The Dark Crystal (1982)

 

If you grew up during the 80s, chances are you might have seen this film as a child. Even bigger chances this left a pretty big impression on your fragile little mind. Everyone knew by now that Jim Henson was one of the masterminds behind 'The Muppet Show', but when he decided to create a dark fairytale no one was truly prepared for what he unleashed in conjunction with artist Brian Froud. We got something different alright, with both an uplifting tale and scenes that gave us absolute nightmares for years after.

Just to point out that 'The Dark Crystal' is pretty good, y'all. 

On a faraway planet, the ruthless Skeksis have been running things for the better part of a thousand years. Yet now, there are only ten left and their emperor lies dying. They reside in a castle built around a mystical crystal that not only prolongs their life, but also gives them access to technology and more. In a valley far from this castle, the Mystics reside. They are also only ten with the eldest about to die, yet they are gentle wizards who live in tune with their surroundings. 

There is a parallel here, I just know it. 

The Mystics have adopted an elf-like being known as a Gelfling. They named him Jen. There was a prophecy - because of course - that a Gelfling would bring the downfall of the Skeksis, so they had all Gelflings massacred over the course of their reign. Now Jen must set out on a quest to find a crystal shard and heal the Dark Crystal before the next conjunction of the three suns, otherwise the Skeksis will rule forever. 

Along the way, Jen encounters several people who are sympathetic to his cause: there's the gruff Aughra, who is a lot nicer than she appears; the Podlings (living potato-people) and not in the least Kira, another Gelfling. But it's not an easy trip, as the Skeksis and their soldiers are constantly on the hunt for these Gelflings that would spell their doom. 

Storywise, this might be one of the simplest and purest quests there is: fix a crystal, heal the problems of the world in the process. Good and evil are absolutely clearly defined, something which also shows in the designs of the creatures. Okay, Aughra might be an exception, as her first impression is a bit yikes, but you can easily tell she isn't evil, whereas the Skeksis just ooze malice and malignancy throughout. The General is overbearingly nasty, but it's the Chamberlain who is by far the most interesting as a devious perpetrator of trickery. He is also the one the story focuses more on, as he gets exiled from the castle early on. 

You will also get a nice view of a naked Skeksis, warts and all. Not something you see every day. Probably also not something you ever expected to see either. Then again, if you want disturbing imagery, the Emperor's deathscene probably traumatised more kids than I can count, including myself. Egads, that was nasty. 

Just saying: PG-13 isn't always a good thing. When these films were made, children's entertainment pushed the envelope quite a bit at times and despite some mental scarring, we came out alright. Right? 

So the story might not be the most interesting part of this tale, but the design is, in every way imaginable. Not only are the puppets masterfully crafted; every backdrop, set and object oozes an otherworldly quality and it all simply clicks. There is so much eye for detail it is almost mindboggling. The Skeksis' clothes and regalia, the drawing in the Mystics' valley, the abundance of exotic and bizarre creatures and plants strewn around... It is truly insane and a testament to how much work went into this film. There's no denying this was an absolute labour of love from mr Henson and it absolutely shows. 

And maybe this is what sets it apart from so many other films: this was crafted with love and affection. It didn't do too well in cinemas when it first came out, but over the years it has garnered a lot of love and respect through television and videostores and rightly so. 'The Dark Crystal' is a beautiful and dark fantasy the likes of which are seen way too few. Highly recommended!