Sean Connery’s 0% RT Sequel to a Classic Fantasy Film Is a Cheesy Cult Sleeper Worth Revisiting

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Over the years, the fantasy genre has given us many unforgettable films. Because it allows for such creative storytelling, we’ve seen some of the best fictional tales come to life on screen, like Peter Jackson’s The Lord of the Rings movies and the popular Game of Thrones series. But one fantasy film that doesn’t get enough credit – and is delightfully over-the-top – is Russell Mulcahy’s 1986 release,

The original Highlander movie was a fun mix of ’80s sci-fi and fantasy, and audiences loved it. Its 1991 sequel, Highlander II: The Quickening, was initially considered one of the worst sequels ever made. But The Quickening is actually stranger, more engaging, and better crafted than most people remember, and it’s now enjoyed as a delightfully campy film.

The First Highlander Is a Genuinely Great ’80s Fantasy Flick

Although many now consider the 1986 film Highlander a bit dated, it’s actually one of the best fantasy movies of the 1980s. It’s a daring, unusual, and surprisingly well-crafted story about Connor MacLeod, played by Christopher Lambert, a man who’s lived for centuries. Cursed with immortality in 16th-century Scotland, Connor has spent generations searching for a way to finally find peace. The only way to break his curse is to defeat all the other immortals on Earth, because, as the film famously says, there can be only one.

Few action movies are as delightfully silly, fast-paced, and genuinely fun to watch as Highlander. While it doesn’t quite reach the heights of classics like The Terminator, Die Hard, or Aliens, it’s still a fantastic action adventure. Christopher Lambert might not be known as a skilled actor, but he has a captivating presence. He’s incredibly engaging on screen, even with his strong accent, limited facial expressions, and somewhat awkward delivery of lines. Highlander really shouldn’t work – it’s over-the-top, needlessly complex, and filled with dated, cheesy fantasy tropes. Yet, somehow, it totally succeeds.

What really makes the movie Highlander stand out is its supporting cast. While Christopher Lambert is somewhat charming, Clancy Brown steals the show as a wonderfully over-the-top villain. And the character of Juan Sanchez Villa-Lobos Ramirez is simply unforgettable.

Ramirez, who is also immortal, guides MacLeod and explains the rules of the endless battle he’s become a part of. Sean Connery clearly understands the over-the-top nature of the film and brilliantly embraces it. The original Highlander from 1986 is a true classic, and while it remains the strongest film in the series, the sequel is almost as captivating.

Highlander II: The Quickening Is One of the Weirdest Sequels Ever Made

Regardless of whether you enjoy Highlander II: The Quickening or not, it’s undeniably one of the strangest sequels ever made. It differs dramatically from the original Highlander, and is the kind of follow-up you rarely see these days. Even though the first film clearly concluded with Connor MacLeod winning his freedom, Highlander II essentially ignores everything established in the original, rewriting the entire story and established rules of the series.

The first movie gave no clues, but the sequel, The Quickening, instantly reveals that the immortals fighting for power aren’t human—they’re actually aliens from another planet. We then see their home world, which adds a lot of unexpected context to the original film’s straightforward fantasy story, and things quickly become even stranger.

Despite dying in the first movie, a character unexpectedly returns to Earth, leading to a strange and humorous story. It’s filled with silly theater performances, lengthy scenes focused on custom suits, and other oddities. Sean Connery delivers a committed performance, even with the film’s unusual nature, which is truly impressive. Meanwhile, Ramirez pursues his own path, while Connor MacLeod, at the start of the sequel, is facing the end of his natural lifespan.

The sequel, Highlander II, took a strange approach by aging up Christopher Lambert with heavy makeup and prosthetics, and the first part of the movie is surprisingly interesting because of it. Lambert had trouble with the relatively straightforward character in the first film, so asking him to play an older, supposedly wiser MacLeod results in some accidental humor. While the original Highlander ended on a hopeful note, the future shown in Highlander II—and the consequences of The Quickening—is dark, odd, and disturbing.

The visual style of Highlander II: The Quickening is a strange and unsettling blend, reminiscent of the gritty cityscapes in RoboCop and a rough draft of the atmosphere found in The Crow. This unique production design is a major reason why the film stands out as one of the most unusual of its type. Someone unfamiliar with the first Highlander movie might not realize how different the sequel is, but for fans of the original 1986 film, The Quickening feels like a completely separate, alternate take on the series.

The movie Highlander II: The Quickening features some truly memorable scenes – think flying ghosts, a massive dome enclosing the planet, and a fantastic performance by Michael Ironside as the villain. While it’s not a great film overall, it’s definitely worth checking out for those wild moments.

Highlander II: The Quickening Is the Second-Best Film in the Franchise

The Highlander movies aren’t known for being artistic masterpieces, but they’re wonderfully cheesy and fun. Christopher Lambert makes a great hero, and it’s really satisfying to see the original Highlander – a scrappy, underrated film – launch a franchise with four sequels and several TV shows. While the later movies try harder to stick to the story established in the first film, and each one seems to forget what happened in The Quickening, the 1986 original remains the best and most memorable installment in the entire series.

Despite being a bit silly and confusing compared to the first Highlander movie, and potentially undermining everything the original built up, Highlander II: The Quickening is surprisingly fun to watch. The actors are all engaging, and the film’s action, visuals, and bizarre plot keep things interesting. While fans often dislike big changes to established franchises – and the reaction to Highlander II‘s changes is understandable – it’s also important to be open-minded and appreciate something different and unusual.

Highlander II isn’t a typical sequel – it’s far from safe or predictable. It’s clear director Russell Mulcahy, who also helmed the original 1986 film, was deeply invested in the story. His straightforward, effective directing style shines through just as much in this second installment. The film is a uniquely strange and technically impressive ‘bad’ movie – the kind audiences rarely see today. It’s not a lazy cash-in or a rehash of old ideas, but something truly different, and its reputation as one of the worst sequels ever is undeserved.

Fans of the Highlander series have long hoped for a second look at Highlander II: The Quickening, and with a new installment planned, now is the perfect moment to revisit it.

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2025-11-02 04:07