JohnSeal Review of The Incredible Challenge

The Incredible Challenge (1970)

Much better than you might expect

[5/10 · 12 September 2015]

The Cypriot civil war (pitting the Greek west of the island of Cyprus, occupied by the British, against the Turkish east) hasn't been the subject of very many motion pictures. In fact, this is the first one I think I've ever seen, lending the film considerable thematic interest. Night of the Assassin also benefits from some terrific location photography (sadly undermined by Lightning Video's clumsy pan and scanning) and a fine cast, with Michael Craig particularly good as a well-intentioned and thoughtful British Army officer. There's also George Sanders as his by-the-books superior, and (in some very unusual casting indeed!) Klaus Kinski as an underground leader who's also a Greek Orthodox priest. Think of this as a low-rent Battle of Algiers: nowhere near as well made, but definitely more than your typical European exploitation film of the era.