The horror genre in Poland stands rather weak. There's only a few really scary movies. And one of them is this, a motion picture that supposed to be a fairytale for children! Well, I always liked frightening tales, so as a child I enjoyed FRIEND OF A JOLLY DEVIL very much. But some of my peers are scared of this movie to this day. They even complaining about a childhood trauma caused by the sight of Pipe ("Jolly Devil" from the title)...

The movie itself is not a horror, but medieval fable about one boy's rite of passage. In order to save his father from blindness, Janek must leave the safeness of his home and begin very long journey. His goal is to conquer Lord Of Darkness himself! On the road Janek meets a strange creature: hairy ape-man, who calls himself Pipe, has some magical powers and carries with him a gigantic fork. Despite the scary look Pipe is a nice and, yes, jolly fellow (hence the title). Naturally, he becomes the companion of the young hero in his fascinating, yet dangerous adventure.

FRIEND... is very effective in creating mysterious atmosphere, despite obviously limited budget. Especially captivating is the appearance of virgin forest and mountains. All the fantasy creatures are memorable and original - Pipe, the tribe of dwarfs, and the whole army of Darkness. Maybe the least original (but effective nevertheless) are the two evil hunters, both dressed in leather, S/M fashion (!). The biggest surprise is The Lord Of The Darkness. He's not some kind of beast, more like the force of nature, pure evil spirit. Very smart concept, that should give young viewers something to think about.

Unfortunately, this fine piece of cinematic work is not available in DVD format to this day. Maybe someday someone will give it a try. Not suitable for small children, but a fest for the eyes for all the fantasy lovers, young and old. They should also check out another noteworthy polish production, RYCERZ(1980) by Lech Majewski, poetical parable set in Middle Ages.

The adventure genre features exciting journeys, quests, or expeditions undertaken by characters who often face challenges, obstacles, and risks in pursuit of a goal. Adventures can take place in a wide range of settings, from exotic and fantastical locations to historical or even everyday environments.

The family genre features stories specifically created to be suitable for a wide range of age groups within a family. Family-oriented content is designed to be enjoyed by both children and adults, often providing entertainment that is wholesome, relatable, and appropriate for all members of a family to watch or experience together.

Drew Barrymore and Pat Welsh in E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial (1982)

The fantasy genre features imaginative and often magical worlds, characters, and events. It explores realms beyond the boundaries of reality, featuring elements such as magic, mythical creatures, supernatural powers, and fantastical settings. These stories can take place in entirely fictional worlds or blend fantastical elements with real-world settings.

Elijah Wood in The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring (2001)

surrogate father surrigate son relationship

A woodsman find and abandoned child in the forest and raises him as his son.When the child reaches 10, the woodsman suddenly goes blind. The kid is determined to help his "father" and answers a mysterious call. He must seek the Spirit of Darkness and defeat him if the woodsman is to see again. During his search for the Spirit he encounters a friendly monster who helps the boy in his quest. They are able to survive every dangerous test on their way and the final confrontation.

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