Before Fantasy cinema became popular in the latter part of the twentieth century, a publication established in 1923 called Weird Tales laid the groundwork for what was to come. Featuring iconic writers such as H.P. Lovecraft (who introduced Cthulhu Mythos in a 1928 issue of the magazine), Robert E. Howard (who was known for stories and worlds such as Zothique and Hyperborea), there was also Robert E. Howard (the creator of the mythical Conan the Barbarian). Howard, considered the father of the sword-and-sorcery subgenre, was a talented young writer who introduced Conan the Barbarian in the December 1932 Volume 20, Number 6 issue of Weird Tales, and the warrior soon became the subject of intrigue for many readers. Included in a total of 18 stories published between 1932 and 1936 in Weird Tales, amid it all, Howard introduced a female counterpart to Conan in early 1934, named Red Sonya of Rogatino, later morphed into what many recognize as Red Sonja.
Based on some reality, Red Sonya of Rogatino was inspired by a 16th-century warrior of Polish-Ukrainian descent who fought during the Siege of Vienna in 1529 against the Ottoman Empire. An interesting ethos, Howard depicted her as a flaming red-haired woman dressed as a soldier, fiercely firing a gun in battle. From here, this character was adapted into the Marvel Comics Universe in 1973 by Roy Thomas and Barry Windsor-Smith as Red Sonja, morphing her imagery into the chainmail bikini-clad female sword-wielding warrior we know today.
Understanding all of this, Red Sonja became a massively popular character in Marvel Comics, rapidly evolving from mere guest appearances in Conan the Barbarian stories into a standalone star who has become the archetype of a warrior woman in Fantasy. Appearing in a substantial number of Marvel issues for over a decade, Red Sonja was at last adapted into a feature film in late 1984 by Dino De Laurentiis and his production company.
Released in theaters on July 3, 1985, Red Sonja was planned as a spin-off of the popular Conan films produced by De Laurentiis (1982’s Conan the Barbarian and 1984’s Conan the Destroyer). With that being said, his Conan star, Arnold Schwarzenegger (who was becoming a massive Hollywood name with roles in other films like 1984’s The Terminator) stepped in to star in Red Sonja as Lord Kalidor alongside new leading lady, Brigitte Nielsen as Red Sonja. Nielsen’s introduction to the world of cinema (previously working as a model) fit the role of Red Sonja well, with a combination of beauty, height, and a lean physique. Granted, some might have expected a more muscular Red Sonja, but once you watch Nielsen in action, it is clear she handles it with power and force.
Together with Schwarzenegger, the two play well as a Fantasy warrior duo (similar to animated characters He-Man and She-Ra, with the only exception being that Lord Kaildor and Red Sonja are not siblings). With that said, it is also interesting to note that the character of Lord Kalidor was created only due to a licensing restriction on Conan the Barbarian; otherwise, you would have seen Schwarzenegger reprise the role in the Red Sonja movie.
In any event, Red Sonja plays out like a classic high action Fantasy Adventure of the 1980s with Richard Fleischer (who directed such films as 1954’s 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea and 1980’s The Jazz Singer) with a supporting cast of the award-winning Sandahl Bergman (who appeared in 1982’s Conan the Barbarian) as ruthless Queen Gedren, accomplished Actor Paul L. Smith as bodyguard Falkon, and a young Ernie Reyes Jr. (who went onto star in many more films including 1991’s Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles II: The Secret of the Ooze) as the bratty child prince, Tarn. Together, Lord Kaildor, Falkon, and Tarn assist Red Sonja in defeating Queen Gedren, who seeks world domination with a powerful talisman.
Again, an enjoyable story; unfortunately, Red Sonja did not find success at the box office, all while many critics held less-than-kind opinions. A film that Schwarzengger himself has allegedly poked fun at in the decades since its release, on the other hand, Nielsen holds a much more positive view of the film. Rightfully so, her role as Red Sonja is among the earliest to feature a strong female action hero, paving the way for similar characters in the future. So if you fancy yourself a fan of the Sword and Sorcery genre, it might come as a fascination to learn that Red Sonja is coming to 4K Ultra HD through Arrow Video.
Set for release on March 26, 2026, this limited-edition 4K Ultra HD is an upgrade to the 2022 international release from StudioCanal. Explaining this further, while both are 4K scans of the original negative, Arrow Video amps up the color palette with HDR/Dolby Vision. A difference you sincerely can see, this 2026 4K release also includes newly filmed interviews (such as with Ernie Reyes Jr.), new commentaries, a lovely, insightful booklet, a double-sided foldout poster, a reversible sleeve (with two original artworks), plus 6 reproduction artcards.
Well put together as a homage to this ‘80s Fantasy hidden treasure, it is also a good time for release, considering a new Red Sonja film premiered in theaters in the summer of 2025, starring Matilda Lutz in the titular role. Worth checking out; it is also a must to seek out this limited-edition 4K Ultra HD release of 1985’s Red Sonja, which Cryptic Rock gives 4.5 out of 5 stars.
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