It’s hard to believe that Sword and Sorcery used to be one of the most popular (not to mention badass) genres in film. While the 80s boasted gems like Conan the Barbarian, Dragonslayer and even animated classics like Fire and Ice, in 2018 it feels like the days of high adventure are all but dead. Hollywood has repeatedly attempted to revive the genre, but none of these new films seem to have the magical qualities that made the older movies so memorable. Luckily for us, Russian filmmaker Rustam Mosafir is attempting to change that with The Last Warrior, a historical fantasy flick with a fresh Slavic perspective.
The Last Warrior stars Aleksey Faddeev as Lutobor, a noble soldier who becomes unwittingly involved in a tangled web of tribal warfare and political intrigue. When his family is kidnapped by a rival tribe, Lutobor is shunned by his people and embarks on a perilous rescue mission, reluctantly aided by the cunning enemy-turned-ally Weasel, played by Aleksandr Kuznetsov. A kind of fantasy road movie ensues as this unlikely duo is forced to work together as they travel through medieval Eurasia on a hazardous trek that may cost them everything.
Featuring the familiar Russian blend of brutal action sequences and exciting cinematography, The Last Warrior isn’t quite ready to join the aforementioned sword and sorcery classics, but it’s still a surprisingly solid adventure with more than a few tricks up its sleeve, despite an overreliance on age-old fantasy tropes.
The unique setting serves as the film’s greatest asset, providing viewers with an interesting and exotic background that feels just familiar enough to make due without lengthy historical exposition. The Russian Steppes also make for some gorgeous cinematography, greatly adding to the film’s production value and overall atmosphere.
However, while the stunning locations and curious mythology are a breath of fresh air, there’s little else that sets The Last Warrior apart from other similar tales of swashbuckling adventure. Faddeev’s Lutabor doesn’t feel like a fully-rounded character either, and his performance is lacking in some much-needed charisma. Honestly, it would be hard to pick him out of a lineup of other similar medieval protagonists.
Weasel, on the other hand, is a surprisingly nuanced companion on Lutabor’s quest, and their uneasy truce makes for some of the film’s best moments. Kuznetsov’s character also steals the show in many of the movie’s action sequences, which are almost all extremely energetic and gloriously violent. These sequences are probably the most compelling reason to see this film, especially if you’re tired of the ever-growing trend of bloodless PG-13 sword fighting.
Ultimately, The Last Warrior manages to overcome most of its creative shortcomings through efficient world-building and some exciting set-pieces. While the script’s fantastical exploration of a tumultuous time in Eurasia’s history does have some amount of depth, it’s a shame that many concepts and characters aren’t fully developed. While I’d recommend this movie to anyone looking for some no-holds-barred medieval action, viewers shouldn’t expect anything on par with the glory days of cinematic Sword and Sorcery.
The Last Warrior arrives on DVD, Blu-ray and VOD on August 14, 2018.
