Ursus, il terrore dei kirghisi

It's set in what is now Kyrgyzstan where the Prince Regent Zereteli of the Kirghiz (Furio Meniconi) has seized the throne of Sura following the murder of the Grand Khan and plans to wipe out the rival Cherkes tribe. To add to their worries, their caravans are being attacked by a mysterious monster that haunts the countryside.

Zereteli's cousin, Princess Aniko (Mireille Granelli), will be coming of age in a few months meaning that he'll have to abdicate to make way for her. He wants to marry her so he can become Queen- she's not keen ...

Complicating matters even further, she's in love with Ursus (Reg Park), now the leader of the Cherkes. Ursus tries to track down the monster with his brother Ilo (Ettore Manni). But Aniko is not all that she seems and the grotesque creature, created by a mysterious serum, might be closer to home than Ursus realises...

Hercules, the prisoner of evil is an unusual blend of "monster on the loose" (almost hammer horror-style) and the usual sword and sandal romp, a feud between two parties; a power play - the bad guy thinks the Jekyll and Hyde type of creature is really Ursus' doing, but the suspect is sort of obvious. The plot is sharp, brisk and engaging - there's sufficient suspense and an ominous atmosphere, though they could have emphasised the latter more.

The creature isn't very scary, in which where lies the problem- maybe a bloodsucking vampire would've been more creepy, but the negative aside this is a good film that takes a different path from the usual peplum. And Reg Park is the main lead, but everyone plays a part- he's not the only hero, and the villains are just in the centre.

Pity it gets bad reviews as this is a quite entertaining with a spooky cave with an entrance, beautiful women, some good fights. It's got its flaws, but which film doesn't.

Quite rare stuff. Two masters of Italian horrors Antonio Margheriti and young Ruggero Deodato directed this film in 1964. It has a lot to do with antique fairy tales and the screenplay is really original. Ursus is the prototype of Conan and other muscled heroes of fantasy movies. He is real hero in this film, fighting against evil, black magic, selfish king with a small number of friends, like Robin Good. Good fighting scenes really liked them. Good costumes and rather progressive score. Bewitched fighters turn in to werewolves like monsters. So this is a real epic fantasy with wise dialogs and 60s colors. Andrey Tripod "www.myspace.com/neizvest" Quite rare stuff. Two masters of Italian horrors Antonio Margheriti and young Ruggero Deodato directed this film in 1964. It has a lot to do with antique fairy tales and the screenplay is really original. Ursus is the prototype of Conan and other muscled heroes of fantasy movies. He is real hero in this film, fighting against evil, black magic, selfish king with a small number of friends, like Robin Good. Good fighting scenes really liked them. Good costumes and rather progressive score. Bewitched fighters turn in to werewolves like monsters. So this is a real epic fantasy with wise dialogs and 60s colors. Andrey Tripod "www.myspace.com/neizvest"

Directed by Antonio Margheriti (Cannibal Apocalypse), with help from assistant director Ruggero Deodato (Cannibal Holocaust), this mid '60s horror/peplum gives very little indication of the future gory delights to come from either film-maker: Terror of the Kirghiz is strictly family friendly fodder, as brave warrior Ursus (muscleman Reg Park) protects his people from a marauding monster (a man in an unconvincing mask and hair glued to his torso), wicked tyrant Zereteli (Furio Meniconi), and a scheming witch, Amiko (Mireille Granelli).

Lots of dull dialogue and badly choreographed fight scenes make for a really boring viewing experience, with Park putting in a forgettable central performance as the bland hero: the bodybuilder might have the physique, but he sure lacks the charisma. Mind you, with such an uninspired script and flat direction from Margheriti, he never really stood a chance.

Ursus, il terrore dei kirghisi is the proper name of the film and it is pretty unusual mishmash of peplum, horror, geography and ethnicities. Suspiciously Mediterranean looking Kirghiz somehow manage to oppress unusually Nordic looking Cirkassians who seem to be living just across the hill from each other (it's like horse riding from Canada to Mexico!!!). The main hero - Ursus (not Hercules! Though all names have been altered for american edit) is played by Muscle man Reg Park was a mentor and inspiration for Arnold Schwarzenegger both in terms of over-exaggerated physique (of cartoon superhero/"bullied kids dream variety" and nowhere near as objectively beautiful like that of Steve Reeves) but also in wooden acting department (again making Reeves look almost method actor in comparison). Most other characters (in original Italian version) seem to have Georgian names for some reason - Ilo, Kato, Aniko (who became Amico in american version because...?) and finally Prince Zereteli - who would be happy to know that there is a street and a Metro station named after him in downtown Tbilisi, Georgia :)))

Ancient peplum hero Ursus is now doing his thing in Eastern Europe where the Mongol conquerors are running things but with arrangements with the locals. Not anyone in the cast looks remotely Asian however, especially one who as it turns out is the lost princess daughter of the Great Khan who was murdered in a palace coup.

Anyway the usurper and his partner who is a sorceress have the common serfs under control, but for Ursus who leads one of the tribes. The sorceress gets the big guy under her control and turn him into some kind of ravenous beast.

Good thing the good guys have someone skilled in the black arts who brings Ursus around.

Just like Hulk Hogan going over to the dark side.