The Barbarians – 88 Films

Director: Ruggero Deodato
Starring: The Barbarian Brothers, Richard Lynch, Michael Berryman, Eva LaRue, Virginia Bryant
Country: Italy
Running Time: 87 min
Year: 1987
BBFC Certificate: 15

By the late 80s, the Italian popular film industry was in decline. Shrinking budgets and the domination of television had eaten into the once thriving scene. The likes of Sergio Sollima, Antonio Margheriti, Enzo G Castellari and Sergio Martino were working more on TV. Ruggero Deodato, though best remembered for the likes of Cannibal Holocaust and The House at the Edge of the Park was very much a journeyman. Beginning with a sub-Diabolik super-thief film, Fenomenal and the Treasure of Tutankhamun (1968), in his career, he made such cash-ins as an Italian tearjerker (Last Feelings (1978) and the Airport ’79 knockoff Concorde Affair (1979). This was one of the various Italian productions backed by Golan-Globus and Cannon Films, the Israelis giving a shot of short-lived health to the Italian industry in the 80s, not just bankrolling more artistic directors as Lina Wertmuller (Camorra (1985) and Franco Zeffirelli (Otello (1986)) but the likes of Luigi Cozzi’s Hercules films and several Bud Spencer films.

Thus part of the 80s post-Excalibur/Conan the Barbarian sword and sorcery boom, that Cannon had previously touched with the ill-fated Sword of the Valiant – The Legend of Gawain and the Green Knight (1984) and the aforementioned Hercules films. With the Italians making such films as Ator the Fighting Eagle (1983), it made sense for the two to come together, even after the genre had mainly become limited to Roger Corman’s South American efforts i.e. Deathstalker (though there were a few Italian stragglers like Iron Warrior (1989 – the first Italian exploitation film this writer ever saw).

However, there was another aim – this was a vehicle for New England fraternal twin bodybuilders Peter and David Paul, who had previously appeared in episodes of Knight Rider and the Joel Schumacher-Mr T film DC Cab, they are a perfect example of a studio trying to find the next Schwarzenegger. As presences, they are little more than amiable lunks. In fact, it takes a long time for the film to introduce them. A long opening precedes the main action.

A frenzily edited opening hints at the influence of Quest for Fire (1981), as a portentous narration tells us over lovely red skies and green fields, to the typical sub-Conan malarkey of a wie, good kingdom threatened by an emperor. The Ragnicks, a tribe of pseudo-prehistoric circus gypsies with Adam Adamant stripes on their faces are the first people we see, headed by a Queen Canary who are intercepted by Richard Lynch’s possibly trans-coded braid-haired tyrant Kadar, searching for a magic ruby that grants talent. Two young gypsy boy twins, Gore and Kurchek bite Kadar’s fingers, and are kept prisoner in cobwebs, sold to Michael Berryman’s horned slavemaster and separated. Thus the usual gladiatorial and forest runabouts begin. But Deodato, a talented director and journeyman makes something of it.

The film looks expensive, especially compared to Joe D’Amato’s similar Ator films. It feels somewhat visually similar to Ladyhawke (1985), shot on the same locations. Even Pino Donaggio’s soundtrack feels similar to the Alan Parsons Project theme.

It is probably one of the better Italian Conan imitations. US soap starlet Eva LaRue makes an appealing barbarian babe, Lynch a hissable panto baddie, and there’s a lovely animatronic dragon called the Gravemaker. All in all, the film is one of the more enjoyable barbariansploitation epics.

The Barbarians is out on Blu-ray on 27th October, courtesy of 88 Films.

– High Definition Blu-Ray Presentation in 1.85:1 Aspect Ratio
– 2.0 LPCM Stereo
– Optional English Subtitles
– Audio Commentary by Film Historians Troy Howarth and Eugenio Ercolani
– Audio Commentary by Kim Newman and Nick De Semelyn
– Barbaric Cuts – An Interview with Editor Eugenio Alabiso
– Falling for Ruggero – An Interview with Stuntman Ottaviano Dell’Acqua
– From Cannibals to Barbarians – An Interview with Film Historian Eugenio Ercolani
– Light My Biceps – An Interview with Cinematographer Gianlorenzo Battaglia
– Weightlifting With Ruggero – An Interview with 1st AD Roberto Palmerini
– Archival Trash Tube Interview with Director Ruggero Deodato
– The Barbarians: Rip(off) and Tear – A Video Essay by Mike Foster
– Natural Born Influencers – A Video Essay by Nanni Cobretti
– Golan, Globus and Heroes – A Video Essay by Heather Wixson
– Revenge of the C(l)onans – A Video Essay by Pier Maria Bocchi
– Scooter – A Short Film by Roberto Palmerini (with intro)
– La Mancia – A Short Film by Roberto Palmerini (with intro)
– The Barbarians TV advert
– Original Trailer