‘Sinbad and the Clash of the Furies’ Review
Stars: John Hennigan, Jamie Bernadette, Josh Fingerhut, Wayne ‘Crescendo’ Ward, Georgia Thompson, Terrance Richardson, Derek Russo, Jennifer Dorogi, Chloe Farnworth, Van White, Ashley Doris, Drew Davis-Wheeler, Lisa Goodman | Written by Scotty Mullen | Directed by Scott Wheeler
When an exploration for treasure goes wrong, the original Prince of Persia Sinbad accidentally releases The Furies, three beautiful but terrible ancient beings powerful enough to threaten life on Earth. Face to face with the living manifestation of rage, the legendary hero must destroy The Furies before time runs out, or witness the devastating consequences… Battling for their lives, Sinbad is the only one who can save them all from certain death, in a world where everything is against him.
The Asylum, and John Hennigan (aka wrestling star John Morrison), strike again. Back in 2014 we reviewed the Hennigan-starring mockbuster Hercules Reborn, and now the two come together again for a new take on the classic story of Sinbad with Sinbad and the Clash of the Furies. Last time the result was a surprising success, this time? Well this is a very different take on the classic myth that’s for sure!
Updated to modern day, this take on Sinbad plays out more like an Indiana Jones mockbuster rather than the sword & sorcery epic the title suggests. Yet it is still a film that features old-school heroics; only throwing new technology (smartphone, GPS) into the mix, along with more fantastical aspects that you would come to expect from a Sinbad movie. It’s an odd combination, but one that ultimately works thanks to Hennigan’s performance. Here, like his with his Hercules role, Hennigan’s charm and affable nature goes along way in building goodwill with the audience (in much the same way his arrogance in the ring is offset by his likeability).
Speaking of Sinbad, our hero, whilst not THE Sinbad, carries his simitar and looks just like him (and one character believes his is a true descendent of the legendary hero)… Surprisingly this Sinbad, despite ALL the evidence presented to him, doesn’t even believe in the supernatural – and that’s whilst he battles the three titular Furies AND free’s a genie! To be fair, Hennigan’s Sinbad is a bit of a douchebag, taking the smart-mouthed hero trope to a whole new, arrogant, level. Yet still remaining humble and amiable.
Despite a seemingly ridiculous premise and a disjointed mix of old and new story tropes (who knew setting Sinbad in the modern day work actually work?) Sinbad and the Clash of the Furies is genuinely a lot of fun. There’s some great laughs to be had at, and with, the cast of characters. Everyone involved knows how absurd this tale is and has fun with it; and that’s the thing, the sheer absurdity of the story is what makes it work!
Yet if there’s one thing I’ll never fathom, it’s UK distributors penchant for retitling movies. Even this one. Retitled from Sinbad and the WAR of the Furies to Sinbad and the Clash of the Furies, I can see for no discernible reason for the new name other than to probably make people think of Clash of the Titans. That or the fact supermarkets dont’t want a fantasy film with war in the title on their shelves (yes, they DO have that much power over the UK market these days).
Sinbad and the Clash of the Furies is out now on DVD and VOD from Kaleidoscope Home Entertainment.
