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“Yor’s world! He’s the man! Yor’s world!” With these puzzling lyrics, Oliver Onions, a duo best known for their cheesy soundtrack work, perfectly matches their cosmic melody with a downhill (and hilariously goofy) introduction to our hero. He’s trying really hard to be all macho-like – with a completely vacant look in his eyes – while sliding downhill to face the camera.
Damn talking boxes!
There’s a fire burning inside the ardent heart of Yor, The Hunter from the Future and it’s completely out of control. We are talking total nonsense here, ghouls and boils. Bonkers. This mad tale is completely and utterly out of its skull and you can’t help but love it for that reason. You'll laugh at its bizarro shenanigans.
Are you ready to fight, Yor and threaten the power and authority of the Overlord?! You bet he is! Wait. What are we fighting for again?!
Yor, complete with his well-oiled pecs, is the hero of the past and the future! How cool is that? Don’t question the logic of the statement, especially when it concerns a geographically challenged prehistoric man at odds with an environment that includes sand mummies and a black-hooded villain with mood swings.
Just accept that he can serve both eras, damn it. Trust me, things in this motion picture – with its use of gymnastics and model dolls (read as TOYS) in the upside-down swinging climax – are about to get truly nutty. This particular quibble is minor stuff.
On the morning that Yor’s cinematic adventure begins, he smiles cheekily – I swear there’s something in (or attached to) the goof’s front tooth – while traversing across rough terrain, giving the camera an extra peek at his ass as he jogs to the next epic adventure. He smiles a lot throughout the flick, too, and that makes whatever it is that is on his tooth all the more … hysterical. This is most true when he tries to flirt with the women fawning all over him.
Directed by Antonio Margheriti (listed in the credits as Anthony Dawson), Yor – for those not in the know on this cheapo depot sci-fi prehistoric romp – is one hell of a wild and unhinged tale of wackadoo science and caveman oddities. It is a mind-melding blend of Star Wars-like destiny motifs with sword-and-sandal characters as the meaning is discovered behind the necklace Yor wears and the legacy it implies concerning our intertwined fates.
And, along the way, Yor (Reb Brown, Space Mutiny) rescues the so very jealous Kala (Corinne Cléry, Moonraker), her protector Pag (Luciano Pigozzi), and the mysterious Tarita (Marina Rocchi) who opens his eyes to his true origins. He falls for both women during the adventure before one is killed. See? He didn’t have to make a choice! Things come easy for our adventurer that way.
Little does the generous heart of Yor know that he will soon be battling purple-faced ape-men, receiving tongue lashings by children-craving dinosaurs, and be held captive by laser-blasting robots on his way to an epic showdown with Overlord (John Steiner) while getting to the truth of his birth. And we shouldn’t forget the scientist, Ena (Carole André), who further complicates the narrative with tales of a fiery bird falling from the sky and a whole lot of damn talking boxes.
Hmmm. Could things NOT be what they seem in Yor’s world? Could this prehistoric timeline be the result of an unplanned nuclear bomb? Is there a lesson to be learned here? The answer to all, of course, is yes. Yor is our immediate future.
Wait. What?! Ah, yes, my friends. Welcome to the weird and wacky world of Italian exploitation. It is a place where – with even the smallest of funds – the wackiest shit can be imagined. All you need is a willing lead as a hunky barbarian, a really bad wig, cheesy effects, lots of bronze totems, and the bleached-out Rock Sites of Cappadocia in Turkey as your backdrop and you will see that anything – and I do mean ANYTHING – is possible.
Thanks to the success of John Milius's 1982 film version of Conan the Barbarian, many imitators came forth to strike that vein. Most were in over their heads. Some – like Krull and Yor (who comes gliding in to save his love on the wings of a giant dead bat) – got a bit more attention, thanks to wide distribution deals from Columbia Pictures, which is how I originally saw this cult classic.
There are very few flicks that includes cavemen battling purple apes, overprotective dinosaurs, and laser-blasting robots. There may even be just one and, thanks to Mill Creek Entertainment, that one film – featuring a hysterically awkward scene in a room of mirrors that a baby could figure out – finally arrives in HD.
Yor, The Hunter from the Future has arrived. He might not be the swiftest on his feet but he’s here … because the blood of your enemy makes you stronger, fool.
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[tab title="Details"]
MPAA Rating: PG.
Runtime: 88 mins
Director: Antonio Margheriti
Writer: Robert D. Bailey; Antonio Margheriti
Cast: Reb Brown, Corinne Cléry, John Steiner
Genre: Action | Fantasy
Tagline: He is from a future world. Trapped in prehistoric times. Searching for his past. A hunter of incredible power and strength. In his quest for his origin, he and the woman he loves must fight hostile tribes. Battle deadly beasts. And try to survive the violent forces of a newly born Earth.
Memorable Movie Quote: "We will need a lot more hemp before we're through."
Theatrical Distributor: Columbia Pictures
Official Site:
Release Date: August 19, 1983
DVD/Blu-ray Release Date: January 16, 2018
Synopsis: It is before the dawn of time. Strange, savage beasts roam the earth, foraging for human flesh. Fierce tribesmen prey on the weak and innocent. Mystic sacrifices appease the gods. Yor (Reb Brown, Space Mutiny) is the mightiest warrior of his era. But his own past and true identity-are shrouded in the mists of time. He knows he doesn't belong in this world, but his only clues to the fleeting memories of his past are the gold medallion around his neck and the beautiful priestess held prisoner in a forbidden city. Armed to the teeth, Yor sets off on a quest, ready to blast away all manner of terrifying creatures along the way.
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Blu-ray Details:
Home Video Distributor: Mill Creek Entertainment
Available on Blu-ray - January 16, 2018
Screen Formats: 1.85:1
Subtitles: English
Audio: English: LPCM 2.0
Discs: Blu-ray Disc; single disc
Region Encoding: Region-free
Sure there’s an age to this cult classic, but I’m not complaining. Mill Creek Entertainment dusts off Yor, the Hunter from the Future for its HD debut with agreeable results. The effects are completely gamey and that is to be expected. There’s also a lack of detail that has more to do with the film stock used than anything on Mill Creek’s end. With a solid picture presented here in a 1.78:1 aspect ratio, the film good in 1080p and supplies a decent grain. Color tones are strong throughout. The sound is a uncompressed Stereo 2.0. Not immersive, but effective nonetheless.
Supplements:
Commentary:
- This release includes a commentary from the film’s star, Reb Brown, who talks about the making of the movie and his memories of its production.
Special Features:
Outside of the commentary, we get a theatrical trailer and that is all. Not much of a celebration, Mill Creek.
- Theatrical Trailer
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