Barbarian Queen II: The Empress Strikes Back
Encyclopedia
Filmed in Mexico, Barbarian Queen II: The Empress Strikes Back is a 1989 fantasy film
directed by Joe Finley and written by Howard R. Cohen and Lance Smith. It starred Lana Clarkson
in the titular role. It was billed as a sequel to the 1985 cult classic film Barbarian Queen
, which also starred Clarkson, although the plot and characters bear no relation to the earlier film. Unlike the original, this film was released direct-to-video
.
, has disappeared in battle
and is presumed dead. Athalia's treacherous brother Ankaris, aided by his sadistic
second-in-command Hofrax, wastes no time in claiming the crown (and the magic
scepter which is the source of the kingdom's power) for himself, much to Athalia's protests. He has Athalia sentenced to death by hanging
unless she reveals the magic spell of the scepter to him.
Athalia escapes and flees to the countryside, where she encounters a group of all-female rebels. After defeating their leader in hand-to-hand combat that leaves both women covered in mud and nearly naked, Athalia gains their trust and begins building an army to overthrow her brother. She proves herself a capable leader, and more than a match for any man in battle.
As the rebel
army's successes grow, Ankaris and Hofrax become more alarmed. Hofrax devises a trap for Athalia, drawing her out into the open by threatening to execute innocent peasants in the castle courtyard. Athalia successfully assaults the castle, rescues the peasants, and valiantly slays many enemy soldiers. The trap, however, proves successful, as she is finally overpowered and captured by Hofrax on a rampart
, where her army is unable to aid her.
Having earlier been humiliated by Athalia, the revenge-minded Hofrax decides to subject her to degradation and painful torture. Hofrax humiliates her by ripping her top off, exposing her ample breasts. He then tortures her on a vertical stretching rack
. The blond heroine's screams of agony echo through the dungeon as Hofrax gleefully tightens the rack. Tamis, Ankaris' daughter (played by then-14 year-old Mexican
child actress Cecilia Tijerina), enters the chamber to observe Athalia's torture
. It is here that Athalia learns that Tamis enjoys torturing her subjects and has plans to become queen
once Athalia is dead. In a bid to break Athalia, and to demonstrate the rack's capabilities to Tamis, Hofrax tilts the rack's table forward, suspending Athalia over a bed of spikes. He then leaves her there, hanging bare-breasted over the pointed tips, to contemplate her fate.
Alone in the dungeon, Athalia manages to work her hands loose and escape from the rack
(surprisingly without impaling herself on the spikes beneath her), and flees to the guarded chamber where the scepter is stored. She is soon recaptured when she refuses to utter the spell necessary to work the scepter's magic
power, since it will result in the king dying in the off chance he is still alive. Because she won't use the scepter's magic to save herself, Ankaris knows that she will never surrender it to him, and she is turned back over to Hofrax to do with as he pleases. When we next see Athalia, she has again been stripped and bound to the upright torture rack. It appears that she has been tortured for a very long time, as her naked body has been stretched taut and her beautiful face is contorted in agony. Hofrax, taking great pleasure in Athalia's suffering, tells her that she is being slowly tortured to death. Athalia - broken in body and spirit by the torture - reacts to Hofrax by thrusting out her bare chest and gasping that someday someone else will take her place and defeat him. Resigned to her fate, she finally slips into unconsciousness.
In a subplot, one of the knights of the castle
and a former lover of Athalia, has a change of heart about his allegiance
to Hofrax and proves his loyalty to Athalia by rescuing her from the dungeon and bringing her back to the rebel camp. Athalia - barely alive after her excruciating ordeal on the rack - is slowly nursed back to health by the rebels. She seemingly recovers from her injuries, but tragically learns that she has been poisoned and has only a few days left to live (Tamis had placed a venomous spider
on her arm while she was unconscious on the rack). Unfazed in the face of certain death, she gathers her remaining strength and unites the rebels for a final battle against her evil brother's forces.
was able to benefit from the publicity of the successful big-budget Conan film and get some play in discount movie theaters, Barbarian Queen II: The Empress Strikes Back was not so fortunate. The movie was released straight to video/DVD and never generated much attention within the sword and sandal
genre.
By this time, Lana Clarkson
had established herself as a capable sword and sandal
actress. Being 27 years old at the time of the film's release and a tall (5'11"), blonde-haired, blue-eyed beauty with large breasts, she was arguably at the peak of her acting potential. Unfortunately, the genre she was so closely associated with had run its course. While she would later work in smaller offerings, this would be her last role as a sword-wielding heroine. In 2002, she was shot and killed by famed record producer Phil Spector
, who was later convicted of her murder.
Cecilia Tijerina, who was only 14 years old at the time of the film's making, turned in a capable performance as the bratty young daughter. She would later go on to perform in Mexican and Mexican-American films supplemented by guest appearances in Mexican television shows.
Fantasy film
Fantasy films are films with fantastic themes, usually involving magic, supernatural events, make-believe creatures, or exotic fantasy worlds. The genre is considered to be distinct from science fiction film and horror film, although the genres do overlap...
directed by Joe Finley and written by Howard R. Cohen and Lance Smith. It starred Lana Clarkson
Lana Clarkson
Lana Jean Clarkson was an American actress and fashion model. Clarkson was a native of Los Angeles County. She played roles in science fiction and fantasy movies. She was murdered by songwriter and producer Phil Spector, who was convicted of the crime on April 13, 2009.-Early life:Born in Long...
in the titular role. It was billed as a sequel to the 1985 cult classic film Barbarian Queen
Barbarian Queen
Barbarian Queen is a 1985 American-Argentine fantasy film directed by Héctor Olivera and written by Howard R. Cohen. The film premiered in December 1985 in the United States. It starred Lana Clarkson....
, which also starred Clarkson, although the plot and characters bear no relation to the earlier film. Unlike the original, this film was released direct-to-video
Direct-to-video
Direct-to-video is a term used to describe a film that has been released to the public on home video formats without being released in film theaters or broadcast on television...
.
Plot Summary
Athalia (Clarkson) is a proud and beautiful princess in a troubled realm. One day, news reaches her that her father, the kingKing
- Centers of population :* King, Ontario, CanadaIn USA:* King, Indiana* King, North Carolina* King, Lincoln County, Wisconsin* King, Waupaca County, Wisconsin* King County, Washington- Moving-image works :Television:...
, has disappeared in battle
Battle
Generally, a battle is a conceptual component in the hierarchy of combat in warfare between two or more armed forces, or combatants. In a battle, each combatant will seek to defeat the others, with defeat determined by the conditions of a military campaign...
and is presumed dead. Athalia's treacherous brother Ankaris, aided by his sadistic
Sadistic personality disorder
Sadistic personality disorder is a diagnosis which appeared only in an appendix of the revised third edition of the American Psychiatric Association's Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders . The current version of the DSM does not include it, so it is no longer considered a valid...
second-in-command Hofrax, wastes no time in claiming the crown (and the magic
Magic (paranormal)
Magic is the claimed art of manipulating aspects of reality either by supernatural means or through knowledge of occult laws unknown to science. It is in contrast to science, in that science does not accept anything not subject to either direct or indirect observation, and subject to logical...
scepter which is the source of the kingdom's power) for himself, much to Athalia's protests. He has Athalia sentenced to death by hanging
Hanging
Hanging is the lethal suspension of a person by a ligature. The Oxford English Dictionary states that hanging in this sense is "specifically to put to death by suspension by the neck", though it formerly also referred to crucifixion and death by impalement in which the body would remain...
unless she reveals the magic spell of the scepter to him.
Athalia escapes and flees to the countryside, where she encounters a group of all-female rebels. After defeating their leader in hand-to-hand combat that leaves both women covered in mud and nearly naked, Athalia gains their trust and begins building an army to overthrow her brother. She proves herself a capable leader, and more than a match for any man in battle.
As the rebel
Rebellion
Rebellion, uprising or insurrection, is a refusal of obedience or order. It may, therefore, be seen as encompassing a range of behaviors aimed at destroying or replacing an established authority such as a government or a head of state...
army's successes grow, Ankaris and Hofrax become more alarmed. Hofrax devises a trap for Athalia, drawing her out into the open by threatening to execute innocent peasants in the castle courtyard. Athalia successfully assaults the castle, rescues the peasants, and valiantly slays many enemy soldiers. The trap, however, proves successful, as she is finally overpowered and captured by Hofrax on a rampart
Defensive wall
A defensive wall is a fortification used to protect a city or settlement from potential aggressors. In ancient to modern times, they were used to enclose settlements...
, where her army is unable to aid her.
Having earlier been humiliated by Athalia, the revenge-minded Hofrax decides to subject her to degradation and painful torture. Hofrax humiliates her by ripping her top off, exposing her ample breasts. He then tortures her on a vertical stretching rack
Rack (torture)
The rack is a torture device consisting of a rectangular, usually wooden frame, slightly raised from the ground, with a roller at one, or both, ends, having at one end a fixed bar to which the legs were fastened, and at the other a movable bar to which the hands were tied...
. The blond heroine's screams of agony echo through the dungeon as Hofrax gleefully tightens the rack. Tamis, Ankaris' daughter (played by then-14 year-old Mexican
Mexican people
Mexican people refers to all persons from Mexico, a multiethnic country in North America, and/or who identify with the Mexican cultural and/or national identity....
child actress Cecilia Tijerina), enters the chamber to observe Athalia's torture
Torture
Torture is the act of inflicting severe pain as a means of punishment, revenge, forcing information or a confession, or simply as an act of cruelty. Throughout history, torture has often been used as a method of political re-education, interrogation, punishment, and coercion...
. It is here that Athalia learns that Tamis enjoys torturing her subjects and has plans to become queen
Monarchy
A monarchy is a form of government in which the office of head of state is usually held until death or abdication and is often hereditary and includes a royal house. In some cases, the monarch is elected...
once Athalia is dead. In a bid to break Athalia, and to demonstrate the rack's capabilities to Tamis, Hofrax tilts the rack's table forward, suspending Athalia over a bed of spikes. He then leaves her there, hanging bare-breasted over the pointed tips, to contemplate her fate.
Alone in the dungeon, Athalia manages to work her hands loose and escape from the rack
Rack (torture)
The rack is a torture device consisting of a rectangular, usually wooden frame, slightly raised from the ground, with a roller at one, or both, ends, having at one end a fixed bar to which the legs were fastened, and at the other a movable bar to which the hands were tied...
(surprisingly without impaling herself on the spikes beneath her), and flees to the guarded chamber where the scepter is stored. She is soon recaptured when she refuses to utter the spell necessary to work the scepter's magic
Magic (paranormal)
Magic is the claimed art of manipulating aspects of reality either by supernatural means or through knowledge of occult laws unknown to science. It is in contrast to science, in that science does not accept anything not subject to either direct or indirect observation, and subject to logical...
power, since it will result in the king dying in the off chance he is still alive. Because she won't use the scepter's magic to save herself, Ankaris knows that she will never surrender it to him, and she is turned back over to Hofrax to do with as he pleases. When we next see Athalia, she has again been stripped and bound to the upright torture rack. It appears that she has been tortured for a very long time, as her naked body has been stretched taut and her beautiful face is contorted in agony. Hofrax, taking great pleasure in Athalia's suffering, tells her that she is being slowly tortured to death. Athalia - broken in body and spirit by the torture - reacts to Hofrax by thrusting out her bare chest and gasping that someday someone else will take her place and defeat him. Resigned to her fate, she finally slips into unconsciousness.
In a subplot, one of the knights of the castle
Castle
A castle is a type of fortified structure built in Europe and the Middle East during the Middle Ages by European nobility. Scholars debate the scope of the word castle, but usually consider it to be the private fortified residence of a lord or noble...
and a former lover of Athalia, has a change of heart about his allegiance
Allegiance
An allegiance is a duty of fidelity said to be owed by a subject or a citizen to his/her state or sovereign.-Etymology:From Middle English ligeaunce . The al- prefix was probably added through confusion with another legal term, allegeance, an "allegation"...
to Hofrax and proves his loyalty to Athalia by rescuing her from the dungeon and bringing her back to the rebel camp. Athalia - barely alive after her excruciating ordeal on the rack - is slowly nursed back to health by the rebels. She seemingly recovers from her injuries, but tragically learns that she has been poisoned and has only a few days left to live (Tamis had placed a venomous spider
Spider
Spiders are air-breathing arthropods that have eight legs, and chelicerae with fangs that inject venom. They are the largest order of arachnids and rank seventh in total species diversity among all other groups of organisms...
on her arm while she was unconscious on the rack). Unfazed in the face of certain death, she gathers her remaining strength and unites the rebels for a final battle against her evil brother's forces.
Reaction
Whereas this film's predecessor Barbarian QueenBarbarian Queen
Barbarian Queen is a 1985 American-Argentine fantasy film directed by Héctor Olivera and written by Howard R. Cohen. The film premiered in December 1985 in the United States. It starred Lana Clarkson....
was able to benefit from the publicity of the successful big-budget Conan film and get some play in discount movie theaters, Barbarian Queen II: The Empress Strikes Back was not so fortunate. The movie was released straight to video/DVD and never generated much attention within the sword and sandal
Sword and sandal
The Peplum , also known as Sword-and-Sandal, is a genre of largely Italian-made Historical or Biblical Epics that dominated the Italian film industry from 1957 to 1965, eventually being replaced in 1965 by the "Spaghetti Western"...
genre.
By this time, Lana Clarkson
Lana Clarkson
Lana Jean Clarkson was an American actress and fashion model. Clarkson was a native of Los Angeles County. She played roles in science fiction and fantasy movies. She was murdered by songwriter and producer Phil Spector, who was convicted of the crime on April 13, 2009.-Early life:Born in Long...
had established herself as a capable sword and sandal
Sword and sandal
The Peplum , also known as Sword-and-Sandal, is a genre of largely Italian-made Historical or Biblical Epics that dominated the Italian film industry from 1957 to 1965, eventually being replaced in 1965 by the "Spaghetti Western"...
actress. Being 27 years old at the time of the film's release and a tall (5'11"), blonde-haired, blue-eyed beauty with large breasts, she was arguably at the peak of her acting potential. Unfortunately, the genre she was so closely associated with had run its course. While she would later work in smaller offerings, this would be her last role as a sword-wielding heroine. In 2002, she was shot and killed by famed record producer Phil Spector
Phil Spector
Phillip Harvey "Phil" Spector is an American record producer and songwriter, later known for his conviction in the murder of actress Lana Clarkson....
, who was later convicted of her murder.
Cecilia Tijerina, who was only 14 years old at the time of the film's making, turned in a capable performance as the bratty young daughter. She would later go on to perform in Mexican and Mexican-American films supplemented by guest appearances in Mexican television shows.