Red Scorpion

Red Scorpion (1988)

Genres - Action, Adventure, War  |   Sub-Genres - Action Thriller  |   Release Date - Apr 19, 1989 (USA)  |   Run Time - 102 min.  |   Countries - Namibia, United States, South Africa  |   MPAA Rating - R
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Synopsis by Robert Firsching

Dolph Lundgren stars in this controversial action film directed by Joseph Zito (Missing in Action). The beefy Swede plays Soviet KGB agent Lt. Nikolai, who is sent to Africa with orders to eliminate a black rebel. Eventually, Nikolai begins to side with the locals, has a red scorpion tattooed on his chest by a shaman, and helps fight against the Cubans and the Soviets. Horror fans should note Tom Savini's expert gore effects during a torture scene, while others will be pleased with a fine supporting cast including M. Emmet Walsh, Carmen Argenziano, and Brion James. The film was originally commissioned by Warner Bros., which dropped it after controversy over its South African genesis, but they might as well have dropped it for its endless desert treks and uninvolving screenplay. An unrelated Canadian sequel followed five years later.

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Moods

Keywords

against-all-odds, allegiance, assassination, double-agent, espionage, infiltration, journey, killing, officer, one-against-odds, oppression, rebel-leader, soldier, switching-loyalty