Outlander and James Bond fans are urged to watch the popular fantasy drama.
A cult historical fantasy drama is coming to BBC iPlayer, and Outlander fans won’t want to miss out on the film that will soon be streaming for free.
The surreal action-adventure flick chronicles the climax of an age-old war between immortal warriors, depicted through interwoven past and present-day storylines and focuses on Connor MacLeod, a man born in the Scottish Highlands in the 16th century.
Entitled Highlander, the film stars Christopher Lambert in the leading role, alongside Roxanne Hart, Clancy Brown, and James Bond icon Sean Connery.
The forgotten movie was a commercial failure on its initial theatrical release, but has since become a cult classic and even inspired several film sequels and television spin-offs.
The synopsis on Rotten Tomatoes reads: “When the mystical Russell Nash (Christopher Lambert) kills a man in a sword fight in a New York City parking lot, he leaves a sliver of an ancient weapon lodged in a car in the process.
“After brilliant forensics specialist Brenda Wyatt (Roxanne Hart) recovers evidence of the mysterious weapon, she and her partner, Lt. Frank Moran (Alan North), embark on an investigation of Nash that will land them in the middle of a dangerous, centuries-old feud between powerful immortals.”
While some of the film takes place in 1980s New York, there are also flashbacks to the Scottish Highlands in 1536, Connor fights against the rival Fraser clan as a warrior of the MacLeod clan.
Outlander fans will recognise the name Fraser, as Sam Heughan and Caitriona Balfe star as Jamie Fraser and Claire Fraser in the hit fantasy show.
Like Highlander, Outlander also moves between different timelines, taking place in 1946 post-war Britain and then 1743 just before the Jacobite Rising in Scotland.
On Rotten Tomatoes, where Highlander holds a 69% fresh rating from critics and a 79% score from audiences, fans have shared their thoughts on the movie decades later.
The Telegraph said: “Made with such superstyle Highlander does have entertainment value but this can only be a one-off.”
The Financial Times wrote: “Close your brain to the illogicalities of the time-chopping structure and there is much to marvel at.”
“A truly heroic stomp through time and space,” the BBC declared, while the Chicago Reader added: “Lambert, with his beetle brow, broken nose, and vaguely crossed eyes, remains an amiable oddball presence, and Sean Connery radiates charm and nobility in a bit as an elder immortal who shows Lambert the rules of the game.”
However, other critics weren’t so keen, with the Guardian writing: “Even Gerry Fisher’s camerawork can’t convince me that this is other than the most inutterable tosh.”
The New York Times opined: “Since none of the characters makes sense even on the movie’s own terms, Highlander keeps on exploding for almost two hours, with nothing at stake.”
While Empire Magazine simply stated: “Don’t go in expecting too much and you should be ok.”
There were also a lot of heartfelt endorsements from fans, with one penning: “Growing up there were many movies of action and adventure and dragons and sorcery and this movie took the fantasy genre for me as a child and expanded it into the future of possibilities.”
A second, paying tribute to Queen’s music in the film, added: “An extraordinary cult classic movie that will endure for so many many generations. Not only with the cinema fans but also Queen fans.”
Another enthused: “An excellent epic fantasy film with a great soundtrack by Queen and plenty of action. Not boring in anyway. One of the best films ever made with a nice Scottish Theme.”
A fourth wrote: “One of the greatest sci fi action movies of all time even the out dated effects work here and awesome story, excellent plot.”
Yet another expressed: “A fantastic film. Story, acting, score, an action. It has it all. Clancy Brown plays a fantastic villain one of the best performances to date. Highlander is a true classic.”
Highlander will be available to stream on BBC iPlayer from May 9.