Red Scorpion (1989)

11% of critics liked it
(9 reviews)
36% of users liked it
(7,323 ratings)

Dolph Lundgren stars in this controversial action film directed by Joseph Zito (Missing in Action). The beefy Swede plays Soviet KGB agent Lt. Nikolai, who is sent to Africa with orders to eliminate a black rebel. Eventually, Nikolai begins to side with the locals, has a red scorpion tattooed on his… More Dolph Lundgren stars in this controversial action film directed by Joseph Zito (Missing in Action). The beefy Swede plays Soviet KGB agent Lt. Nikolai, who is sent to Africa with orders to eliminate a black rebel. Eventually, Nikolai begins to side with the locals, has a red scorpion tattooed on his chest by a shaman, and helps fight against the Cubans and the Soviets. Horror fans should note Tom Savini's expert gore effects during a torture scene, while others will be pleased with a fine supporting cast including M. Emmet Walsh, Carmen Argenziano, and Brion James. The film was originally commissioned by Warner Bros., which dropped it after controversy over its South African genesis, but they might as well have dropped it for its endless desert treks and uninvolving screenplay. An unrelated Canadian sequel followed five years later. ~ Robert Firsching, Rovi

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Rating, Runtime: R, 1 hr. 42 min.
Directed By: Joseph Zito
Written By: Jack Abramoff, Robert Abramoff
Genres: Action & Adventure

In Theaters: Jan 1, 1989 Wide
On DVD: Oct 13, 1998
Studio: Shapiro Glickenhaus

Critic Reviews

Variety Staff, Variety
A dull, below-average action pic, lensed in Swaziland.
Stephen Holden, New York Times
The movie's reflective moments belong to Mr. Lundgren's sweaty chest.
Richard Harrington, Washington Post
Beware of its stink.
, TV Guide's Movie Guide
The film offers little that hasn't been seen in countless others of its ilk.
Kevin A. Ranson, MovieCrypt.com
Long live Dolph...!
Alex Sandell, Juicy Cerebellum
Dolph's probably still wondering why his star's no longer shining.

Read all 6 critic reviews

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Featured Audience Ratings

Emily A

Oh my god, you guys, this movie is great. Okay, maybe the movie itself isn't super-fantastic, but it turns out that watching a schlocky film in the middle of the night and getting to wolfwhistle at the screen like a construction worker is my idea of a good time. We watched a… More
Oh my god, you guys, this movie is great. Okay, maybe the movie itself isn't super-fantastic, but it turns out that watching a schlocky film in the middle of the night and getting to wolfwhistle at the screen like a construction worker is my idea of a good time. We watched a print that was in such bad shape that it actually caught in the projector - it was the first time I had ever seen a real film burn. I feel like I passed some sort of milestone. I'm not usually a fan of action movies, and this one is largely indistinguishable from most of the others that came out in the 80s. An enormous scary dude goes into a bad situation and solves problems by wrecking stuff, kicking peoples' asses and generally blowing shit up. I really liked this one because Lundgren was so damn pretty back in his heyday. Like catnip. Like Kryptonite. He's a good six inches taller than any other actor in this film, and he's got at least two feet of circumference on them as well. I'd like to make a calendar out of screenshots of this movie. There was a little spattering of humor thorughout it, and the action scenes were well-choreographed and rendered. Pure delicious popcorn cinema at its finest. And totally improved by the screweing-up projector, the missing scene and the myriad imperfections in the print.
EightThirty .

I saw this when I was small...It was cool at the time : )