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Running Time: 110 Minutes
Certification: 15
Starring: Matilda Lutz, Robert Sheehan, Michael Bisping, Wallis Day, Luke Pasqualino, Martyn Ford, Rhona Mitra, Veronica Ferres
It has been quite the ride to get Red Sonja back on the big-screen. Many people remember the ill-fated 1985 film starring Brigitte Nielsen, but there were many attempts to readapt the comic-book character, including a Robert Rodriguez (From Dusk till Dawn) film led by Rose McGowan, and a Bryan Singer feature which was derailed after multiple allegations were made against the director. It took the combined efforts of director MJ Bassett (Solomon Kane) and writer Tasha Huo (The Witcher: Blood Origin) to complete this work, although the result is less than terrific.
Separated from her tribe since a young age, Sonja (Matilda Lutz) searches for other Hyrkanians while protecting nature from vicious mercenaries. She is soon enslaved and forced to fight for her freedom at the whim of Emperor Dragan (Robert Sheehan), a tyrant who rules with his bride, Annisia (Wallis Day). In order to gain their freedom, Sonja must unite the enslaved outsiders to fight together.
What comes alive is a swords and sorcery tale with shades of steampunk, driven by clashing beliefs from the protagonist and antagonist. Take Sonja, a determined and spirited figure whose lacking fighting skills develop as she undergoes actual training. At heart, she shows nature respect and protects it through thick and thin. Meanwhile, Emperor Dragan sees himself as the future by spitting in the face of gods, as he brutalises nature in the name of technological prowess. This mirroring showcases a pair lost in this world who react differently, as one wishes to protect the world from pain while the other lashes out in the face of unfairness.
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It is telling that the most meaningful relationship Sonja has is with her horse, as the pair are ride or die for each other. While it has moments of sweetness, this also highlights how underserved the supporting characters are. Too many of these underdeveloped figures are stuck saying uninspired dialogue, many of which are distractingly added through ADR. It is also noticeable how heavy-handed the foreshadowing is for these characters. Whether it is the love-interest boasting about how he has never been touched by a blade, or the enslaved couple who will clearly not live happily ever after, you have an idea of where their stories will go. It is also notable how, regardless of the situation, no peril is felt for the protagonist.
Considering viewers are asked to buy into this fantastical world, it is troubling how difficult this feels. Whether it is due to the seemingly limited sets, visual effects which stick out like a sore thumb, or unremarkable production design which leaves the snow to resemble polystyrene, it is difficult to shake off how fake it all feels. It does not help how overlong the film feels, leaving Red Sonja to feel like an unfortunate misfire.
Red Sonja is available now on DVD, Blu-Ray, and Digital Download
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