Review of Kull the Conqueror (1997) by Joe M — 28 Apr 2014
This started out life as Conan the Conqueror, and it based on Robert E. Howard's 1950 book The Hour of the Dragon. However when Arnold Schwarzenegger refused to return, the producers simply used another Howard hero, Kull as the protagonist.
With TV director John Nicolella employed to breath new life into Howard's universe, but the film was brought down by wretched studio interference. Barbarian warrior Kull (Kevin Sorbo) kills King Borna (Sven-Ole Thorsen) in armed combat after Borna goes made and starts killing his own people.
As Borna dies, he names Kull as the new king of Valusia out of spite to rightful heir General Taligaro (Thomas Ian Griffith). Taligaro plans to revive Akivasha, Sorceress Queen of Acheron (Tia Carrere), who once ruled over Valusia with an iron fist.
She's revived by Taligaro and priest Enaros (Edward Tudor-Pole). Kull is supposedly killed, but he escapes and comes up with a team to go to a distant island, which will lift the curse of Akivasha and reinstate Kull as king, but he faces many challenges and exploits along the way to the island.
It was intended to revive Howard's work, and the producers got this made on the back of Dragonheart (1996), and they hoped this would be a big success too. But the test audiences hated the film, it was heavily recut and released before a lot of the special effects were finished.
On the plus side, it does have Pat Roach in it.
This review of Kull the Conqueror (1997) was written by Joe M on 28 Apr 2014.
Kull the Conqueror has generally received negative reviews.
Was this review helpful?
