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Red Scorpion

  • 19881988
  • RR
  • 1h 45m
IMDb RATING
5.1/10
8.9K
YOUR RATING
  • Cast & crew
  • User reviews
  • Trivia
  • IMDbPro
Dolph Lundgren in Red Scorpion (1988)
A Spetsnaz commando is sent on a covert mission by his Soviet superiors to infiltrate a rebel army and assassinate its leader.
Play trailer1:51
1 Video
65 Photos
  • Action
  • Adventure

A Spetsnaz commando is sent on a covert mission by his Soviet superiors to infiltrate a rebel army and assassinate its leader.A Spetsnaz commando is sent on a covert mission by his Soviet superiors to infiltrate a rebel army and assassinate its leader.A Spetsnaz commando is sent on a covert mission by his Soviet superiors to infiltrate a rebel army and assassinate its leader.

IMDb RATING
5.1/10
8.9K
YOUR RATING
  • Director
    • Joseph Zito
  • Writers
    • Robert Abramoff(story by)
    • Jack Abramoff(story by)
    • Arne Olsen(story by)
  • Stars
    • Dolph Lundgren
    • M. Emmet Walsh
    • Al White
Top credits
  • Director
    • Joseph Zito
  • Writers
    • Robert Abramoff(story by)
    • Jack Abramoff(story by)
    • Arne Olsen(story by)
  • Stars
    • Dolph Lundgren
    • M. Emmet Walsh
    • Al White
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 66User reviews
    • 73Critic reviews
  • See more at IMDbPro
  • Videos1

    Trailer
    Trailer 1:51
    Trailer

    Photos65

    Red Scorpion (1988)
    Red Scorpion (1988)
    Red Scorpion (1988)
    Red Scorpion (1988)
    Red Scorpion (1988)
    Dolph Lundgren in Red Scorpion (1988)
    Red Scorpion (1988)
    Red Scorpion (1988)
    Dolph Lundgren in Red Scorpion (1988)
    Dolph Lundgren in Red Scorpion (1988)
    Red Scorpion (1988)
    Dolph Lundgren and M. Emmet Walsh in Red Scorpion (1988)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Dolph Lundgren
    Dolph Lundgren
    • Lt. Nikolai Rachenkoas Lt. Nikolai Rachenko
    M. Emmet Walsh
    M. Emmet Walsh
    • Dewey Fergusonas Dewey Ferguson
    Al White
    Al White
    • Kallunda Kintashas Kallunda Kintash
    T.P. McKenna
    T.P. McKenna
    • General Vortekas General Vortek
    Carmen Argenziano
    Carmen Argenziano
    • Col. Zayasas Col. Zayas
    Alex Colon
    Alex Colon
    • Mendezas Mendez
    Brion James
    Brion James
    • Sgt. Krasnovas Sgt. Krasnov
    Ruben Nthodi
    • Ango Sundataas Ango Sundata
    Vusi Dibakwane
    • Guerilla Officeras Guerilla Officer
    • (as Vuzi Dibukwana)
    James Mthoba
    • Guerilla Officeras Guerilla Officer
    Dinky Motsemme
    • Guerilla Officeras Guerilla Officer
    Ernest Ndlovu
    • Guerilla Guardas Guerilla Guard…
    Thapelo Mofokeng
    • Guerillaas Guerilla
    • (as Thapeld Mofokeng)
    Mxolisi Hulana
    • Guerillaas Guerilla
    Nicky Rebelo
    • Occupation Officeras Occupation Officer
    Drummond Marais
    • Occupation Officeras Occupation Officer
    Charles Comyn
    • Occupation Officeras Occupation Officer
    Tullio Moneta
    • Occupation Soldieras Occupation Soldier
    • (as Tulio Moneta)
    • Director
      • Joseph Zito
    • Writers
      • Robert Abramoff(story by)
      • Jack Abramoff(story by)
      • Arne Olsen(story by) (screenplay by)
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro
    • All cast & crew

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    Storyline

    Edit
    Hesitating in the moment he is about to kill the rebel leader, Nikolai fails and is captured. Rather than being killed outright, he is forced to undergo a shamanic initiation ritual. The ingestion of the poison of a local scorpion, and his initiation ceremony, including scarification (a scorpion), give him a new identity and role in the world: the Red Scorpion. —Phillip Batz
    • swedish actor playing foreigner
    • strongman
    • muscleman
    • bare chested male
    • torture
    • 143 more
    • Plot summary
    • Plot synopsis
    • Taglines
      • He's a human killing machine. Taught to stalk. Trained to kill. Programmed to destroy. He's played by their rules... Until now.
    • Genres
      • Action
      • Adventure
    • Certificate
      • R
    • Parents guide

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      The filmmakers used a real bushmen tribe and Regopstaan was their 95 years old leader who only agreed to play in the movie if his tribe can follow him everywhere.
    • Goofs
      When Lt. Nikolai Rachenko is lifting the truck out of the ground in the final battle, he props his gun up leaning on the truck. As he lifts, the gun noticeably slides off; in the next shot, it's standing up again.
    • Quotes

      Dewey Ferguson: Man, what I'd give for a bacon-cheeseburger right now. Wash it down with an icecold glass of beer. Fuckin' A.

      Kallunda: When we arrive at Porto Silva, there will be a celebration, and much feasting. Beer too.

      Dewey Ferguson: Fuckin' A!

      Lt. Nikolai: Do the americans all swear so much as you do?

      Dewey Ferguson: As a matter of fact, in America, an american can swear whenever, wherever, however much he or she fuckin' well pleases! It's a little something we call freedom of speech, which I'm sure you russians aren't real familiar with!

      Lt. Nikolai: We are free to swear.

      Dewey Ferguson: Well yippee dee *fuck*! Guess I've got you bastards figured out totally wrong after all! I'll take the first watch. Shit!

      [He walks away]

      Dewey Ferguson: Shit! Shit! Shit!

      Lt. Nikolai: Noisy little fuck.

    • Crazy credits
      Sound effects of various weapons firing and exploding are heard over the Little Richard song the plays during the closing credits.
    • Alternate versions
      The 18-rated German Video-Release is cut by two scenes. The first cut was made at the torture scene not showing a needle stab in the neck of the victim. The second cut was made, where Dolph Lundgren shoots off the arm of the cuban soldier
    • Connections
      Edited into The Cyprus Tigers (1990)
    • Soundtracks
      Jenny, Jenny
      Performed by Little Richard

      Words & Music by Enotris Johnson (as Johnson) & Little Richard (as Penniman)

      Courtesy of Specialty Records

    User reviews66

    Review
    Top review
    6/10
    Good for what it is.
    Can't say I fell in love with this movie but it has a certain appeal to it. As far as cheesy, overblown, 80's, B-action movie flicks go, this is being a petty enjoyable and good movie for what it is!

    There were certainly certain aspects about this movie that I appreciated. One was its story. Not that it's being much good or anything cleverly written but it at least takes the movie to plenty of good places and meets some good characters along the way. And how many actions movies set in rural Africa are out there anyway? The movie is great and unique already, just because of that.

    Another thing I also liked about the movie and its story was that Dolph Lundgren was being both the villain and main hero of the movie. There isn't really being a main villains in this, since Dolph Lundgren is already on the 'wrong' side and along the way switches sides, as he is growing more and more sympathy for his objective and their cause. the transitions his characters go through are pretty good to watch and gives the movie and its story something extra and more depth. It's probably also part of the reason why this movie is often being regarded as the ultimate Dolph Lundgren movie.

    And this movie also definitely benefits from Lundgren's presence. He's a very charismatic lead, even while he doesn't speak an awful lot. He handles all of the action very well, both the hand to hand combat scenes as the ones in which he has to handle a large gun.

    The action itself is always something decent enough. Certainly nothing that blew me away but there are still some large setup moments that are great to watch and definitely something the '80's action movie lover should enjoy and appreciate.

    It's still being a totally silly and overblown action movie of course but if you're able to take it as just that, you'll most likely have a good time watching this movie.

    6/10

    http://bobafett1138.blogspot.com/
    helpful•3
    1
    • Boba_Fett1138
    • Aug 4, 2012

    FAQ1

    • What are the differences between the R-Rated and Unrated Version?

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • April 21, 1989 (United States)
    • Countries of origin
      • United States
      • South Africa
      • Namibia
    • Languages
      • English
      • Russian
    • Also known as
      • Kızıl akrep
    • Filming locations
      • Namibia
    • Production companies
      • Abramoff Production
      • Scorpion Film Production
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Budget
      • $16,000,000 (estimated)
    • Gross US & Canada
      • $4,192,440
    • Opening weekend US & Canada
      • $1,972,994
      • Apr 23, 1989
    • Gross worldwide
      • $4,192,440
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 45 minutes
    • Color
      • Color
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.85 : 1

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