The Barbarians (1987)

Director:

Ruggero Deodato

Writers:

Alberto Piferi (dubbing dialogue)
James R. Silke (screenplay)

Release Date:

March 1987 (USA)

Genre:

Fantasy | Adventure

Plot:

The young orphans Kutchek and Gore have been adopted by a tribe of clowns, jugglers, and entertainers...

Plot Keywords:

Harem | Gladiator | Dragon | Twin Brother | Twins

Awards:

1 nomination

Cast

Peter Paul	...	Kutchek
David Paul	...	Gore
Richard Lynch	...	Kadar
Eva La Rue	...	Cara (as Eva LaRue)
Virginia Bryant	...	Canary
Sheeba Alahani	...	China
Michael Berryman	...	Dirtmaster
Franco Pistoni	...	Ibar
Raffaella Baracchi	...	Allura
Pasquale Bellazecca	...	Kutchek as a young boy
Luigi Bellazecca	...	Gore as a young boy
Wilma Marzilli	...	Fat Woman
Giovanni Cianfriglia	...	Ghedo - Strongman
Angelo Ragusa	...	Kadar's Man
Nanni Bernini	...	Kadar's Man

Also Known As:

I barbari (Italy)
The Barbarian Brothers (International: English title)
The Barbarians and Co. (Italy)

Runtime:

87 min

Country:

USA | Italy

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Telecolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Certification:

Italy:T | South Korea:12 | USA:R | West Germany:12 | Canada:AA (Ontario) | Iceland:16

Filming Locations:

Campo Imperatore, L'Aquila, Abruzzo, Italy

Company:

Cannon Films

Movie Connections:

Featured in "Svengoolie: The Barbarians" (1999)

Soundtrack:

Ruby Dawn

Uber Trashy!!!

When I decided to watch THE BARBARIANS, starring those twin bodybuilders, Peter and David Paul, I thought it couldn't be that bad because the film was directed by Ruggero Deodato, who has a reputation for creating sleazy movies but well made sleazy movies. Well, THE BARBARIANS is remarkably trashy action/adventure movie that wants to be another CONAN THE BARBARIAN, and fails at every level. The look of the film is all wrong. Some scenes were well shot but the tone and the schintzy, tacky "disco" look of the clothes and hair people are adorned with just doesn't make any sense whatsoever, even for a low budget flick like this one.

Richard Lynch looks like an old woman with that ridiculous hairdo and costume. He's supposed to be menacing but he comes across as a buffoon. And it's funny to see Eva LaRue Callahan, one of the stars of ALL MY CHILDREN, appear in her first movie, walking around in skimpy fur bikini. I'm sure she wants this dreck to disappear from the face of the earth! The so-called Barbarian twins are okay as the muscle bound heroes but it's almost impossible to construct a proper critique of their acting because their roles are, like everything else in this mess, really ill-conceived. The only way the film tries to differentiate one twin from the other is by having one twin wear a loincloth that covers his ass, while the other twin's loincloth barely covers his muscular butt. I'm not kidding! Don't ask me who's who though.

Deodato must have been really desperate to agree to make this film. And his desperation is reflected perfectly in this trashy flick. It's just bad.