Red Sonja marks yet another soon-to-be cult classic from filmmaker M.J. Bassett.
Synopsis: An adaptation of the comic book, Red Sonja, a vengeful warrior known as a “She-Devil with a sword”
This year has been packed with superhero films, with Marvel bringing three new additions to the MCU and DC rebooting yet again with Superman, making it easy for something like Red Sonja to fall through the cracks. It doesn’t help that the film got a sprinkling of screenings, and a single day in theaters. But unlike Superman, and even The Fantastic Four: First Steps, M. J. Bassett does a lot more with a lot less. Red Sonja is a film that deserves to be seen on a big screen; from its mighty lead performance to its impressive practical effects, it’s a return to what makes these stories captivating. A lead that is as fiery as the color of her bold hair, Red Sonja is a fantasy lover’s dream with plenty of sword and sorcery to keep you hooked.
For those unfamiliar with the titular character, she’s been around since 1973 when she was first published by Marvel Comics, created by Roy Thomas and Barry Windsor-Smith based on the works of Robert E. Howard. But it wasn’t until Dynamite Comics got the rights to her that she really got a chance to shine; famously, Gail Simone penned a reboot of the character in 2013, which is often referred to as the character’s origin. In 1985, Brigette Nielsen portrayed the fierce red-headed warrior in a film that was met with mixed reviews but has since found a niche audience. It’s safe to say that there was more than enough lore to tap into for a new take on the character, and Bassett alongside writer Tasha Huo were the ones up to the task. Their final product is an action-packed fantasy epic that was never truly given the chance it deserved.
Deep in a mystical forest filled with creatures that resemble prehistoric beasts with a fantasy twist, we are first introduced to Sonja (Matilda Lutz). She travels through the sea of green on her horse, with whom she shares a special bond—they even have a unique way of communicating with one another. Her gentle connection with the earth and the beings that inhabit it makes her a protector of the forest, though she still seeks her tribe and her people. As a child, she grew up in her homeland of Hyrkania, worshiping the forest goddess Ashera. After it was attacked by barbarians, she found herself growing up alone, yet always searching for those who were taken from her. It goes without saying that her protective instincts are triggered when hunters enter the forest and remove the large antlers from a family of forest creatures.
From the start, Bassett shows us that Sonja is a woman of her word—she doesn’t let anyone take from the forest without there being hell to pay. She soon finds herself outside a stronghold, surrounded by henchmen and women of all kinds. More importantly, she witnesses even more animals being abused. And while Sonja is kind-hearted, she is equally savage when provoked. However, she is eventually overpowered and enslaved by Emperor Dragan the Magnificent (Robert Sheehan) after being defeated by the blade of Annisia (Wallis Day). Thrown into a gladiator-style arena, Sonja is forced to train alongside other unfortunate contestants.
Osin the Untouched (Luka Pasqualino), the formidable Hawk (Michael Bisping), and his sly partner Petra (Rhona Mitra). During her training is where Bassett’s style shines; impressive action sequences shine with her mixture of slo-mo that highlights the physical power of her actors. And while Sonja is training alongside her new pseudo-colleagues is where we get to know more about her as a skilled fighter. Donning her iconic chainmail bikini, which offers no sort of protection, just gives the audience something to hoot and holler for. Bassett places numerous challenges in front of Sonja, having her face off with death and live up to her She-Devil moniker.
I can’t think of someone better to bring Red Sonja to the screen than Bassett; she has a distinct eye for these kinds of films. Low-budget fantasy can be tricky to nail because so much of it revolves around being able to immerse your audience in a magical world. Bassett does so with ease, making the most out of practical makeup on characters like General Karlak (Martyn Ford) and using CGI when needed to create buildings with flowing magic. She doesn’t let the action overshadow Sonja’s journey for freedom or avenging the forest, allowing her to be a fully fleshed-out character. The film has a rather straightforward script, and often Sonja’s journey feels reminiscent of Furiosa from the Mad Max franchise, two fierce and complicated women who were brutalized by their overlords. Huo injects plenty of humor into the narrative, and even some blushworthy romance that yearns for a sequel.
Bringing the titular character to life, Lutz brings her all to Sonja; if you’ve seen her in Revenge, then you know how resilient and savage Lutz can be. But she’s equally passionate in her portrayal of a wayward woman looking for her people. Not only does she look the part, but she is the part, making it hard to envision anyone but her playing the role. Lutz goes through many phases of Sonja in this film, from a free spirit in the forest to a blood-soaked avenger; she evolves into each one with ease. The film has an impressive supporting cast as well, but Day and Sheehan, as Sonja’s main foes, are what elevate this beyond its comic book genre. Day plays Annisia as an alluringly tormented warrior; even when you don’t want to feel badly for her, her performance makes you empathize with her. Paired with the twisted Dragan, Sheehan is often over the top, but it works. He gives this former slave boy an erratic yet genius mindset that leads to some gnarly battles.
It’s a shame that this is ending up going under many moviegoers’ radar, and it’s not totally their fault either. Bassett, her cast, and crew have created a fantasy epic that shows you where each dollar is spent. Lutz gives one of the best action performances of the year, and it’s basically being relegated to our television screens rather than in a theater. It’s unclear who, or what, or why its distributor is only doing select dual screenings with Bassett’s other film Solomon Kane, a one-day screening on August 13th from Fathom Events, and sporadic screenings here and there. The film teases the potential of a sequel that doesn’t feel likely to occur, which is a shame considering Bassett has more than enough to work with. Visually the film falters in some of its grander moments, like panning over CGI buildings. But its limited budget still manages to rival the VFX from big budget blockbusters released this year. Its release on digital will allow a wider audience to revel in its early 2000s grandeur.
Red Sonja marks yet another soon-to-be cult classic from Bassett, giving Lutz the spotlight to show off not only her physical abilities as an actor but also her complex approach to characters. With a solid cast, practical effects, and high-stakes action, Red Sonja is one of the best comic book films of the year.
How Nick Nelson and Charlie Spring get to have a feel good HEA show and not a mourning untimely death and political persecution homeless at 14 pray the eternal hellfire away tragedy show.
i like to think that our blogs are just our own little personal museums of all the things we like, and we can visit each other’s museums and leave nice notes at the reception.
We Burned So Bright by TJ Klune is a heart-wrenching novel about an elder gay couple on an end-of-the-world road trip.
WHAT’S IT ABOUT
Husbands Don and Rodney have lived a good long life. Together they’ve experienced the highest highs of love and family, and lows so low that they felt like the end of the world.
Now, the world is ending for real. A rogue black hole is coming for Earth, and in a month everything and everyone they’ve ever known will be gone. Suddenly, after 40 years together, Don and Rodney are out of time. They’re in a race against the clock to make it from Maine to Washington State to take care of some unfinished business before it’s all over.
On the road they meet those who refuse to believe death is coming and those who rush to meet it. But there are also people living their final days as best they know how—impromptu weddings, bright burning bonfires, shared meals, and new friends.
And as the black hole draws near, among ball lightning and under a cracked moon in a kaleidoscope sky, Don and Rodney will look back on their lives and ask if their best was good enough.
First and foremost, it helps to know a billionaire. The rich don’t have to worry about pesky things like taxes or having a human soul. Instead, they have so much money that they can typically buy themselves out of any problem.
However, if society collapses during an apocalypse, there is a very good chance that money will have little-to-no value. So why should one make friends with a billionaire? No, it’s not because they might have a bunker or a rocket ship to potentially escape the end times.
They’re a food source. Obviously!
Ever heard of the phrase eat the rich? By making friends with a billionaire pre-apocalypse, it’ll help ingratiate yourselves into their lives. And once the end of the world occurs, you will have a reliable source of food in the form of the billionaire. While cannibalism should never be considered as a tactic in normal times, these aren’t normal times and billionaires don’t count as people and therefore, can be cooked and/or grilled until the meat is to your liking. Add a little ketchup or steak sauce that you’ve sourced from a shady man living in an abandoned supermarket and voila! You’ll have a meal fit for a king. Don’t worry about the moral implications: billionaires have little value outside of the nutrients they can provide, and no one will miss them because they are all terrible.
2. It’s a…Black Hole? WTF even is that?
You may have heard that the world is ending via a rogue black hole that has made its way to our galaxy. Bummer, huh? The odds of such a thing occurring are staggering. One in a trillion! You should buy a lottery ticket!
Much is unknown about black holes. Are they a vast destructive force in which no living thing has a hope for survival? Probably, yes!
But what if that wasn’t the only thing they could do?
What if the black hole was a wormhole that led to another galaxy and/or dimension? What should you do to prepare should the Earth not be destroyed and is instead transported to another corner of the galaxy or universe?
To be quite honest, nothing. There is nothing you can do. On the minuscule chance that the Earth is magically*** transported to another galaxy, chances are that you will not survive the journey as your body would be ripped apart down to a molecular level across space and time. But it’s fun to think about, isn’t it? Nothing, not even the heat death of the universe, can stop imagination! Until you die, that is.
***the word “magically” is used in this scenario because the math involved is too hard to explain. Don’t worry; I know all the math. Which is why you can trust me when I say math and magic are pretty much the same thing.
3. Make an Apocalypse Buddy!
It helps to have someone by your side during an apocalyptic event. Not a billionaire, of course, as they are food. Rather, you will want someone you can trust, someone who won’t stab you in the back and betray you to a post-apocalyptic motorcycle gang in exchange for cans of pinto beans.
If the apocalypse is a known event happening in the near future, consider placing a personal ad in your local newspaper (if one still exists). The ad should be short and to the point. Consider the following example:
SEEKING A BUDDY FOR GOOD TIMES!
YOU:
--must be fit (this will help to ensure your buddy is in tip-top shape!)
--must be over 30 and under 60 (an age range allows for no misunderstandings!)
--must have face/body pics (to make sure you’re not being catfished by a twenty-two-year-old twink!)
ME:
--can host (this will let any potential buddy know you have a safe house!)
--versatile (this proves you are capable in any situation!)
--eight inches (this shows you can measure!)
Once you and your buddy have met, size them up. Ask them questions like “Do you have a problem with eating a billionaire?” or “Have you ever played the video game series Fallout? This is sort of like that. Yeah, the TV show counts.”
If they do not look like they described or they are unable/unwilling to partake in the flank steak of a man with too much money, that’s okay! Everyone else is probably already scrambling for their lives, so chances are this is as best as it’s going to get. But just think!
At least you don’t have to do it alone.
And isn’t that the most important thing? I think so.
Remember: have fun, fuck ICE, and see you on the other side!
The most likely reason is that podcast he did recently. As of right now, 420k people watched the Youtube clip from that interview where he's talking about why he left Misfits. This will have caused a bunch of those people to look up what he's been up to since, and hey presto.
I’m just psyched it’s Netflix. They have reason to believe he can hold a series together from past tua experience, and make people love him like they did Darren. Hopefully the people will prove them right.
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