGOR IN
THE GRISLY ABYSS absolutely deserves it. Mason Newton DeRushie’s film is one of the most unusual
movies to premiere at this year’s Fantastic Fest, combining sword and sorcery, horror, puppetry and
practical effects into something that feels completely removed from the typical modern fantasy film. It’s
rough around the edges, but there’s a genuine sense of discovery in watching it unfold.
The film follows Kylgor and his companions, after they successfully kill the tyrannical King Kath. Their
victory quickly turns into a fight for survival when they, along with some of the king’s guards, fall into a
massive underground abyss. Trapped together, the former enemies have to navigate a sprawling cave
system filled with monsters, strange magic and plenty of things that would rather see them dead. A
simple setup that gives DeRushie plenty of room to throw increasingly bizarre obstacles their way.
Visually, Kylgor in the Grisly Abyss immediately establishes its own identity. The film feels like it could
have been pulled from some forgotten corner of an ’80s video store, particularly in its approach to
fantasy creatures and handmade effects. The puppets are intricate and often wonderfully grotesque,
giving the characters a physical presence that computer generated creatures simply wouldn’t have.
There is something inherently satisfying about seeing these strange creations interact with miniature
environments and practical effects.
The puppetry does occasionally work against the film, though. Some of the action lacks the fluidity
needed to make the fights as exciting as they could be, and there were moments when I found myself
noticing the mechanics of the puppets, rather than getting lost in the scene. It’s an understandable
limitation given the nature of the production, but it does become more noticeable during some of the
larger sequences.
Thankfully, the voice performances help keep everything grounded. Considering how easily a movie like
this could have leaned too far into camp, I was surprised by how well the characters’ performances fit
the world. The dialogue and delivery rarely felt out of place, allowing the film to maintain its fantasy
adventure tone, even when the visuals become completely absurd. And there is a lot of absurdity here.
DeRushie isn’t afraid to throw something new at the audience, whether it’s another creature, a
gruesome death or a bizarre turn that sends the characters further into the unknown. The practical gore
is particularly impressive, with the film becoming considerably bloodier than I expected. Some of the
effects are intentionally nasty, in a way that feels right at home with the film’s grimy fantasy aesthetic.
What doesn’t always work is the constant escalation of the film. There are a handful of moments where
the movie returns to an idea multiple times, seemingly hoping repetition will make it funnier or work
better. A few of these land, but others feel like they should have been cut or shortened.
Those issues aside, what makes KYLGOR IN THE GRISLY ABYSS ultimately work and why certain people
will love it is the passion felt in the project itself. The film was made over the course of five years with a
reported crowdfunding budget of less than $10,000, which makes the level of detail and ambition on
display all the more impressive. Rather than trying to disguise its limitations, DeRushie builds the entire
film around them and turns that handmade quality into part of its identity.
Low-budget fantasy is not going to work for everyone, which is understandable. The puppetry can be
distracting, the humor is hit or miss, and the deliberately strange presentation asks the audience to
meet the film on its own terms. But there’s something refreshing about a movie this committed to its
particular vision.
KYLGOR IN THE GRISLY ABYSS is a bloody, bizarre and undeniably creative fantasy adventure that fits the
spirit of Fantastic Fest perfectly. For anyone looking for a late night genre movie with monsters, practical
gore and a whole lot of puppets, this one is worth descending into a 74-minute abyss for.
