MAXIM XUL (1991) Dir. Arthur Egeli
I first saw the cover to this movie in a recent issue of HORRORHOUND magazine. One look at it made me drool with anticipation to see it at any cost. The typical box cover art for this showed a shadowy scene of Adam West in a business suit, holding a broadsword and a mace hyping that he’s “back to fight a new kind of evil from an ancient world.” I had to see this based on this promise of an epic duel between one of my favorite actors and some ancient demons! I scored a copy on ebay and put it in, ready for the action to blow me away.
It did not.
The basic plot is that a police detective is investigating a series of mutilation deaths that eventually revealed to be committed by an ancient demon. He and an Ace reporter girlfriend enlist the help of a professor (Adam West) who is an expert in the field to fight him. Even though he’s received top billing in the movie and he was the main reason I got this in the first place, I was disappointed to learn that he’s in it for a mere fifteen minutes. The rest of the film is filled with bit actors who cite this movie as their only credited work.
The acting is silly, the sound is not in sync and the whole thing screams of small budget direct to video woes. Which is exactly what this was at the time. The only time the movie gets remotely interesting is when West appears onscreen. But even then, he’s shot in shadows and he’s hard to make out. But that doesn’t excuse watching this movie. It really could have tried more. I expected more anyway. In short, the box cover art for this movie wrote a check that the movie itself could not cash.
But no worries dear friends. West left the world of Maxim Xul long behind and went on to do great voice-over work and tour the world, loved by millions of fans. This film’s director went on to direct Lap Dance.
GRADE: 1 Broadsword out of 5. Just for Adam West only.
(PLEASE NOTE that this film is available on VHS only as far as I know. So if you want to track down a copy, ebay would be your best bet.)
For more from the author ADAM TALLEY, including a look at his independent comic book work, visithttp://www.idiothead.com
Raised primarily in central Michigan all his life, Adam is a successful writer, artist and self publisher. He is best known for his comics: PLEASANT LIFE, THE EXPENDABLES, WISE INTELLIGENCE and the upcoming ANNA POCOLYPSE. He also wrote a free online how to book called "IN THE TRENCHES: HOW TO SURVIVE AS A SMALL PRESS COMIC BOOK PUBLISHER." He also has done some pinup work for ANTARCTIC PRESS and logo designs for many other clients. He has been featured on web sites, newspapers, television and magazines talking about his work and travels around the country promoting it. He resides in Southwest Michigan. 
Horrifying film. And I don’t mean scary.
The credits were longer than the movie.
Prob’ly because the narcissistic fuck that did the “music” score had to have EVERY single sound bite listed separately. Ugh.