Rutger Hauer

Jennifer Jason Leigh

Tom Burlinson

Jack Thompson

Susan Tyrrell

Ronald Lacey

Brion James

John Dennis Johnston

Bruno Kirby

Fernando Hilbeck

Marina Saura

Kitty Courbois

Simón Andreu

Jake Wood

Hans Veerman

Héctor Alterio

Blanca Marsillach

Nancy Cartwright

Jorge Bosso

Mario De Barros

Ida Bons

Jaime Segura

Bettina Brenner

Siobhan Hayes

Susan Beresford

Mònica Lucchetti

Anne Lockhart

Gerard Soeteman

Paul Verhoeven

Valorie Massalas

Mike Fenton

Gijs Versluys

Basil Poledouris

Ine Schenkkan

Jane Feinberg

Félix Murcia

Yvonne Blake

Jan de Bont

Pedro Camacho Sánchez

Miguel Sesé

Koldo Vallés

Francisca Guillot

Elly Claus

Kathy Kühne

Remmelt Remmelts

José Antonio Sáinz de Vicuña

Nick Meijer

Tom Tholen

Robert Easton

Peter De Bont

Joe Murphy

Malcolm R. Harding

David Middlemas

John Tak

José Luis Martínez

Lucas Uranga

Marc Nolens

José Sacristán

Victoriano Terrón

Rachel Griffiths

José Panizo

Jindra Markus

César Benítez

Camilo Vila

Jack Smalley

Anastasio Díaz

Kees Linthorst

Danniel Danniel

Solier Fagundez

Julián Martín

Timoteo Navado

Marc Koninckx

Hugo Van Baren

Nick Hosker

Carlos Alonzo Roco

Carlos Orengo

Juan Maján

Javier Piementel

Joaquín Olías

Genevieve Saifi

Pablo Espinosa

Martín Díaz Porras

Adventure

Drama

Flesh + Blood

Impala

Riverside Pictures

Netherlands

Spain

United States of America

English

Latin

rape

kidnapping

mercenary

prince

castle

sword fight

betrayal

priest

soldier

falling in love

battle

medieval

nobility

black death

science vs religion

statue

candid

sword and sorcery

cruel

scathing

***Moral ambiguities and barbaric reality in post-Medieval Europe***

At the beginning of the 16th century in plague-ridden Western Europe an uncouth band of lawless mercenaries led by the charismatic Martin (Rutger Hauer) kidnap a virgin noblewoman (Jennifer Jason Leigh) as revenge against a double-dealing Lord (Fernando Hilbeck). The tough commoners hole up in a small castle while the Lord’s son, Steven (Tom Burlinson), tries to save his betrothed (Leigh) with his militia.

While the events in "Flesh+Blood" (1985) take place just after the medieval period, it could be categorized as a medieval flick. It takes the general setting & color of “The Last Valley” (1971) and mixes-in the music & tone of “Conan the Barbarian” (1982) with genius Basil Poledouris scoring both (although this score is nowhere near as notable). The film’s brutal grit and vulgarities influenced “Rob Roy” (1994) and the hole-up-in-a-castle plot was recycled in “Iron Clad” (2011). If you favor any of these movies you’ll probably appreciate "Flesh+Blood” despite some overdone elements, like Susan Tyrrell’s verging-on-lunatic performance.

There are two conflicting factions: The nobles & their knights and the armed “commoners,” but neither are portrayed as the “good guys” and “bad guys.” Martin, for instance, is a bold and charismatic alpha male, but he’s also kind of scum; sorta the best of the worst. Steven easily stands out as the most gallant individual, but when he doesn’t get his way he pompously threatens retired-knight Hawkwood (Jack Thompson). At the end of the day this is a unique, adult-oriented film about using your natural gifts, including your wit & body, to survive in a barbaric disease-ridden reality. Memorable moments abound.

The film runs 2 hours, 6 minutes and was shot entirely in Spain. The Castilla-La Mancha was also used in El Cid (1961).

GRADE: B

The supporting characters make this a classic.
Most classic films are that way.
This tale of Middle Ages blood and gore and survival is quite epic. Paul Verhoeven directs, so we can expect the "in your face" style that he's best at doing. 
There isn't the comic relief that you get in a lot of his movies. This is hard nosed action and blood.
I guess that's why it's "Flesh+Blood".
The romantic triangle are aging warrior Martin (Rutger Hauer), the plain blueblood virgin Agnes (Jennifer Leigh, who usually isn't this plain), and the nobleman's son, Steven (Tom Burlinson).
We get hints that Steven is heroic at first, compared to his wicked father who cheats his soldiers and does what he can for money.
Steven is a scholar who we are supposed to care about because he reads. Well, he quickly becomes a monster worse than his father. 
Martin actually works for the cardinal. In the Middle Ages, cardinals had little to do with "Jesus", and more to do with the estate of the church. Somehow, this cardinal is on the road, and cardinals were mercantile people, not religious people. They often kept small armies or bodyguards.
This cardinal has some very expert warriors. In fact, the most likable characters in the film are a pair of homosexual soldiers who bring sanity and reason to the antics of Martin and his chief rival of the soldiers, Summer. There is one other soldier, who is older yet than Martin, and is also a very likable character.
The women in the party with the cardinal and his soldiers are all much more gorgeous than Agnes, probably a statement about the blue blood royalty. The hottest girl of the group is also the most emotional, ready to satisfy the lusts of soldiers, and later weeping with the cardinal in remorse for her sins.
They become quarry for Steven when they attack him and his home grown soldiers, who are basically just peons who are enlisted without training. The cardinal has declared Martin their leader by a supernatural decree. Martin kidnaps Agnes, and Agnes pleads for him to be her only lover, and not let Summer touch her.
Martin gets involved with Agnes, who plays both ends against the middle. Steven chases them, with the help of the most interesting character on his team, Hawkwood.
One of the sidebars here is the medical practice of the day. A cleric doctor of the time finds that plague has entered the camp, and his backwards medicine is no match for the plague.
The characters are what make this a classic, as the two forces face off against each other. You'll likely find yourself caring more about the supporting characters like Hawkwood and the two homosexual soldiers and the "mother" than the major characters. And that's why this film is so special.

CinemaSerf

The Lord "Arnolfini" (Fernando Hilbeck) makes quite a misjudgement when he promises a fortune to mercenary leader "Martin" (Rutger Hauer) if he agrees to help him retake his castle, only to renege on the deal. "Martin" and his merry band duly attack a caravan that is carrying his son "Steven" (Tom Burlinson) and fiancée "Agnes" (Jennifer Jason Leigh). She is brutally raped by the men, with the complicity of their leader who quickly claims her as his own. Their travels take them to a castle which they decide to capture, but what they don't realise is that the army of their former employer is giving chase. If he succeeds in catching up with them, then we might be in for quite a lively siege. This is quite a fun drama with plenty of earthy, even bawdy, action scenes that depict quite plausibly just how a marauding band of 16th century adventurers might have behaved. There's some enjoyable science from the young "Steven" who's quite adept at some sophisticated engineering and with explosives, JJL enters into the spirit of things quiet enthusiastically and Hauer is exactly the same as he is in "Ladyhawke" - also from this year, as his less is more dialogue delivery is coupled with a screen presence that only he could deliver. It's a bit on the long side, but there's plenty of action once it gets going and loads of frying pan to fire scenarios for everyone to escape from. It's got the look of a spaghetti fantasy to it, and though maybe just a bit too repetitive, I quite enjoyed it.

Trailer

Eureka Classics Trailer

Flesh + Blood( 1985)

Betrayed by power. Corrupted by love. Bound by honor.

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A review by Wuchak

Written by Wuchak on Wed May 15 2019

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