Red Scorpion (1989)

User Rating:

4.0/10   

Director:

Joseph Zito

Writers:

Jack Abramoff (story)
Robert Abramoff (story)

Release Date:

19 April 1989 (USA)

Genre:

Action | Adventure

Tagline:

He's a human killing machine. Taught to stalk. Trained to kill. Programmed to destroy. He's played by their rules... Until now.

Plot:

A Russian KGB agent is sent to Africa to kill an anti-Communist black revolutionary. However, he has...

Plot Keywords:

Russian | Agent | Tribe | Anti Communist | Africa

Cast

Dolph Lundgren	...	Lt. Nikolai Rachenko
M. Emmet Walsh	...	Dewey Ferguson
Al White	...	Kallunda Kintash
T.P. McKenna	...	General Vortek
Carmen Argenziano	...	Colonel Zayas
Alex Colon	...	Sgt. Mendez
Brion James	...	Krasnov
Ruben Nthodi	...	Ango Sundata
Vuzi Dibukwana	...	Guerilla Officer
James Mthoba	...	Guerilla Officer
Dinky Motsemme	...	Guerilla Officer
Ernest Ndhlovu	...	Guerilla Guard & Guerilla (as Ernest Ndlovu)
Thapelo Mofokeng	...	Guerilla (as Thapeld Mofokeng)
Mxolisi Hulana	...	Guerilla
Nicky Rebello	...	Occupation Officer (as Nicky Rebelo)

Also Known As:

Red Exterminator (Philippines: English title) (new title)

Runtime:

105 min | Germany:98 min (cut version)

Country:

South Africa | USA | Namibia

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Certification:

West Germany:16 (heavily cut) | West Germany:18 (cut) (video premiere) | Germany:18 (DVD rating) (uncut) | Finland:K-16 | Spain:18 | Finland:K-15 (DVD rating) | South Korea:15 | Australia:M | France:U | Norway:18 (video premiere) | Sweden:15 | UK:15 | USA:R | Singapore:NC-16 | Germany:BPjM Restricted

Filming Locations:

Namibia

Company:

Abramoff Production

Trivia:

The film was shot in South Africa, thereby breaking an international boycott against the country for its practice of apartheid. At one point, funding for the film was pulled, leaving the cast and crew stuck in Johannesburg for three months while they waited for the film's budget to be reclaimed.

Quotes:

Colonel Zayas: Are you out of your mind?
Lt. Nikolai: No. Just out of bullets.
[Burps]

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "Durch die Nacht mit...: Dolph Lundgren und Ralph Herforth" (2006)

Soundtrack:

Long Tall Sally

A classic bit of 80s action cheddar

All true film fans must check out this classic example of the genre. Dolph Lundgren, never a poor man's Arnie by any standards, stars as Nikolai - a Russsian 'spech-nach' special forces, one man army type. There's a corny American journalist dude who likes rock n roll and democracy, a bushman who wanders around (yup you guessed it - Dolph switches sides and helps out the local tribespeople against his evil, commie ex-comrades) and there's the Russian Hind helicopter. Even if this sounds like pure hell you should check it out. Made in 89, it's a strange bit of forgotten film history - dozens of Rambo-style war movies came out at this time, preaching the sort of right wing Ronald Regan style pro-American politics. Most disappeared without trace but this sticks out. Dolph Lundgren in his prime, lots of AKs, a Raiders of the Lost Ark style Lorry chase - what more could you want?