The Pagan Queen is a brooding, meandering, very German affair that is more belonging to the arthouse than the fantasy genre. It is an interesting story told in an interesting way. This is a unique film with it's approach to both the history and the folklore the story focuses upon and what it has to say because of that. However, as complex as the drama is, and how good the production design compliments it, the fantasy genre, which holds The Pagan Queen with one foot, holds it back from being a truly standout work.

The genre atypical soundtrack, performances and cinematography, are not charming here as they would be in an Asylum film, here they weaken the film's impact. It makes it look tacky. The Pagan Queen has a lot to say, but it does not talk a good game. It's underlit, overly theatrical at times and is generally too lightweight in it's direction to make full use of the interesting ideas rattling about within the script. Shame, because a genuinely gripping film is buried here underneath all the chaff.