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Red Sonja (1985 film)
Encyclopedia
Red Sonja is a 1985 sword and sorcery
/action film
starring Arnold Schwarzenegger
in a supporting role and introducing Brigitte Nielsen
as the title character. The film features the sword-wielding Marvel Comics
character Red Sonja
, created by Roy Thomas, who first appeared in Marvel's Conan the Barbarian
series (#23) in 1973.
Red Sonja, as she appears in comics and the film, was based on Red Sonya of Rogatino, a character invented by R. E. Howard appearing in his short story, The Shadow of the Vulture
(1934). The film acknowledges it was "based on the character created by Robert E. Howard" in the intro-credit sequence. As in Howard's stories of Conan, the film takes place in the Hyborian Age
, a fictional prehistoric time that had been depicted previously in the films Conan the Barbarian and Conan the Destroyer
. The film was shot in Italy, on location in Celano
and the rest of the Abruzzo
region, and in the Stabilimenti Cinematagrafici Pontini studios near Rome
.
The story then jumps to a large temple full of white-robed priestesses. They are getting ready to destroy a large, glowing green orb called the Talisman
, used by the Creator
to forge the world. This dangerous artifact's destructive power increases from exposure to light and the priestesses intend to destroy it before it gets out of control. However, Gedren – now wearing a gold mask to cover her scar – and her aide-de-camp
Ikol (Ronald Lacey
) attack with their army. The warrior-priestesses resist, but are ultimately subdued by Gedren's forces.
Gedren gets her hands on the Talisman, but not before proving the myth that only women can touch it and survive. Gedren orders the remaining priestesses to be imprisoned in the vault which held the Talisman. One of those priestesses, Varna (Janet Agren
), manages to escape. She doesn't get far before she's mortally wounded by an arrow in the back. As luck would have it, she literally falls into the arms of the mighty Lord Kalidor (Arnold Schwarzenegger
). She begs him to help find her sister, Red Sonja.
Sonja has been training with a swordmaster (probably from distant Khitai
and played by Tad Horino
) when Kalidor informs Sonja about her sister. Sonja arrives just in time for Varna to tell her about what happened at the temple. Before dying, Sonja's sister urges her to find the Talisman and destroy it, or else the world will be shattered with storms and earthquakes. Sonja cremates Varna's body on a funeral pyre, and then begins her journey to Berkubane, Gedren's Kingdom of Eternal Night.
Just then, Sonja notices a storm off in the distance, indicating someone is using the Talisman. Kalidor offers to help her, but Sonja tells him that she does not need the help of a man. She rides to the now-ruined kingdom of Hablock. There she meets the young Prince Tarn (Ernie Reyes, Jr.
), a cocky and overconfident brat, and his loyal and robust servant, Falkon (Paul L. Smith
). They confirm that Gedren just departed, having wiped out Hablock and its army with the Talisman because Tarn refused to surrender. Tarn announces that he is raising a new army to crush Gedren underfoot and invites Sonja to join, since "we'll probably need a cook". She declines and goes her own way, with Kalidor surreptitiously following.
Soon she encounters the rogue Lord Brytag (Pat Roach
), self-appointed ruler of the mountain passes, who takes an unhealthy interest in Sonja—very unhealthy for Brytag himself, because Sonja challenges him to a sword fight and slays him. Brytag's thuggish troops surround Sonja. Just as they move in for the kill, Kalidor suddenly attacks their rear. Sonja escapes, leaving her rescuer to deal with Brytag's remaining soldiers.
Sonja comes across Tarn and Falkon in the mountains (the film does not explain how they were somehow able to leapfrog ahead of Sonja through the pass Brytag kept shut—this is only one of the film's logical flaws). Having sent his servant out hunting, the boy is being tortured by bandits. Falkon rejoins Sonja to help her kill the brigands and free the prince. The threesome travel onward toward Berkubane.
At Castle Berkubane, Gedren places the talisman in a room full of candles to increase its strength. Ikol warns her against this, because too much light will give the Talisman more power than can be controlled, but Gedren ignores his warnings. Back in the castle's main hall, they discover that Sonja and her party are approaching. The queen's wizard shows her Sonja, Tarn and Falkon on a magic screen. Gedren recognizes Sonja and orders that she be brought back to the fortress unharmed so she can finally have her way with her. She and Ikol use the Talisman to conjure up a storm, forcing Sonja's band to take shelter in a watery cavern.
Gedren and her Wizard also unleash an "Icthyan Killing Machine" in the cavern. When Sonja and her group try to cross the pond, the monster attacks them. Sonja struggles with the monster, but is unable to find any way to kill it. Kalidor reappears, leaps into the water and wrestles with the beast while Sonja digs out its eyes. They flee with Tarn and Falkon, leaving the metal monstrosity to thrash blindly about the pond.
Sonja now accepts the company of Kalidor, but also gives him a warning: she will never lie with any man unless he can defeat her in a swordfight. Kalidor challenges her and they spar, but neither of them is able to defeat the other. They call it a draw. Kalidor at last wins her heart.
The talisman's power is growing too dangerous to control, but still Gedren rejects Ikol's counsel to put it in a darker place. Kalidor, Sonja and Falkon infiltrate Castle Berkubane. To protect Tarn, they convince him to stay behind in order to prevent Gedren from escaping.
Sonja has a final confrontation with Gedren, while Kalidor and Falkon deal with her evil guards in the castle's kitchen/dining hall. Ikol tries to escape with gold looted from Hablock, but is intercepted by Prince Tarn who engages him in combat, finally crushing the evil lieutenant under the castle's rolling stone gate.
Back in Gedren's Chamber of Lights, the talisman's power breaks the floor open, revealing a hellish chasm of molten lava beneath the castle. Sonja unleashes a brutal barrage of sword swings, which Gedren is barely able to ward off. She finally disarms Gedren, literally shattering her sword into pieces, and runs her through with her own blade, sending the evil ruler plunging to her doom, then casts the talisman in after her. Immediately, the talisman's destruction causes a chain reaction that begins to tear Castle Berkubane apart. The heroes barely manage to escape; Kalidor must hold a couple of pillars on his shoulders while the others pass underneath. Finally, the castle is consumed by the rising volcano beneath it.
At the film's end, Sonja and Kalidor kiss. Prince Tarn and Falkon look on before departing.
almost a year to find an actress "Amazonian" enough to play the title character; he was still looking eight weeks before the scheduled production, when he saw Brigitte Nielsen
on the cover of a fashion magazine. The 21-year-old native of Helsingør, Denmark
, in Milan
for a modeling job, soon found herself on a plane heading for Rome and a successful screen test.
Film critic/historian Leonard Maltin
called it "Spectacularly silly...Most of the fun is in deciding who gives the worse performance, Brigitte Nielsen
or Sandahl Bergman."
Schwarzenegger himself even said "It's the worst film I have ever made." He joked, "Now, when my kids get out of line, they're sent to their room and forced to watch Red Sonja ten times. I never have too much trouble with them."
Rotten Tomatoes gave the film a score of 20% "rotten" as some critics have called it "Hilariously awful" and "Unwatchably bad sword-and-sorcery nonsense".
The Encyclopedia of Fantasy
gave it a scathing entry. The main criticism was that it was a "B-movie" with bad characterization, bad acting
and an entirely clichéd display of swords and sorcery
. In particular, the Encyclopedia accuses the movie of being homophobic
and of purposely portraying homosexuality
as a negative, evil
trait. Gedren is portrayed as a lesbian
whose rivalry with Sonja is based partly on the fact that Sonja once rejected her sexual advances.
and his production company Troublemaker Studios
were working on a version that would have starred Rose McGowan
as the titular character.. By 2009 however, the Rodriguez project had been scrapped, and as of February 2010, rights holders Nu Image are moving forward with another projected new film, to be directed by Simon West
. Producer Avi Lerner
has said he would like to see Amber Heard
take the role of Sonja, after having worked with her on Drive Angry
. Lerner says the film will shoot before the sequel to Conan the Barbarian.
Sword and sorcery
Sword and sorcery is a sub-genre of fantasy and historical fantasy, generally characterized by sword-wielding heroes engaged in exciting and violent conflicts. An element of romance is often present, as is an element of magic and the supernatural...
/action film
Action film
Action film is a film genre where one or more heroes is thrust into a series of challenges that require physical feats, extended fights and frenetic chases...
starring Arnold Schwarzenegger
Arnold Schwarzenegger
Arnold Alois Schwarzenegger is an Austrian-American former professional bodybuilder, actor, businessman, investor, and politician. Schwarzenegger served as the 38th Governor of California from 2003 until 2011....
in a supporting role and introducing Brigitte Nielsen
Brigitte Nielsen
Brigitte Nielsen is a Danish model, actress, musician and reality television personality who began her career modelling for Greg Gorman and Helmut Newton and several years later made appearances in the 1985 films Red Sonja and Rocky IV and is also known for her marriage to Sylvester Stallone...
as the title character. The film features the sword-wielding Marvel Comics
Marvel Comics
Marvel Worldwide, Inc., commonly referred to as Marvel Comics and formerly Marvel Publishing, Inc. and Marvel Comics Group, is an American company that publishes comic books and related media...
character Red Sonja
Red Sonja
Red Sonja, the She-Devil with a Sword, is a fictional character, a high fantasy sword and sorcery heroine created by Roy Thomas and Barry Windsor-Smith, and loosely based on Red Sonya of Rogatino in Robert E. Howard's 1934 short story "The Shadow of the Vulture"...
, created by Roy Thomas, who first appeared in Marvel's Conan the Barbarian
Conan (Marvel Comics)
Conan is a fictional character based on Robert E. Howard's Conan the Barbarian. He was introduced to the comic book world in 1970 with Conan the Barbarian, written by Roy Thomas, illustrated by Barry Smith and published by Marvel Comics....
series (#23) in 1973.
Red Sonja, as she appears in comics and the film, was based on Red Sonya of Rogatino, a character invented by R. E. Howard appearing in his short story, The Shadow of the Vulture
The Shadow of the Vulture
"The Shadow of the Vulture" is a short story by Robert E. Howard, first published in The Magic Carpet Magazine, January 1934. The story introduces the character of Red Sonya of Rogatino, who later became the inspiration for the popular character Red Sonja, archetype of the chainmail-bikini clad...
(1934). The film acknowledges it was "based on the character created by Robert E. Howard" in the intro-credit sequence. As in Howard's stories of Conan, the film takes place in the Hyborian Age
Hyborian Age
The Hyborian Age is a fictional period within the artificial mythology created by Robert E. Howard, in which the sword and sorcery tales of Conan the Barbarian are set....
, a fictional prehistoric time that had been depicted previously in the films Conan the Barbarian and Conan the Destroyer
Conan the Destroyer
Conan the Destroyer is a 1984 American action fantasy film directed by Richard Fleischer, starring Arnold Schwarzenegger and Mako returning to resume their roles as Conan and Akiro the wizard, respectively. The cast also includes Grace Jones, Wilt Chamberlain, Tracey Walter and Olivia d'Abo. It is...
. The film was shot in Italy, on location in Celano
Celano
Celano is a town and comune in the Province of L'Aquila, central Italy, east of Rome by rail.-Geography:Celano rises on the top of a hill in the territory of Marsica, below the mountain range of Sirente. It faces the valley of Fucino, once filled by the large Fucine Lake, which was drained during...
and the rest of the Abruzzo
Abruzzo
Abruzzo is a region in Italy, its western border lying less than due east of Rome. Abruzzo borders the region of Marche to the north, Lazio to the west and south-west, Molise to the south-east, and the Adriatic Sea to the east...
region, and in the Stabilimenti Cinematagrafici Pontini studios near Rome
Rome
Rome is the capital of Italy and the country's largest and most populated city and comune, with over 2.7 million residents in . The city is located in the central-western portion of the Italian Peninsula, on the Tiber River within the Lazio region of Italy.Rome's history spans two and a half...
.
Plot
The film begins with Red Sonja's brother and parents being slaughtered by Queen Gedren's (Sandahl Bergman) army because Sonja rejected the Queen's sexual advances, in the process slashing Gedren accross the face with a mace: Leaving her with a brutal scar on her right cheek. Incensed by this Gedren orders her soldiers to destroy everything Sonja holds dear. Sonja survives being violently raped by Gedren's troops. Later that night, Sonja is visited by a spirit who grants her the strength to seek her revenge.The story then jumps to a large temple full of white-robed priestesses. They are getting ready to destroy a large, glowing green orb called the Talisman
Amulet
An amulet, similar to a talisman , is any object intended to bring good luck or protection to its owner.Potential amulets include gems, especially engraved gems, statues, coins, drawings, pendants, rings, plants and animals; even words said in certain occasions—for example: vade retro satana—, to...
, used by the Creator
Creator deity
A creator deity is a deity responsible for the creation of the world . In monotheism, the single God is often also the creator deity, while polytheistic traditions may or may not have creator deities...
to forge the world. This dangerous artifact's destructive power increases from exposure to light and the priestesses intend to destroy it before it gets out of control. However, Gedren – now wearing a gold mask to cover her scar – and her aide-de-camp
Aide-de-camp
An aide-de-camp is a personal assistant, secretary, or adjutant to a person of high rank, usually a senior military officer or a head of state...
Ikol (Ronald Lacey
Ronald Lacey
Ronald Lacey was an English actor. He made numerous television and film appearances over a 30 year period and is perhaps best remembered for his villainous roles in Hollywood films, most famously Major Arnold Toht in Raiders of the Lost Ark.-Career:Lacey attended Harrow Weald Grammar School and...
) attack with their army. The warrior-priestesses resist, but are ultimately subdued by Gedren's forces.
Gedren gets her hands on the Talisman, but not before proving the myth that only women can touch it and survive. Gedren orders the remaining priestesses to be imprisoned in the vault which held the Talisman. One of those priestesses, Varna (Janet Agren
Janet Agren
Janet Ågren Maietto is a Swedish former actress of mostly Italian exploitation films.Ågren was born in Landskrona, Sweden. Her modeling career brought her to Italy where she started to appear in films. She made her debut in Giuseppe Orlandini's I due crociati ...
), manages to escape. She doesn't get far before she's mortally wounded by an arrow in the back. As luck would have it, she literally falls into the arms of the mighty Lord Kalidor (Arnold Schwarzenegger
Arnold Schwarzenegger
Arnold Alois Schwarzenegger is an Austrian-American former professional bodybuilder, actor, businessman, investor, and politician. Schwarzenegger served as the 38th Governor of California from 2003 until 2011....
). She begs him to help find her sister, Red Sonja.
Sonja has been training with a swordmaster (probably from distant Khitai
Hyborian Age
The Hyborian Age is a fictional period within the artificial mythology created by Robert E. Howard, in which the sword and sorcery tales of Conan the Barbarian are set....
and played by Tad Horino
Tad Horino
Tadashi Horino was an American film and television actor.-Selected filmography:Tadashi Horino had an impressive career in film and television...
) when Kalidor informs Sonja about her sister. Sonja arrives just in time for Varna to tell her about what happened at the temple. Before dying, Sonja's sister urges her to find the Talisman and destroy it, or else the world will be shattered with storms and earthquakes. Sonja cremates Varna's body on a funeral pyre, and then begins her journey to Berkubane, Gedren's Kingdom of Eternal Night.
Just then, Sonja notices a storm off in the distance, indicating someone is using the Talisman. Kalidor offers to help her, but Sonja tells him that she does not need the help of a man. She rides to the now-ruined kingdom of Hablock. There she meets the young Prince Tarn (Ernie Reyes, Jr.
Ernie Reyes, Jr.
Ernie Reyes, Jr. , is an American actor, martial artist, action choreographer, director, producer, filmmaker, screenwriter, entrepreneur, singer and stunt performer.-Early life:...
), a cocky and overconfident brat, and his loyal and robust servant, Falkon (Paul L. Smith
Paul L. Smith
Paul L. Smith is an American character actor. Burly, bearded, and imposing, he has appeared in films and occasionally on TV since the 1970s, generally playing "heavies" and bad guys...
). They confirm that Gedren just departed, having wiped out Hablock and its army with the Talisman because Tarn refused to surrender. Tarn announces that he is raising a new army to crush Gedren underfoot and invites Sonja to join, since "we'll probably need a cook". She declines and goes her own way, with Kalidor surreptitiously following.
Soon she encounters the rogue Lord Brytag (Pat Roach
Pat Roach
Francis Patrick "Pat" Roach was an English actor, wrestler and author, from Birmingham. His most famous role is that of West Country bricklayer Brian "Bomber" Busbridge in Auf Wiedersehen, Pet. He also played a memorable role as General Kael in Willow...
), self-appointed ruler of the mountain passes, who takes an unhealthy interest in Sonja—very unhealthy for Brytag himself, because Sonja challenges him to a sword fight and slays him. Brytag's thuggish troops surround Sonja. Just as they move in for the kill, Kalidor suddenly attacks their rear. Sonja escapes, leaving her rescuer to deal with Brytag's remaining soldiers.
Sonja comes across Tarn and Falkon in the mountains (the film does not explain how they were somehow able to leapfrog ahead of Sonja through the pass Brytag kept shut—this is only one of the film's logical flaws). Having sent his servant out hunting, the boy is being tortured by bandits. Falkon rejoins Sonja to help her kill the brigands and free the prince. The threesome travel onward toward Berkubane.
At Castle Berkubane, Gedren places the talisman in a room full of candles to increase its strength. Ikol warns her against this, because too much light will give the Talisman more power than can be controlled, but Gedren ignores his warnings. Back in the castle's main hall, they discover that Sonja and her party are approaching. The queen's wizard shows her Sonja, Tarn and Falkon on a magic screen. Gedren recognizes Sonja and orders that she be brought back to the fortress unharmed so she can finally have her way with her. She and Ikol use the Talisman to conjure up a storm, forcing Sonja's band to take shelter in a watery cavern.
Gedren and her Wizard also unleash an "Icthyan Killing Machine" in the cavern. When Sonja and her group try to cross the pond, the monster attacks them. Sonja struggles with the monster, but is unable to find any way to kill it. Kalidor reappears, leaps into the water and wrestles with the beast while Sonja digs out its eyes. They flee with Tarn and Falkon, leaving the metal monstrosity to thrash blindly about the pond.
Sonja now accepts the company of Kalidor, but also gives him a warning: she will never lie with any man unless he can defeat her in a swordfight. Kalidor challenges her and they spar, but neither of them is able to defeat the other. They call it a draw. Kalidor at last wins her heart.
The talisman's power is growing too dangerous to control, but still Gedren rejects Ikol's counsel to put it in a darker place. Kalidor, Sonja and Falkon infiltrate Castle Berkubane. To protect Tarn, they convince him to stay behind in order to prevent Gedren from escaping.
Sonja has a final confrontation with Gedren, while Kalidor and Falkon deal with her evil guards in the castle's kitchen/dining hall. Ikol tries to escape with gold looted from Hablock, but is intercepted by Prince Tarn who engages him in combat, finally crushing the evil lieutenant under the castle's rolling stone gate.
Back in Gedren's Chamber of Lights, the talisman's power breaks the floor open, revealing a hellish chasm of molten lava beneath the castle. Sonja unleashes a brutal barrage of sword swings, which Gedren is barely able to ward off. She finally disarms Gedren, literally shattering her sword into pieces, and runs her through with her own blade, sending the evil ruler plunging to her doom, then casts the talisman in after her. Immediately, the talisman's destruction causes a chain reaction that begins to tear Castle Berkubane apart. The heroes barely manage to escape; Kalidor must hold a couple of pillars on his shoulders while the others pass underneath. Finally, the castle is consumed by the rising volcano beneath it.
At the film's end, Sonja and Kalidor kiss. Prince Tarn and Falkon look on before departing.
Production background
In Conan the Barbarian, Sandahl Bergman played Valeria, a thief and the love of Conan's life. Bergman was offered the role of Red Sonja, but turned it down, choosing instead to play the villainous Queen Gedren. It took Dino De LaurentiisDino De Laurentiis
Agostino "Dino" De Laurentiis was an Italian film producer.-Early life:He was born at Torre Annunziata in the province of Naples, and grew up selling spaghetti produced by his father...
almost a year to find an actress "Amazonian" enough to play the title character; he was still looking eight weeks before the scheduled production, when he saw Brigitte Nielsen
Brigitte Nielsen
Brigitte Nielsen is a Danish model, actress, musician and reality television personality who began her career modelling for Greg Gorman and Helmut Newton and several years later made appearances in the 1985 films Red Sonja and Rocky IV and is also known for her marriage to Sylvester Stallone...
on the cover of a fashion magazine. The 21-year-old native of Helsingør, Denmark
Denmark
Denmark is a Scandinavian country in Northern Europe. The countries of Denmark and Greenland, as well as the Faroe Islands, constitute the Kingdom of Denmark . It is the southernmost of the Nordic countries, southwest of Sweden and south of Norway, and bordered to the south by Germany. Denmark...
, in Milan
Milan
Milan is the second-largest city in Italy and the capital city of the region of Lombardy and of the province of Milan. The city proper has a population of about 1.3 million, while its urban area, roughly coinciding with its administrative province and the bordering Province of Monza and Brianza ,...
for a modeling job, soon found herself on a plane heading for Rome and a successful screen test.
Cast
- Brigitte NielsenBrigitte NielsenBrigitte Nielsen is a Danish model, actress, musician and reality television personality who began her career modelling for Greg Gorman and Helmut Newton and several years later made appearances in the 1985 films Red Sonja and Rocky IV and is also known for her marriage to Sylvester Stallone...
as Red SonjaRed SonjaRed Sonja, the She-Devil with a Sword, is a fictional character, a high fantasy sword and sorcery heroine created by Roy Thomas and Barry Windsor-Smith, and loosely based on Red Sonya of Rogatino in Robert E. Howard's 1934 short story "The Shadow of the Vulture"... - Arnold SchwarzeneggerArnold SchwarzeneggerArnold Alois Schwarzenegger is an Austrian-American former professional bodybuilder, actor, businessman, investor, and politician. Schwarzenegger served as the 38th Governor of California from 2003 until 2011....
as Lord Kalidor - Sandahl Bergman as Queen Gedren of Berkubane
- Paul L. SmithPaul L. SmithPaul L. Smith is an American character actor. Burly, bearded, and imposing, he has appeared in films and occasionally on TV since the 1970s, generally playing "heavies" and bad guys...
as Falkon - Ernie Reyes, Jr.Ernie Reyes, Jr.Ernie Reyes, Jr. , is an American actor, martial artist, action choreographer, director, producer, filmmaker, screenwriter, entrepreneur, singer and stunt performer.-Early life:...
as Prince Tarn - Ronald LaceyRonald LaceyRonald Lacey was an English actor. He made numerous television and film appearances over a 30 year period and is perhaps best remembered for his villainous roles in Hollywood films, most famously Major Arnold Toht in Raiders of the Lost Ark.-Career:Lacey attended Harrow Weald Grammar School and...
as Ikol - Pat RoachPat RoachFrancis Patrick "Pat" Roach was an English actor, wrestler and author, from Birmingham. His most famous role is that of West Country bricklayer Brian "Bomber" Busbridge in Auf Wiedersehen, Pet. He also played a memorable role as General Kael in Willow...
as Lord Brytag - Terry Richards as Djart
- Janet AgrenJanet AgrenJanet Ågren Maietto is a Swedish former actress of mostly Italian exploitation films.Ågren was born in Landskrona, Sweden. Her modeling career brought her to Italy where she started to appear in films. She made her debut in Giuseppe Orlandini's I due crociati ...
as Varna, Red Sonja's sister - Donna Osterbuhr as Kendra (High Priestess)
- Lara Naszinsky as Queen Gedren's handmaid
- Hans MeyerHans Meyer (actor)Hans Meyer is a South African actor born to German parents. In Britain, he is probably best known for his portrayal of Hauptmann Franz Ulmann in the television series Colditz ....
as Red Sonja's father - Francesca Romana Coluzzi as Red Sonja's mother
- Stefano Maria Mioni as Barlok (Red Sonja's brother)
- Tutte LemkowTutte LemkowTutte Lemkow was a Norwegian actor and dancer, who played mostly villainous roles in British television and films. His chief claims to mainstream familiarity were his roles as "the fiddler" in the film version of Fiddler on the Roof and the old man who translates for Indiana Jones in Raiders of...
as Wizard - Kiyoshi Yamasaki as Kyobo
- Tad HorinoTad HorinoTadashi Horino was an American film and television actor.-Selected filmography:Tadashi Horino had an impressive career in film and television...
as Swordmaster - Sven-Ole ThorsenSven-Ole ThorsenSven-Ole Thorsen is a Danish actor, stuntman, bodybuilder and strongman competitor. Sven won Denmark's Strongest Man in 1983....
as one of Lord Brytag's bodyguards - Erik HolmeyErik HolmeyErik Holmey is a Danish actor of the stage and screen with a tall, rugged, handsome presence, often seen as dangerous, high-ranking sidekicks....
as Lord Brytag's bodyguard who battles Red Sonja before she kills him
Reception
Red Sonja flopped at the box office, grossing only $6,948,633 in theaters, far below its budget of $15 million.Film critic/historian Leonard Maltin
Leonard Maltin
Leonard Maltin is an American film and animated film critic and historian, author of several mainstream books on cinema, focusing on nostalgic, celebratory narratives.-Personal life:...
called it "Spectacularly silly...Most of the fun is in deciding who gives the worse performance, Brigitte Nielsen
Brigitte Nielsen
Brigitte Nielsen is a Danish model, actress, musician and reality television personality who began her career modelling for Greg Gorman and Helmut Newton and several years later made appearances in the 1985 films Red Sonja and Rocky IV and is also known for her marriage to Sylvester Stallone...
or Sandahl Bergman."
Schwarzenegger himself even said "It's the worst film I have ever made." He joked, "Now, when my kids get out of line, they're sent to their room and forced to watch Red Sonja ten times. I never have too much trouble with them."
Rotten Tomatoes gave the film a score of 20% "rotten" as some critics have called it "Hilariously awful" and "Unwatchably bad sword-and-sorcery nonsense".
The Encyclopedia of Fantasy
The Encyclopedia of Fantasy
The Encyclopedia of Fantasy is a 1997 reference work on fantasy, edited by John Clute and John Grant. Other contributors include Mike Ashley, Neil Gaiman, Diana Wynne Jones, David Langford, Sam J. Lundwall, Michael Scott Rohan, Brian Stableford and Lisa Tuttle.The book was well-received upon...
gave it a scathing entry. The main criticism was that it was a "B-movie" with bad characterization, bad acting
Acting
Acting is the work of an actor or actress, which is a person in theatre, television, film, or any other storytelling medium who tells the story by portraying a character and, usually, speaking or singing the written text or play....
and an entirely clichéd display of swords and sorcery
Swords and Sorcery
Swords and Sorcery is a 1963 anthology of fantasy short stories in the sword and sorcery subgenre, edited by L. Sprague de Camp and illustrated by Virgil Finlay. It was first published in paperback by Pyramid Books...
. In particular, the Encyclopedia accuses the movie of being homophobic
Homophobia
Homophobia is a term used to refer to a range of negative attitudes and feelings towards lesbian, gay and in some cases bisexual, transgender people and behavior, although these are usually covered under other terms such as biphobia and transphobia. Definitions refer to irrational fear, with the...
and of purposely portraying homosexuality
Homosexuality
Homosexuality is romantic or sexual attraction or behavior between members of the same sex or gender. As a sexual orientation, homosexuality refers to "an enduring pattern of or disposition to experience sexual, affectional, or romantic attractions" primarily or exclusively to people of the same...
as a negative, evil
Evil
Evil is the violation of, or intent to violate, some moral code. Evil is usually seen as the dualistic opposite of good. Definitions of evil vary along with analysis of its root motive causes, however general actions commonly considered evil include: conscious and deliberate wrongdoing,...
trait. Gedren is portrayed as a lesbian
Lesbian
Lesbian is a term most widely used in the English language to describe sexual and romantic desire between females. The word may be used as a noun, to refer to women who identify themselves or who are characterized by others as having the primary attribute of female homosexuality, or as an...
whose rivalry with Sonja is based partly on the fact that Sonja once rejected her sexual advances.
Awards
- Golden Raspberry AwardsGolden Raspberry AwardsA Golden Raspberry Award, or Razzie for short, is an award presented in recognition of the worst in movies. Founded by American copywriter and publicist John J.B. Wilson in 1981, the annual Razzie Awards ceremony in Los Angeles precedes the corresponding Academy Awards ceremony by one day...
- Worst Actress (Brigitte NielsenBrigitte NielsenBrigitte Nielsen is a Danish model, actress, musician and reality television personality who began her career modelling for Greg Gorman and Helmut Newton and several years later made appearances in the 1985 films Red Sonja and Rocky IV and is also known for her marriage to Sylvester Stallone...
) - Nominated - Worst New Star (Nielsen, also for Rocky IVRocky IVRocky IV is a 1985 American film written by, directed by, and starring Sylvester Stallone. It is the fourth and most financially successful entry in the Rocky franchise...
) - Won - Worst Supporting Actress (Sandahl Bergman) - Nominated
- Worst Actress (Brigitte Nielsen
Remake
A second Red Sonja film has been in development for some years. In 2008 Robert RodriguezRobert Rodriguez
Robert Anthony Rodríguez is an American film director, screenwriter, producer, cinematographer, editor and musician. He shoots and produces many of his films in his native Texas and Mexico. He has directed such films as Desperado, From Dusk till Dawn, The Faculty, Spy Kids, Sin City, Planet...
and his production company Troublemaker Studios
Troublemaker Studios
Troublemaker Studios is a film production company founded and owned by filmmaker Robert Rodriguez and producer Elizabeth Avellan. The company is based in Austin, Texas and is located at the former site of the Robert Mueller Municipal Airport...
were working on a version that would have starred Rose McGowan
Rose McGowan
Rose Arianna McGowan is an actress and singer. She is known for her role as Paige Matthews in The WB Television Network supernatural drama series Charmed. She played Ann-Margret alongside Jonathan Rhys Meyers as Elvis Presley in the CBS mini-series Elvis...
as the titular character.. By 2009 however, the Rodriguez project had been scrapped, and as of February 2010, rights holders Nu Image are moving forward with another projected new film, to be directed by Simon West
Simon West
Simon West is an English-born film director. West started as a film editor with the BBC, then directed documentaries and commercials including many for Budweiser...
. Producer Avi Lerner
Avi Lerner
Avinoam Lerner is an Israeli-born film producer, primarily of American action movies.-Life and career:Lerner originally worked in movie theaters in Tel Aviv, but soon re-located to South Africa, where he produced several films in that country and also owned a chain of movie theaters there until he...
has said he would like to see Amber Heard
Amber Heard
Amber Laura Heard is an American actress and model. She played the lead and title character in All the Boys Love Mandy Lane, which debuted at the Toronto International Film Festival in 2006. Heard's first starring role came in 2007 on the CW television show Hidden Palms...
take the role of Sonja, after having worked with her on Drive Angry
Drive Angry
Drive Angry is a 2011 American action film starring Nicolas Cage and directed by Patrick Lussier. It was released on February 25, 2011.- Plot :...
. Lerner says the film will shoot before the sequel to Conan the Barbarian.