Rating summary

Movie		3.0
Video		3.0
Audio		3.0
Extras		3.0
Overall		3.0

Conquest Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Brian Orndorf October 25, 2020

The success of 1982’s “Conan the Barbarian” showed the international film industry that sword and sorcery could be made in the wild, limiting the need for sets and top talent, with audiences responding to a showcase of ultraviolence in wide open spaces. Of course, “Conan the Barbarian” was a polished studio offering, but the knockoffs came fast and furious, inspiring producers and directors to provide their own take on strong men in tiny outfits doing battle with supernatural foes in charge of their own cults. Prolific moviemaker Lucio Fulci joins the trend with 1983’s “Conquest,” an Italian submission of Conan-esque craziness, only the helmer is more interested in the visual power of raw violence and sexuality, following a pair of warriors going up against a topless enchantress. As with most Fulci offerings, “Conquest” is not about cinematic hospital corners, with the endeavor striving to do what it can with a tight shooting schedule and limited budgetary might, supplying a thoroughly weird viewing experience that’s filled with monsters, magical weapons, and half-explained mysticism.

In a fantasy world, Ilias (Andrea Occhipinti) has been gifted a magical bow and sent on a quest to defeat the evil enchantress, Ocron (Sabrina Siani), who rules with an army of werewolf warriors and command of dark magic. Ilias doesn’t have the experience to take on the might of such power, struggling to cross a dangerous land populated with multiple monstrous foes. Coming to his aid is Mace (Jorge Rivero), an outlaw with a special love for animals. Teaming up to survive the adventure, the men endure multiple attacks as Ocron escalates her wrath, using her powers to destroy various tribes across the land, forcing Mace and Ilias to summon their might and intelligence to survive, hunting for a way to reach their enemy and save the world.

Fulci doesn’t delay the horrors of “Conquest,” which opens with a display of Ocron’s savagery, sending her monsters to literally tear apart a young woman, an event that’s sold with vivid detail by the production. Fulci loves his violence, or perhaps he simply knows his audience, commencing the story with gross-out events to solidify the villain’s wicked ways and the power of her furry army. Even better, her gang doesn’t pass on a chance to experience fantasy world cocaine, with the werewolves helping one another to a snoot-full of powder, while Ocron uses the drug to reach into the dreamworld, learning more about her challengers and their desire to destroy her, ending her reign as a tightly masked, no-top-wearing queen of doom. Only 1983 could deliver such a moment.

“Conquest” details Ilias’s journey into danger, where he’s soon joined by Mace, a muscular man who’s careful to protect animals, but has no problem eating them if someone else does the killing. Mace is an odd guy. However, he’s the guy Ilias needs to get anywhere in this dangerous world, introducing the young man to a friendly tribe, which provides a brief sexual experience for the seemingly virginal messiah. He’s also handy with local medicine when Ilias is hit by a poisoned dart, leaving him covered in oozing boils. Most of “Conquest” remains with the guys and their challenges, engaging in battles with werewolves and zombies, helped out by friendly dolphins. Ocron’s situation is monitored as well, bringing in a special assassin to finish off the heroes, while Fulci remains focused on photographing Siani’s body.

Conquest Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Where does one even begin with this film? "Conquest" was shot with all sorts of intense filters and soft focus, wildfire-esque smoke, and bizarre lighting, with director Lucio Fulci trying to achieve some sort of dreamlike look for the feature, preserving its fantasy intent and, more likely, hoping to cover obvious production limitations. The AVC encoded image (1.85:1 aspect ratio) presentation is billed as a "New 2019 HD Master," and maybe it is, but this movie certainly wasn't built with clarity in mind. Detail does what it can, occasionally finding faint textures with makeup effects and full-body posing. Costuming handles with some leathery and metallic smoothness. Softness is king here, with general cinematographic haze dominating, and it appears (at least around the 86:55 mark) that an upscaled video source was used to patch a few presentation holes. Colors are acceptable, with extreme lighting and greenery adequate with this outdoor adventure. Cult hues offer more reds, yellows, and silver. Delineation is passable. Source has its rough patches, with debris and scratches common. Grain is thick and noisy.

Conquest Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

The 2.0 DTS-HD MA generally favors scoring efforts over dubbed dialogue exchanged, with the music loud and present throughout the listening experience, offering a pronounced stereo event. Performances aren't always defined to satisfaction, with music periodically diminishing intelligibility, though this isn't the type of production that values thespian participation. Sound effects are crude but understood.

Conquest Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

• Intro (8:40, HD) features "Conquest" star Jorge Rivero sitting down with Banana Man to discuss…well, nothing much. It's not really an intro, but more of a chat with Rivero, who discusses his Hollywood Hills home, exercise routine, dual citizenship, retirement, local hangouts, and friends. Banana Man tries to lure Rivero into bad mouthing co-stars and filmmakers, but the interviewee gracefully avoids taking the bait. The conversation closes with Rivero sharing his position as a polyglot.

• Interview (23:08, HD) returns to Rivera, who details his "Conquest" experience, working with Lucio Fulci, who was initially enthusiastic about the production and the actor's limited costume, warning him to "not get fat" during the shoot. Working on a small Mediterranean Sea island, Rivera experienced Fulci's impatience and occasional inability to make decisions, while producers eventually ran out of money, forcing the director to turn to his cast for support. Weapons are recalled and co-stars are assessed, and the ever-changing "Conquest" title for international markets is debated. Rivera moves on to explore other career highlights, including 1967's "Operation 67," where he co-starred with the famous luchador hero, El Santo. Other memories are offered for "Soldier Blue," "The Sin of Adam and Eve," "Evil Eye," "The Last Hard Men," "Day of the Assassin," "Killing Machine," and "Fist Fighter." Rivera's most treasured creative accomplishment is "Rio Lobo," working with Howard Hawks and learning of his casting from John Wayne, who enjoyed his screen test.

• And a Theatrical Trailer (1:28, HD) is included.

Conquest Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

Nothing really makes sense in "Conquest," but that appears to be the idea, with cinematographer Alejandro Ulloa soaking the feature in smoke and soft focus to conjure the atmosphere of a strange land, and composer Claudio Simonetti works his synth sound in full, providing an active score for the endeavor, looking to add excitement when iffy looking monsters and poor makeup effects can't quite get the job done. "Conquest" delves into dream logic and magic to get the juices flowing, but it remains a B-movie despite its effort to look and feel epic. Fulci isn't refined enough as a director to really get something propulsive going with "Conquest," but exploitation additions are certainly eye-catching, offering fans of sword and sorcery a periodically brutal and ogle-heavy viewing event. It's no "Conan the Barbarian," but that film didn't have cocaine parties, werewolf soldiers, and dolphin pals. Perhaps Fulci was on to something after all.