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Barbarian Queen
Amethea (Lana Clarkson) sets out to rescue her groom and
seek vengeance after her village is destroyed and inhabitants killed or
captured by and evil tyrant Strymon (Victor Bo) and his vicious
soldiers. With two other female survivors she travels to Strymon’s city
uniting rebels and gladiators to confront him and his twisted henchmen
and restore freedom to the kingdom.
Set in the days of the Roman Empire (although no ones actually looks
Roman in dress or attire) Amethea is a great warrior who outfights
everyman she encounters. She survives a burning hut by covering herself
with dried grass (must be asbestos buffalo variety) and travels to the
city to rescue her love Argan. She is captured and tortured by a weird
little man who looks like he stepped out of Mad Max, who unlocks her
chains so as to better be able to rape her and ends up in a pool of acid
conveniently located directly behind him. Now free she unites the city’s
existing rebels, peasants (armed with pitchforks) and gladiators led by
her very own Argan. After a brief but energetic climatic battle her
sister Taramis applies the coup de grace to the evil Strymon and all is
now well in the kingdom.
So why is this movie so damn strange? Firstly its star Lana Clarkson was
killed by Wall of Sound music producer Phil Spector in 2003 in an
infamous case. Secondly there is a bizarre reoccurrence of rape, maybe 6
or more woman through the film, all the men end up dead but really it’s
not for the kiddies. Torture seems a favorite pastime as well. Thirdly
there is the bad acting and dialogue even from the background extras
which is hilarious. An example from the heroine “I’ll be no man’s slave
and no man’s whore”. Another from a henchmen tying ropes to Tamaris
“Nothing like a virgin to brighten a man’s morning”. It is a silly
movie, which should offend, but somehow seems too comical in its
violence to carry any shock value.
Picture quality is somewhat poor, lots of artifacts but considering the
films age (1985) that is to be expected. It is shot in 4/3 aspect ratio
and has Dolby digital 2.0 stereo. Running time is a brisk 70 minutes.
Extras include several other trailers which are in the same ilk and
quite amusing.
I have a fondness for the sword and sorcery/scandal genre, the pinnacle
being Conan The Barbarian. Let’s face it this is no Conan yet follows
some similar plotlines, burning village, vengeful hero/heroine and the
final climatic battle with the movie villain. Being a Roger Corman
production usually means lots of buxom women in states of undress, bad
acting and a sense not to take itself too seriously. This has all those
elements. There is talk of a cult status to this film, certainly it is
memorable but for all the wrong reasons. See it with some open minded
friends and you will get a laugh or two. |
