Review of Highlander (1986) by Xgary X — 29 Nov 2011

A race of immortals who have been living amongst us through the centuries are destined to fight to the death to claim "The Prize". With its formula of large men with phallic weapons lopping each others heads off in modern day New York City to a Brian May guitar riff, Highlander is one of those films that could only have been made in the 80s.

The "modern day" scenes have actually aged rather badly thanks to some ropey effects, TV standard photography and dodgy score, but the real joy of Highlander is in the brilliant concept which is only really explored in the best parts of the film; the flashbacks.

These are done so very well, and the presence of Sean Connery as Connor's mentor raises the film above its otherwise dubious pedigree. There's great chemistry between the stars and Clancy Brown makes an amusingly maniacal villain which makes it all the more obvious that there just isn't enough screen time devoted to the immortals themselves.

A bit of a nostalgic guilty pleasure for me and I've still got a soft spot for Highlander despite its many flaws. There can be only one!