Zardoz (1974)
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A barbarian who hides aboard a flying stone head discovers the truth about a decadent, immortal society.
The story
In the year 2293, the human population is divided into the immortal "Eternals" and mortal "Brutals". The Brutals live in an irradiated wasteland, growing food for the Eternals, who live apart in "the Vortex", leading a luxurious but aimless existence on the grounds of a country estate. The Brutal Exterminators kill and terrorize other "Brutals" at the orders of Zardoz, a flying stone head which supplies them with weapons in exchange for the food they collect. The Brutal Zed, driven by curiosity about Zardoz, instigates a confrontation between the two peoples.
Full plot (contains spoilers)
In the year 2293, the human population is divided into the immortal "Eternals" and mortal "Brutals". The Brutals live in an irradiated wasteland, growing food for the Eternals, who live apart in "the Vortex", leading a luxurious but aimless existence. The Brutal Exterminators kill and terrorize other "Brutals" at the orders of Zardoz, a flying stone head which supplies them with weapons in exchange for the food they collect. Zed, a Brutal Exterminator, hides aboard Zardoz during one trip, temporarily "killing" its Eternal operator-creator Arthur Frayn. Arriving in the Vortex, Zed meets two Eternals — Consuella and her assistant, May. They make him a prisoner, but others secretly plan to use him to overthrow the government. Zed learns that the Eternals are overseen by the Tabernacle, an artificial intelligence, and have grown bored and corrupt. Genetic analysis reveals Zed is the result of eugenics experiments by Arthur Frayn to breed a superman to save humanity. Zed realizes Frayn was a manipulator and decides to investigate Zardoz. As Zed divines the nature of the Vortex, the Eternals use him to fight internecine quarrels. Zed eventually absorbs the Eternals' knowledge to destroy the Tabernacle. He shuts down the Tabernacle, disabling the force-fields, allowing the Exterminators to invade and kill most of the Eternals. May and her followers escape to bear offspring as enlightened beings. Consuella, having fallen in love with Zed, gives birth within the remains of the stone head. The baby boy matures as his parents age and eventually die, leaving only painted handprints and Zed's revolver.
- First release year
- 1974
- Runtime (minutes)
- 102
- Production countries
- United Kingdom; Ireland; United States
- Original languages
- English
- Directors
- John Boorman
- Writers
- John Boorman · writer; William "Bill" Stair · writer
- Cast and characters
- Sean Connery · Zed; Charlotte Rampling · Consuella; Sara Kestelman · May; John Alderton · Friend; Sally Anne Newton · Avalow; Niall Buggy · Arthur Frayn / Zardoz; Bosco Hogan · George Saden; Jessica Swift · Apathetic
- Genres
- science fantasy; fantasy; science fiction; dystopian
- Themes
- immortality; social commentary; humanity vs. intellect; stagnation
- Tone and mood
- eccentric; metaphysical; quirky; trippy
- Setting
- A post-apocalyptic wasteland and a luxurious country estate in the year 2293.
- Premise and plot tags
- post-apocalyptic; dystopian; science fiction; fantasy; metaphysical
- Source material / true-story basis
- The Wonderful Wizard of Oz
- Content notes
- nudity
- Reception
- The film was immediately met with terrible reviews and a poor public reaction due to its confusing world and philosophical statements. It barely made back its budget. However, it has since developed a cult following and been subject to re-appraisal as a visually striking and inventive work.
- Reported review scores
- Rotten Tomatoes · score: 49% · review count: 41; Rotten Tomatoes · score: 5.6/10 · scale: 10 · review count: 41; Metacritic · score: 46 · scale: 100
- Production trivia
- Burt Reynolds was originally cast as Zed but declined due to illness.; The film was shot entirely in County Wicklow in the east of Ireland.; Stanley Kubrick was an uncredited technical advisor on the film.
Film metadata comes from the open sources listed in Credits & Contact. Catalogue details may be incomplete.
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