Flesh and Blood

Flesh and Blood

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Editorial Reviews

In the battle between good and evil, only the strong survive! From visionary director Paul Verhoeven (Basic Instinct) comes this "vivid and muscular" (Variety) epic adventure of medieval bravery and blood lust starring Rutger Hauer and Jennifer Jason Leigh! In the chaotic, morally bankrupt Europe of 1510, a cold-hearted warrior named Martin (Hauer) leads his motley crew of mercenaries into battle to reclaim the castle of an ousted nobleman. But when the despot betrays them, Martin and his band of ruffians strike back by kidnapping the innocent young maiden (Leigh) betrothed to the nobleman's sona fearless Renaissance man who must risk life and limb to rescue the woman he loves!

A rarely screened cult favorite from Paul Verhoeven, this story of medieval war and revenge should please action fans and admirers of the director and his semi-regular leading man, Rutger Hauer, but its graphic scenes of sexual violence earmark it for mature viewers only. Hauer stars as a 16th-century mercenary hired by a Western European ruler (Fernando Hilbeck) to assault a neighboring kingdom; when the king reneges on his promises to Hauer and his men, they kidnap his son's fiancee (Jennifer Jason Leigh) and hole up in a nearby castle. Hauer and Leigh are standouts in a strong cast that includes Tom Burlinson, Bruno Kirby, the late Brion James, and Susan Tyrrell; Verhoeven's realistic approach to the down-and-dirty facts of medieval life and the bloody aftermath of warfare offers a refreshing alternative to most Hollywood period films, but a pair of brutal rape scenes may be too much for some audiences. MGM's DVD is widescreen. --Paul Gaita

Customer Reviews

What's Not to Like?

Reviewed by Bob God, 2010-03-03

This film is a mind's-eye view into the age that was named "dark" for the fear and superstition that the spread of christianity through northern Europe carried with it over a period of a thousand years.

The ignorance, deceit, fear, sex and extreme unending violence are spot-on depictions of European life on the verge of the Florentine neo-pagan renaissance.

I'm not going to parrot the other reviewers with the whole plot, filmographies of the whole cast and production crew or how and by whom the sets and locations were scouted; but I will say that I enjoy this film as much today as I did when it first came out for its authenticity and its honest depiction of early sixteenth century christiandom.

This is a Really Bad Movie!

Reviewed by Eric B. Borgman, 2010-02-23

You'd think on the strength of some of the actors and the director that this should be a pretty good movie. But, it isn't. It's sheer trash and I mean trash too. I haven't figured out yet why so many people are shown naked or with half their clothes off. One can only assume it's the director's idea. Why does Jennifer Jason Leigh go nude for half the picture? It makes no sense and neither does most of the film. There are just some disturbing images like a horrible pregnant woman running around acting crude and people writhing (of course) naked after being sliced in the head, dogs cut up and catipulted into a castle! It's just a pretty stupid movie. I'm just sorry it isn't a "lost" film where all copies known to exist just evaporated into thin air. A better movie that takes place a few decades before this one which takesplace in 1501 is The Messenger: The Story of Joan of Arc.

Excellent, Realistic, Gritty

Reviewed by S. R. McAllister, 2010-02-13


This is an excellent movie but be prepared for the fact it is realistic in showing the way thing's really were in the time period. It shows dirty people and living area's and it displays raw nudity, several nude shots of jennifer jason leigh, including full frontal nudity. It is a movie that can make some people upset with it's violence and realism.

Steve Mac

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Nasty!

Reviewed by Reviewer1, 2010-02-12

Not for kids! Ya like gritty dark agey violence? it's for you. ADULTS ONLY!

Entertaining pseudo-history

Reviewed by Screamin' Steve, 2010-01-19

While not very historically accurate, one gets the sense of how dirty and ignorant the renaissance period (not the Ages,if there really was one). Rutger Hauer is always good and Jennifer Jason Leigh seems to enjoy being naked. Many viewers, no doubt, will also enjoy her nakedness and sexuality. Viewed as just fast-paced entertainment and nothing more, the film delivers. Like so many films, we are required to accept the illogical fight scenes and anachronistic dialogue. Verhoeven has repeatedly proven to be a director who intentionally appeals to those viewers looking for the sleazy side of humanity. Don't watch this if that description does not fit you!