3 Star

Life, Death, Rebirth, Destiny

Those of you of a certain age may remember 1985 and the film of the same name, well forget about that. This is forty years later, the world is a very different place and so is this film, same name different play. So all that aside, this is loosely based on the 1973 Marvel Comics origin story by Roy Thomas and Barry Windsor-Smith. With modern sensibilities, certain elements have been avoided. Directed by MJ Bassett (Solomon Kane, Ash vs Evil Dead (TV Series)) who show Red Sonja’s new origin story. We all need more Sword and Sorcery in our lives, so let’s hope this is the start of something new.

Hespera (Diana Lyubenova, Conan the Barbarian, Thick as Thieves) the spiritual mother of the Hyrkanians tells of a time before history when the Hyrkanians lived peacefully in the vast forest with all its fantastical beasts. But there is a storm coming in the guise of King Anzus (Tihomir Vinchev, The Hitman’s Bodyguard (Stunts)) who is sweeping across the land raping and pillaging and taking tribal land and resources.

Many years later and there is a new Emperor, Draygan (Robert Sheehan, The Umbrella Academy, The Mortal Instruments: City of Bones) and has designs on the vast forest of the now lost Hyrkanians. He is in control of unimaginable machines and his mages work on controlling the massive beasts of the world, he has designed a magical power source for his city. But what he wants most is the other half of the Hyrkanian book of arcane knowledge that has granted him all of his powers and insight.

In this vast forest wilderness, there is a flame haired young woman Sonia (Matilda Lutz, Reptile, Revenge) that is in tune with her surroundings, praying to the Goddess Asherah for the bountiful gifts the forest provides to keep her alive. Her reverie is shattered as a band of poachers charges through the forest after trophies from the huge peaceful animals. Sonja and her faithful horse Vihur follow their path of wanton destruction, which leads her to a large fortified encampment where they are keeping all the captured beasts for the entertainment of the Emperor when he attends the great arena.

Sonja being Sonja attempts to free the beasts under the cover of darkness. What she doesn’t expect is to be discovered by the Emperor’s concubine, who won her freedom by being the sole survivor of the arena. What Sonja lacks in fighting prowess, she makes up for in enthusiasm. This lands her in the pits with the rest of the Damnati, and her story starts as she rises to the name of Red Sonja.

Good versus Evil has never looked so good. It was also great to see the female adventurer joke played out, great tongue in cheek.

Red Sonja is available on DVD & Blu-ray 8 September. Distributed by Signature Entertainment