Guardian of the Realm was a real surprise. The acting and directing were uniformly good. The script was smart, and the plotting was very textured. I also appreciated the use of old school make-up and costumes to create the demons and other creatures.
Guardian of the Realm posits an Occult Police Force patrolling the U.S. to stop demons from leaking into our "realm." While this concept has been done before--notably Buffy and Torchwood, if you translate demons to aliens, GOR establishes its own mythology with some pretty neat flourishes, such as a clever means of demon disposal.
The story centers on two such Police Officers Josh Griffin and Angela Marlowe, an officer from the New York office. However, unlike many small budgeted productions that only can afford a handful of actors, this one expands to include a chief of operations, another pair of Demon Hunters and a pair of computer techs, all ably acted. The cast expands further when Josh and Angela follow the clues to persons of interest.
The plot flows rather seamlessly, and there's genuine character development and as well as an applaudable avoidance of cliche. Frequently I found myself saying "That's cool," or "Oh, that's a sneaky twist." One reviewer referred to the production as campy, and I disagree with that. I think this was an earnest attempt to produce something novel. The humor arises from the characterizations, and the characters are quite enjoyable. When something bad happens to them, you feel for them.
The only warning I'd issue, and I think it's obvious is that this isn't something for kids. It's got nudity and gore, which builds to a climax rather than splatters in every scene.
