Almost Awesome in Its Badness

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1986 saw Russell Mulcahy’s action-adventure movie, Highlander, initially struggle commercially but eventually garner a cult following. The tale of immortal 16th-century swordsmen competing to be the last one alive inspired a sequel in 1991 titled Highlander II: The Quickening. Regrettably, this follow-up fell flat in almost every category and is often criticized as one of cinema’s worst productions. Due to his disillusionment with the final product, Mulcahy, who was excluded from the project by investors, allegedly refused to watch it during screenings.

In time, a revised edition of the film “Highlander II” appeared, featuring altered sequences and discarded storylines, aiming to make something coherent from the remaining content. Known as the Renegade Version, this reworked movie is the one currently streamable online. Despite improvements, it didn’t manage to fully dispel the lingering negative impressions of the original – an opinion shared by esteemed film critic Roger Ebert, who labeled it almost good because it was so bad.

‘Highlander II’ Is Completely Illogical

Highlander II: The Quickening – often criticized for its unwarranted sequel status, kicks off in the 1990s within a community that thrives under an artificial shield following Earth’s ozone layer depletion, leading to eternal darkness. This protective barrier was constructed by none other than Connor MacLeod (Christopher Lambert), formerly an immortal and famously known as The Highlander, the central figure of this franchise.

In the year 2024, Connor recalls events from his past life on a planet named Zeist, where he had led a rebellion against General Katana five centuries ago. Additionally, he uncovers a deceitful corporation that is hiding details about the restored ozone layer for financial gain through The Shield. His mission now involves exposing this truth and staying safe from assassins dispatched by Katana from Zeist.

In the movie’s title, “quickening” signifies the unique ability an immortal has to take in all the talents, wisdom, experiences, and life essence from another being, thereby revitalizing their own youth and vigor. To put it another way, as Roger Ebert explained, “Quickening” is a process where two individuals connect and are enveloped by special effects, giving the impression that one of them appears to be standing in a puddle while the other seems to have touched a live wire.

What Made ‘Highlander II’ So Bad?

Ebert’s main issues with the movie Highlander II: The Quickening, echoed by many viewers, revolve around its illogical science, confusing timeline, and implausible storyline. As Ebert notes, for no apparent reason, one consequence of the Shield is a constant temperature and humidity of 99 degrees, which doesn’t make sense because it’s perpetually dark. Instead of causing another Ice Age, this heat anomaly occurs. Moreover, the global blackout seems to have no impact on the world’s food supply, which is unlikely given that sunlight is essential for plant growth and all of Earth’s energy is being directed into the laser beam that maintains the Shield.

In delving deeper into the realm of creative “sci-fi,” the fantastical aspects presented in Highlander II, such as the Immortals and their home planet Zeist, are questionable at best. For instance, despite Zeist being closer to the sun than Earth, it shares the same day and year lengths. This inconsistency is further highlighted by the claim that the Immortals were banished to Earth following a failed rebellion against Katana, yet they’re not truly immortal because they can still perish under specific conditions, like being beheaded by another Immortal, returning to Zeist, or in various other situations. This ambiguity surrounding their mortality, which is influenced by the planet they inhabit, their combatants, and the era they inhabit, creates confusion and prevents the audience from fully engaging with a story that struggles to make sense of its own rules.

Can the ‘Highlander’ Franchise Be Saved?

The original version of “Highlander II: The Quickening” is similar to haphazardly stitching assorted sequences from diverse science fiction films, hoping that it might coalesce into a vaguely comprehensible narrative. In truth, the movie was so alienated from the universe created in the first “Highlander” that a follow-up titled “Highlander III: The Sorcerer” was produced in 1994, which deliberately ignores the happenings of the second film entirely.

2026 will see the release of a reboot for the Highlander series, helmed by Chad Stahelski and featuring Henry Cavill in the lead role. This presents an opportunity to revitalize the franchise and potentially launch a new one. However, any missteps from its previous iterations may remain etched in the minds of sci-fi enthusiasts if Roger Ebert’s prophecy comes to pass.

The critic describes Highlander II: The Quickening as “one of the funniest yet puzzling movies I’ve watched for quite some time — In the annals of science fiction, this film will be whispered about with awe among fans as one of its most infamous flops. It’s a tough act to follow.

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2025-05-12 05:43