In the world of filmmaking, there are numerous individuals known as “multi-hyphenates” who excel in various roles such as directing, writing, and acting. Quentin Tarantino, M. Night Shyamalan, Spike Lee, and more recently Jesse Eisenberg are some prominent examples of these versatile industry leaders. Additionally, there is a significant group of creators who perform similar tasks but often work in relative anonymity.
Canadian filmmaker Matthew Ninaber is one of those innovative minds. Since 2014’s “Extraction Day”, Ninaber has been crafting and acting in his own productions. He has written, directed, and starred in four full-length films, and what makes these movies unique is that they are a family endeavor. Each of Ninaber’s films features his brother, actor Jeremy Ninaber as well. Their latest joint effort, the 2025 fantasy film “A Knight’s War”, hit the screens on February 11th. This movie, written, directed, produced by, and starring Matthew Ninaber, was primarily filmed in his backyard. Here’s a rundown of everything you need to know about this LARP-based epic.
What Is ‘A Knight’s War’ About?
In the film titled “A Knight’s War,” you’ll find all the elements that make a fantasy flick great: a chosen one, a mission, a prophecy, mystical charms, a damsel in distress, demons, and more. The main character, our knight, is Bhodie, portrayed by Jeremy Ninaber. At the start of the movie, we witness Bhodie along with his brother William, played by Matthew Ninaber. Together, they rush to save Avalon, a young red-haired girl who’s the Chosen One, from being sacrificed.
Previously, Avalon’s father had tried to set her ablaze, believing she would ignite like the prophecy suggested. But when she didn’t catch fire, it was evident that she was the one the prophecy spoke of – the Chosen One. Meanwhile, the knightly brothers raced to halt the ritual sacrifice, intended to unlock the gates of hell. Regrettably, they arrived too late, and Avalon was whisked away to the underworld before they could intervene.
William, in a sense, deceives Bhodie and sends him to the underworld, bound by his obligations to Avalon. Upon arriving there, he strikes a bargain with the gatekeeper, Shane Nicely. In return for a pledge to retrieve the gatekeeper should he ever return to our world, the demon provides him with a magical talisman that bestows immortality, granting him 100 lives. If he exhausts all these lives, he will be banished to the underworld eternally. In the underworld, he encounters a grown-up version of Avalon, portrayed by Kristen Kaster. She reveals that she is on a quest for a powerful artifact, one that requires her to collect certain items.
Basically, Avalon must summon and seize the divine power from the gods. It’s revealed that Avalon had a pact with a gatekeeper for 100 lives, but she’s almost depleted them all. Joining forces, Bhodie and Avalon embark on multiple expeditions filled with battling monsters, witches, and numerous demons to fulfill their crucial mission. In the end, they likely encounter around six adversaries before the story concludes.
The Ninaber Brothers
In this instance, we are witnessing the fourth joint project between brothers Matthew and Jeremy. It is noteworthy that Jeremy has graced the screen in many of Matthew’s films, such as “Extraction Day”, “Transference”, and “Death Valley”. During an interview with Daily Dead, Matthew expressed his thoughts about Jeremy.
There’s no one else I know who could pull off what Jeremy does. I simply can’t conceive of making this movie without him. Our conversations about scenes and the world we’re creating are always engaging, and his passion for the lore adds a level of enjoyment to our collaboration.
As mentioned in the same interview, the concept for “A Knight’s War” has been brewing in Matthew’s mind since his high school days. This idea was sparked by the “Book of Epoch,” as well as movies like “Conan the Barbarian” and “First Knight.” Essentially, “A Knight’s War” is a product of the fantastical childhood that Matthew and Jeremy experienced together.
In the making of this film, we found ourselves on a budgetary tightrope, necessitating a good deal of inventiveness from our cast and crew. Instead of wielding swords during breaks, we’d grab paintbrushes to continue working on sets. Interestingly enough, the main interior sets were none other than Matthew’s and Jeremy’s backyards, metamorphosed into a medieval tableau. One chilly night, as I prepared for an initial scene featuring my son and brother, a light snow started falling. In spite of the skepticism from others, I mused, “This could just work.
The movie, “A Knight’s War,” demonstrates the strength of creativity and family bonding, as fans worldwide appreciate its accurate representation of the fantasy genre. Remarkably, a film without a Wikipedia page is garnering exceptional attention. Often likened to a Dungeons & Dragons campaign in reviews, this heartfelt project deserves recognition among the notable independent productions in recent years.
A Knight’s War is available to rent now on Prime or Apple TV+.
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2025-05-18 17:03