When axe-wielding barbarian Kull (Kevin Sorbo) lucks into becoming the new king of Acheron, rightful heir-apparent General Taligaro (Thomas Ian Griffith) bites his lip and plays along. However, once Kull starts freeing the slaves and making other changes that upset the rich and wealthy and win favor with his subjects, Taligaro seeks the help of wizard Enaros (Edward Tudor-Pole) so he can reclaim the topaz throne for himself. They resurrect the red witch Akivasha (Tia Carrere), the former Sorceress queen of Acheron, to seduce and get rid of Kull. However, the witch develops feelings for Kull, locking him up rather than killing him. Now that the Queen has returned, the whole kingdom of Valusia will literally become Hell on Earth in just 6 days unless Kull can stop the witch. So, with the help of fortune teller Zareta (Karina Lombard), high priest Ascalante (Litefoot), and old friend/pirate scoundrel Juba (Harvey Fierstein), he sets out on a dangerous quest to find the mystical Breath of Valka, the only thing powerful enough to extinguish the flame of Acheron, the source of Akivasha’s power, and restore the kingdom of Valusia.
Released in 1997, Kull the Conqueror is your typical swords and sorcery fantasy tale, with lots of magic, action & adventure and a love triangle, but also with humor. There are lots of one-liners, such as when Kull finds out that his bride is over 3000 years old, and he quips, “she said she was 19”. There is a running joke of Akivasha torturing and mistreating wizard Enaros, and Harvey Fierstein’s Juba is also brought in to add some levity. The story is pretty much your standard fantasy quest, with some obstacles for the hero along the way. However, the fight/action scenes (which are well-choreographed) make use of a high octane rock/heavy metal score that really amps things up. I never really watched the Hercules: The Legendary Journeys series, but I suspect this series is why Kevin Sorbo was cast in this role, as it seems quite similar. Kull is a bit cocky and self-assured, but overall quite charming and affable, and a benevolent king who cares about his subjects. There is an instant connection that forms between him and Zareta, though she is not royal and thus not on his radar for a bride. Enter the alluring Akivasha, who has this power over Kull that makes him instantly fall in love with her. Sure, the film is a bit campy and over-acted at times, but it feels like this fun vibe is what the filmmakers were going for—a film that is a solid fantasy film, but also doesn’t take itself too seriously.
Like many of this month’s other Retro VHS releases from Mill Creek, this disc is barebones, just offering a basic menu with Play and Subtitle On/Off selections, and just the film’s trailer. Kull The Conqueror had previously been released on Blu-ray by Universal in 2015, also with no bonus material. This re-release likely features the same audio and video presentation as that previous Blu-ray, which is pretty solid. The opening of the film is a bit dark and grainy at times, but after that the picture looks very good. Closeups look great, with a clean, clear picture and an excellent amount of detail in faces. Wider shots don’t look quite as detailed, but still very nice, with a pleasant amount of film grain. The audio track makes excellent use of the stereo and surround channels to provide a fully-immersive viewing experience. In the opening moments of the film, things can be heard whizzing back and forth across the room, and during the film the ambiance is filled with the sounds of owls hooting, storms and winds blowing, horses riding in, the clanking of metal swords, and more. The audio track also provides clear dialogue, when not filling the room with the film’s loud metal score.
The Blu-ray disc comes packed in a standard Blu-ray keepcase, with a Retro VHS slipcover that makes the release look like a classic VHS rental tape. The details on these slipcovers are really fun, and the design even extends to the spine as well, allowing these discs to displayed like a collection of VHS tapes on your shelf.
What’s Included:
Film: (1:35:37)
- 1080p / Widescreen 2.35:1
- Audio: English 5.1 DTS-HD Master Audio
- Subtitles: English SDH
Extras:
- Trailer (1:13)
Presented in Full Frame format.
Final Thoughts:
While Kull the Conqueror follows a pretty typical swords and sorcery fantasy storyline, it goes for a more fun, humorous approach while also taking advantage of a unique hard rock score. The film has a great cast and features some nice action sequences. The Blu-ray presentation looks and sounds great, but is lacking in bonus material. For fans who already own Universal’s previous release of this title, there is no need to double-dip as the contents of this release appear to be the same. However, for fans of the film, or those looking for a fun fantasy film, this release is definitely worth a look.
