Flesh & Blood

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Flesh & Blood

R

Released Aug 30, 1985

2h 6m

Adventure

Drama

Action

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

82%

Tomatometer

22 Reviews

63%

Popcornmeter

2,500+ Ratings

After being hired for an aborted coup, a group of unscrupulous warriors is abruptly disbanded. One of the mercenaries, Martin (Rutger Hauer), is determined to get revenge on his dismissive employer, Arnolfini (Fernando Hillbeck). To carry out his plan, Martin abducts the lovely Agnes (Jennifer Jason Leigh), the intended wife of Arnolfini's son, Steven (Tom Burlinson). Soon Martin and Steven are locked in an ongoing battle to see who will ultimately win the hand of Agnes.

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Variety Staff

Variety

A vivid and muscular, if less than fully startling, account of lust, savagery, revenge, betrayal and assorted other dark doings in the Middle Ages.

Oct 22, 2010

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Tom Charity

Time Out

It's hamstrung by leaden dialogue and the motley international cast - Python and the Grail are never that far away - but it's admirably unsentimental and by no means stupid.

Jan 26, 2006

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Matt Brunson

Film Frenzy

This film is so grimy and gruesome that the stench of decay practically wafts off the screen (no Odorama cards needed for this flick!).

Rated: 2.5/4

Mar 11, 2025

Full Review

Nicholas Bell

IONCINEMA.com

An examination of medieval Europe that attempts to correctly reconcile romantic notions with exaggerated realism, Flesh+Blood is a lost mid-80's classic from an underrated and challenging auteur.

Rated: 3.5/5

Nov 3, 2020

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Fernando F. Croce

CinePassion

Religion and marriage and the very idea of heroism are hurled into Verhoeven's bestial pyre, his direction has the gift of overabundance -- the Spanish locations and castles teem with putrid lushness.

Mar 20, 2020

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Christopher Machell

CineVue

It's impossible to root for any group or individual, and so the only pleasure we are left with is to enjoy the spectacle of carnage. Nevertheless, in we can leave morality at the castle gate, Flesh + Blood offers a great deal of base satisfaction.

Rated: 3/5

Mar 20, 2020

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D H

Flesh + Blood (1985) Flesh + Blood, directed by Paul Verhoeven, is a gritty, unflinching plunge into the chaos of 16th-century Europe, drenched in mud, blood, and raw desire. It’s far from a clean or romanticized period piece—instead, it delivers a visceral, morally grey tale of mercenaries, betrayal, and survival. I found the movie genuinely entertaining. It’s got that classic Verhoeven touch: bold, provocative, and often unpredictable. Rutger Hauer shines as Martin, the charismatic but dangerous leader of a band of mercenaries, while Jennifer Jason Leigh holds her own in a challenging role that shifts between vulnerability and cunning. The film doesn't shy away from uncomfortable territory, but that's part of its raw appeal. The production design is grimy and lived-in, the action feels dangerous and chaotic, and the characters are deeply flawed but compelling to watch. It’s not for everyone—some scenes are intense and morally murky—but if you're in the mood for something brutal, atmospheric, and a little wild, Flesh + Blood delivers a gripping ride.

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

04/26/25

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Ari V

Something I watched it is a very young kid and was kind of mesmerized by it for reasons I couldn't quite understand. And you know what, rewatching almost 40 years later, there is indeed something mesmerizing about it that isn't exactly obvious. 3.75/5

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

03/08/25

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Mikael A

One of my all time favourites! Would love to see Gen-Z faces when they see it.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

02/04/25

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Steve D

Amateurish despite the talent involved.

Rated 0.5 out of 5 stars

08/27/23

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Jerod S

Jason Leigh is captured by commoners in medieval times - and what ensues is pure garbage. It's blood and definitely fleshly.

Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars

08/28/23

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John A

A semi-campy knights & castles tale that is reigned in just enough by Director Verhoeven to be fun and a little whacky while still having the appropriate amount of grit.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

06/01/23

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Paul Verhoeven

Director

Rutger Hauer

Martin

Jennifer Jason Leigh

Agnes

Tom Burlinson

Steven

Susan Tyrrell

Celine

Ronald Lacey

Cardinal

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Directed By…Sir Paul Verhoeven?

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Synopsis

After being hired for an aborted coup, a group of unscrupulous warriors is abruptly disbanded. One of the mercenaries, Martin (Rutger Hauer), is determined to get revenge on his dismissive employer, Arnolfini (Fernando Hillbeck). To carry out his plan, Martin abducts the lovely Agnes (Jennifer Jason Leigh), the intended wife of Arnolfini's son, Steven (Tom Burlinson). Soon Martin and Steven are locked in an ongoing battle to see who will ultimately win the hand of Agnes.

Director: Paul Verhoeven
Producer: Gys Versluys
Screenwriter: Gerard Soeteman, Paul Verhoeven
Production Co: Impala
Rating: R
Genre: Adventure, Drama, Action
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Aug 30, 1985, Original
Release Date (Streaming): Sep 16, 2008
Runtime: 2h 6m
Sound Mix: Surround

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