The Blood of Heroes

R

1989

1h 30m

Action

Sci-Fi

List

22%

9 Reviews

Tomatometer

76%

2,500+ Ratings

Audience Score

Another woman (Joan Chen) joins a future gladiator's (Rutger Hauer) band of "juggers" against fighters of the ruling elite.

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Alex S

Perfect for what it tries to be. It knows that it's not a Woody Allen-style, dialogue-heavy drama. It knows it's Mad Max without the car budget. And for that, it succeeds wonderfully. It's a simple movie about underdogs in the most crushing environment we could imagine: a world after some unimaginable environmental catastrophe (b/c it's the 80s, presumably nuclear). It's a movie in which the only way to make any money is to succeed in a violent sport. For many impoverished kids today, tell me how that's different from boxing, the UFC, NFL, etc... Except this sport, Jugger, is played like rugby with a dog skull and steel weapons. The dialogue is spare, as is the plot, but this is a strange, excellent little movie thriving on setting and mood. And it masters both, from the dog towns thick with dust and hopelessness to the Red City where Juggers--missing eyes and all--are the stars of their day because of their astonishing savagery in playing the game. I first saw it on cable maybe 30 years ago and am still obsessed with it. I want everything: sequel, making-of docs, interviews, anything. I adore this movie.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

06/23/23

Full Review

C. Z

Saw this as "Salute of the Jugger" which is a much better title. Yet another extry in the post-apocalypse gladiator sub-genre, although a very competent one, and a bit of fun for Rutger Hauer and Joan Chen fans. Also contains one of the most honest and funniest sex scenes.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

12/17/22

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William J

If you need your movies spoon fed to you, this is not the one. Large portions of plot development are advanced through imagery and non verbal interactions. The depth comes from the simplicity, and relatability of human interaction. The action is focused almost solely on the game. Which seems to blend rugby and medieval weapons combat. With the ultimate goal being to place the dog skull on your teams stake. I consider it an often overlooked masterpiece. With such unexplained interjections as an entire floor engulfed in flames, and dozens of people working tirelessly to put it out. This movie speaks deeply on the tenacity of survival, and the human desire to compete within the bounds of sport.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

09/13/22

Full Review

Aaron M

One of the greatest post-apocalyptic sports films ever made and definitely worth revisiting. A classic all round.

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

09/05/22

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marcel c

Clearly, the critics got this one wrong. What a Great 80's Film.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

03/30/23

Full Review

Audience Member

One of the best low budget action/sports films of it's era. Rutger Hauer is brilliant. Those that complain that it doesn't flesh out the world enough aren't the kind of people who watch movies like this in the first place. The world is explained enough for you to know times are tough...and these players aren't going to change that. They are just trying to scrape out what ever glory they can from what is left.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

01/23/23

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David Webb Peoples

Director

Rutger Hauer

Sallow

Joan Chen

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Vincent D'Onofrio

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Anna Katarina

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Delroy Lindo

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Owen Gleiberman

Entertainment Weekly

Unlike Rollerball or Death Race 2000, it serves up the carnage with Biblical solemnity.

Rated: D+

Sep 7, 2011

Full Review

Variety Staff

Variety

Plot development is slim. Much of running time is given over to the game itself, which seems to have no rules except that the winning team places the skull of a dog atop a pointed stick.

Jul 6, 2010

Full Review

Time Out

There's little to look at and nothing worth hearing. Even the game itself is a drag.

Jun 24, 2006

Full Review

Travis Johnson

Flicks (AU, NZ, UK)

A lean, muscular action movie that eschews melodrama and padding for sheer narrative drive, propelling our ragtag team from the bottom of the ladder to a championship bout at breakneck pace, just as any good sports flick should.

Mar 1, 2023

Full Review

TV Guide

The film goes wrong by appropriating worn material, then constructing around it a narrative so ruthlessly straightforward it steamrolls over any possibility of dramatic suspense.

Rated: 2.5/4

Mar 20, 2012

Full Review

Film4 Staff

Film4

Poor old Hauer. Doesn't he long to play sensible characters in settings that don't involve post-apocalyptic societies and peculiar headbands? If he does, his agent never got the message.

May 24, 2003

Full Review

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Synopsis

Another woman (Joan Chen) joins a future gladiator's (Rutger Hauer) band of "juggers" against fighters of the ruling elite.

Director: David Webb Peoples
Production Co: Kings Road Entertainment
Rating: R
Genre: Action, Sci-Fi
Original Language: English
Release Date (Streaming): Dec 1, 2008
Box Office (Gross USA): $882.3K
Runtime: 1h 30m
Sound Mix: Surround
Aspect Ratio: Flat (1.85:1)

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