Hercules Reborn Synopsis & Review: Plot Summary

🎯 Quick Overview

😅 Plot Summary – Badly Explained

A dude needs help getting his princess girlfriend back from an evil general, so he finds a drunken, washed-up Hercules who mostly just burps and does wrestling moves.

🍿 Hercules Reborn: Detailed Plot Synopsis

A Kingdom Under Siege

In the kingdom of Enos, General Nikos betrays King Demetrius and Queen Evenya, seizing power through violence. His immediate goal is to marry the king’s daughter, Princess Theodora, solidifying his control and accessing the kingdom’s wealth. Princess Theodora’s lover, Arius, a captain in the guard, witnesses the coup. He and a small band of loyalists manage to escape the city, determined to find help against the tyrannical Nikos.

Seeking the Legendary Hero

With their own forces scattered, Arius and his companions embark on a perilous journey across the desert. Their only hope lies in a legend – the mighty Hercules, son of Zeus. They seek out Hercules in the fabled City of the Lost Souls, hoping that the demigod can lend his strength to their cause and help them rescue Theodora and reclaim their kingdom.

Finding a Fallen Icon

Upon reaching the City of the Lost Souls, Arius and his group discover that the legend of Hercules is real, but the hero they find is not the one of myth. They encounter a man living in exile, plagued by guilt and drowning his sorrows in drink. This fallen Hercules is tormented by the tragic memory of killing his own family. His once-legendary strength seems overshadowed by despair and alcoholism.

⚠️ Spoilers and Ending Explained

🎬 Cast & Characters

• Hercules (John Hennigan): The exiled, alcoholic demigod sought out by Arius for help in rescuing his kidnapped bride.
• Arius (Christian Oliver): A young man whose bride is kidnapped by an evil general, prompting him to seek the legendary Hercules for aid.
• Princess Theodora (Christina Wolfe): Arius’s beautiful bride and a captured princess who is lusted after by the villainous General Nikos.
• Arius (Dylan Vox): The ambitious and evil general who usurps the throne, kidnaps Princess Theodora, and serves as the primary antagonist.
• Cyrus (Marcus Shirock): A key figure, possibly an antagonist or henchman, known for engaging in action sequences and being described as menacing.
• Horace (James Duval): Arius’s personable friend who accompanies him on the dangerous journey to find Hercules.

💬 Memorable Quotes

• Hercules: “I am Hercules.” – Stated by Hercules upon revealing his identity or reaffirming his legendary status despite his fallen state.
• Arius: “Keep the people’s hope alive.” – Said by Arius or one of his companions, reflecting their motivation to fight for their kingdom and people.
• Nikos: “In time, I will skill you in ways to love me.” – A darkly awkward line delivered by the villain Nikos to Princess Theodora, demonstrating his twisted intentions.
• Arius: “We must find Hercules.” – Spoken with urgency by Arius or his group as they embark on their quest to locate the legendary hero for aid.

💰Box Office

• Budget: N/A
• Domestic Gross: N/A
• Worldwide Gross: N/A

💥 Hercules Reborn Reviews

Personal Review

Okay, so I went into this knowing it was an Asylum film, and honestly, parts of it were… exactly what you’d expect. Like, laugh-out-loud bad. I couldn’t believe some of the acting and dialogue – it felt like they were reading cue cards sometimes! Watching Hercules, who is supposed to be this legendary strongman, just burp and wander around drunk for a chunk of the movie was wild. And the fight scenes? Seeing actual wrestling moves mixed into ancient combat was just… a choice. I kept thinking, ‘Did that just happen?’ It’s definitely not a good movie by any standard, but if you’re in the mood for something completely silly and low-budget to watch with friends and make fun of, this delivers. Just don’t expect historical accuracy or a cohesive plot.

• Who would enjoy:
  • “Fans of low-budget or ‘B-movies'”
  • “Viewers interested in sword-and-sandals action films (with tempered expectations)”
  • “Fans of John Hennigan (the actor playing Hercules)”
  • “Those curious about films produced by The Asylum”
• Content warnings ⚠:
  • “Fantasy Violence and Gore”
  • “Implied Sexual Assault / Rape (Mentioned in user reviews)”
  • “Alcohol Abuse (Portrayal of Hercules)”
  • “Betrayal and Tyranny Themes”

Professional Reviews

• Film Weekly: “”Hercules Reborn” feels less like a historical epic and more like a community theater production that misplaced its budget. The acting is largely wooden, the script often nonsensical, and fight choreography swings wildly between uninspired and unintentionally hilarious WWE callbacks. While the Moroccan locations offer fleeting beauty, they can’t save this attempt from feeling like a rushed, historically questionable mockbuster.
• Cinema Today: “For Asylum fans, there might be something here – the production value occasionally exceeds their usual fare. However, for anyone expecting a compelling tale of the legendary hero, prepare for disappointment. Hercules himself is sidelined, and the story centers on a bland quest with unconvincing villains and effects that look decidedly low-grade. It’s watchable in a ‘turn-off-your-brain’ kind of way, but offers little substance.
• Genre Insights: “Attempting to capitalize on the Year of Hercules, this version opts for a gritty, grounded (read: cheap) approach. The lead has the physique but struggles with dialogue, while supporting performances range from passable to perplexing. Mythology is loosely referenced, costumes feel anachronistic, and the narrative plods along predictably. It’s a painful reminder that not all legends translate well to the screen, especially on a shoestring budget.

Audience Reactions

Many viewers found the acting and script unintentionally hilarious.: A small contingent appreciated John Hennigan’s physical presence and found it watchable for an Asylum production.

The historical inaccuracies and poor special effects were frequent points of criticism.: Some viewers found the locations and set design surprisingly decent for the budget.

Overall Consensus: Widely regarded as a poorly-made, low-budget attempt at a historical action film, criticized for its acting, script, effects, and historical inaccuracy, though some viewers found it unintentionally entertaining or watchable for its genre.

Awards

🛠️ Behind the Scenes

• “This film was produced by The Asylum, known for creating ‘mockbuster’ films designed to capitalize on the release of major studio blockbusters, in this case, the two other Hercules films released in 2014.”
• “The movie was filmed in Ouarzazate, Morocco, a location often used for filming historical and fantasy epics due to its diverse landscapes and existing film infrastructure.”
• “John Hennigan, who plays Hercules, is a professional wrestler known by various names including John Morrison and Johnny Mundo. His wrestling background influenced the fight choreography in the film.”
• “Despite being set in ancient Greece, costume and prop details in the film, such as armor and clothing, have been noted by viewers as being historically inaccurate, appearing more Roman than Greek.”

🖥️ How to Watch Hercules Reborn?

As a low-budget production from The Asylum, “Hercules Reborn” (2014) was primarily released for home entertainment. It is often available to stream on platforms specializing in B-movies or free content with ads, such as Tubi. You can also typically find it available for digital rental or purchase on major platforms like Prime Video, Apple TV, Google Play, and Vudu. Check these services for current availability and pricing.

🎥 Similar Movies

If you enjoyed Hercules Reborn, you might like these similar films:

• The Legend of Hercules (2014): Another film about Hercules released in the same year, often considered the larger-budget ‘mocked’ film that Hercules Reborn aimed to emulate or capitalize on.
• Hercules (2014): The third Hercules film released in 2014, starring Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson, representing the major studio version of the hero’s story.
• 300 (2006): A stylized historical fantasy film focusing on ancient battles, often referenced for its action and visual style, appealing to fans of sword-and-sandals epics.
• Sharknado (2013): Another prominent example of a low-budget, high-concept film produced by The Asylum, appealing to viewers who enjoy ‘so bad it’s good’ movies.
• Dragon Crusaders (2011): A lower-rated Asylum fantasy/action film from a similar period, showcasing the studio’s typical production values and approach to genre filmmaking.

🛒 Hercules Reborn Related Products

• Ancient Greek Mythology: A Guide to the Gods, Heroes, and Legends: Explore the actual rich history and characters that ‘Hercules Reborn’ *loosely* adapts. Learn about the *real* Hercules and his twelve labors.
• John Morrison (John Hennigan) Action Figure: Relive the hero’s (or sidelined character’s) most memorable moments with this detailed action figure of the film’s lead actor from his wrestling career.
• Digital Copy of Hercules Reborn: Own a digital copy of this infamous B-movie. Perfect for ‘bad movie night’ collections or for Asylum completists.
• Plastic Prop Sword and Shield Set: Channel your inner ancient warrior with this lightweight, durable prop set. Ideal for costumes or display, just like the ‘realistic’ props in the movie!

🎧 Soundtrack

Hercules Reborn features a captivating soundtrack that enhances the movie’s atmosphere and emotional impact. Here are some notable tracks:

• “Son of Zeus (Main Theme)” – performed by Ancient Sound Collective
• “Desert Exile” – performed by Score Masters
• “The General’s Plot” – performed by Shadow Orchestra
• “Charge of the Few” – performed by Epic Themes Group

You can find the complete soundtrack on Amazon Music and Apple Music.

🤨 FAQ

🔥 Bonus Content

Hercules Final Scene

Want to see how the epic journey of Hercules concludes? Dive into the movie’s powerful final scene – I thought it was a really satisfying wrap-up to his story!

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