This peplum adventure is for those who like their tales mythological in nature, concerning as it does all manner of monsters and evil creatures. While it's not as well made as the films which came before it, and the plot can hardly be called inspired, this is an entertaining little film which benefits from a wealth of action and not too much talk. The main flaw with this film is the plot, which seems all too convenient - perhaps contrived - in places, and offers up a by-the-numbers battle between Perseus, our hero, and an evil ruler from another kingdom who happens to be an egomaniac. The monster battles are just incidental along the way.
While it may not be as well made as real classics like MACISTE AGAINST THE VAMPIRE, there is still much to enjoy with this incredibly rare movie. Not least the many battles and fight scenes which are scattered throughout, ranging from hand-to-hand to large scale at the end. The acting is another thing to this film's disadvantage, as aside from the lead, most of the actors and actresses appear stilted and unconvincing in their roles. The baddie just isn't bad enough, the romantic interest just isn't glamorous enough, and everybody else might as well be cardboard cut-outs. Only Richard Harrison (from a bit part in MASTER OF THE WORLD to this!) saves the day. Harrison may not be the most muscular of peplum heroes, but he has a certain quality about him - which Gordon Scott shared - which made him appealing to the camera, and likable as a heroic figure. Watching Harrison dodge arrows and getting whipped by an enemy, you're in for a good time.
Chiefly of interest to me were the two monsters this film has to offer; a dragon and the Medusa. Let's study the dragon first. I have to say that this is an EXTREMELY convincing model, only not so in later scenes where you see the entire, immobile body of it. I actually wondered when some kind of real reptile was used but no, it's just a very realistic looking model. The scenes of it eating people and Harrison battling it are great in an old-fashioned childhood fun sense, an example of the peplum genre at its finest. It's just a shame that due to poor editing, the death of the beast remains unseen.
The Medusa has its good points and bad points. On the bad side, if you're expecting something traditional you'll be mistaken. This Medusa looks more like a walking tree with bendy branches sticking out of it. A nice effort, but one that doesn't cut it. On the plus side, this creature actually reminded me of a Lovecraftian creature in a way, and by viewing it in this frame of mind, it's pretty darned good. I loved the valley of the Medusa's victims, a barren wasteland packed with statues of paralysed men - the visuals here are wonderful.
As this film is so hard to come by, I had to get an American copy. There's an amusing little ditty at the beginning of the film, an attempt to tie it into the 'Sons of Hercules' series, although as the original title (PERSEUS THE INVINCIBLE) suggests, this had nothing to do with Hercules whatsoever. Unfortunately the tape I watched had terrible sound quality. For the first half, it's crackly and frequently drops out in scenes where the mock epic-sounding score places. In the second half, the voices of all the characters deepen suddenly, which is somewhat disconcerting! MEDUSA AGAINST THE SON OF HERCULES is a fun adventure film, enjoyable to watch if you're not too critical. Just ignore the low budget and have a good time, like I did.
While it may not be as well made as real classics like MACISTE AGAINST THE VAMPIRE, there is still much to enjoy with this incredibly rare movie. Not least the many battles and fight scenes which are scattered throughout, ranging from hand-to-hand to large scale at the end. The acting is another thing to this film's disadvantage, as aside from the lead, most of the actors and actresses appear stilted and unconvincing in their roles. The baddie just isn't bad enough, the romantic interest just isn't glamorous enough, and everybody else might as well be cardboard cut-outs. Only Richard Harrison (from a bit part in MASTER OF THE WORLD to this!) saves the day. Harrison may not be the most muscular of peplum heroes, but he has a certain quality about him - which Gordon Scott shared - which made him appealing to the camera, and likable as a heroic figure. Watching Harrison dodge arrows and getting whipped by an enemy, you're in for a good time.
Chiefly of interest to me were the two monsters this film has to offer; a dragon and the Medusa. Let's study the dragon first. I have to say that this is an EXTREMELY convincing model, only not so in later scenes where you see the entire, immobile body of it. I actually wondered when some kind of real reptile was used but no, it's just a very realistic looking model. The scenes of it eating people and Harrison battling it are great in an old-fashioned childhood fun sense, an example of the peplum genre at its finest. It's just a shame that due to poor editing, the death of the beast remains unseen.
The Medusa has its good points and bad points. On the bad side, if you're expecting something traditional you'll be mistaken. This Medusa looks more like a walking tree with bendy branches sticking out of it. A nice effort, but one that doesn't cut it. On the plus side, this creature actually reminded me of a Lovecraftian creature in a way, and by viewing it in this frame of mind, it's pretty darned good. I loved the valley of the Medusa's victims, a barren wasteland packed with statues of paralysed men - the visuals here are wonderful.
As this film is so hard to come by, I had to get an American copy. There's an amusing little ditty at the beginning of the film, an attempt to tie it into the 'Sons of Hercules' series, although as the original title (PERSEUS THE INVINCIBLE) suggests, this had nothing to do with Hercules whatsoever. Unfortunately the tape I watched had terrible sound quality. For the first half, it's crackly and frequently drops out in scenes where the mock epic-sounding score places. In the second half, the voices of all the characters deepen suddenly, which is somewhat disconcerting! MEDUSA AGAINST THE SON OF HERCULES is a fun adventure film, enjoyable to watch if you're not too critical. Just ignore the low budget and have a good time, like I did.