Flesh+Blood [Flesh and Blood] **** (1985, Rutger Hauer, Jennifer Jason Leigh, Tom Burlinson) – Classic Movie Review 8757

The controversial 1985 Flesh+Blood [Flesh and Blood] is a gruesomely realistic sword and sorcery adventure movie, handsomely well made by director Paul Verhoeven, and starring Rutger Hauer as the medieval mercenary outlaw band leader Martin, who captures betrothed damsel Agnes (Jennifer Jason Leigh) and behaves very badly. Agnes is the betrothed of the son of a noble lord who has made the mistake of deciding not to pay the mercenaries, who hole up in a castle while plague and battles devastate the land.

The medieval world is summoned up in all its horrible detail (this is probably what it must have really been like), but the magnetic Hauer is a dashing, compelling anti-hero and Verhoeven films with great style, verve and relentless gusto.

It varies from the exciting and imaginative to the crude and revolting, so that, for some, this will be more than flesh and blood can stand, especially in the uncut version.

The screenplay by Gerard Soeteman and Paul Verhoeven is based on Soeteman’s story.

Also in the cast are Tom Burlinson, Jack Thompson, Susan Tyrrell, Ronald Lacey, Brion James, Bruno Kirby, Fernando Hilbeck, John Dennis Johnston, Simon Andreu, Kitty Corubois, Marina Saura, Hans Veerman, Jake Wood, Hector Alterio, Nancy Cartwright and Jorge Bosso.

It was way too dark and lusty for American tastes. It cost $6,500,000 and grossed only $100,000 in the US.

It runs 128 minutes (uncut) or 126 minutes.

Flesh + Blood [Flesh and Blood] is directed by Paul Verhoeven, 128 or 126 minutes, is made by Impala and Riverside Pictures, is released by Orion Pictures (1985) (US) and Rank Film Distributors (1986) (UK), is written by Gerard Soeteman and Paul Verhoeven, based on Gerard Soeteman’s story, is shot by Jan de Bont, is produced by Gys Versluys, is scored by Basil Poledouris and is designed by Felix Murcia.

It is a Holland, Spain and US co-production.

Hauer reunited with Jennifer Jason Leigh for The Hitcher.

Rutger Hauer (1944–2019).

RIP the awesome Rutger Hauer (1944–2019). Best known for Blade Runner (as Roy Batty) and The Hitcher, he won a Golden Globe for Escape from Sobibor (1987). He also appeared in Nighthawks, Eureka, The Osterman Weekend, A Breed Apart, Ladyhawke, Flesh and Blood, Buffy the Vampire Slayer (1992) as Lothos, Surviving the Game, Sin City (2005) as Cardinal Roark, Batman Begins (2005) as Earle and Hobo with a Shotgun (2011) as Hobo.

© Derek Winnert 2019 Classic Movie Review 8757

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