Ursus, il terrore dei kirghisi

Ursus, il terrore dei kirghisi is the proper name of the film and it is pretty unusual mishmash of peplum, horror, geography and ethnicities. Suspiciously Mediterranean looking Kirghiz somehow manage to oppress unusually Nordic looking Cirkassians who seem to be living just across the hill from each other (it's like horse riding from Canada to Mexico!!!). The main hero - Ursus (not Hercules! Though all names have been altered for american edit) is played by Muscle man Reg Park was a mentor and inspiration for Arnold Schwarzenegger both in terms of over-exaggerated physique (of cartoon superhero/"bullied kids dream variety" and nowhere near as objectively beautiful like that of Steve Reeves) but also in wooden acting department (again making Reeves look almost method actor in comparison). Most other characters (in original Italian version) seem to have Georgian names for some reason - Ilo, Kato, Aniko (who became Amico in american version because...?) and finally Prince Zereteli - who would be happy to know that there is a street and a Metro station named after him in downtown Tbilisi, Georgia :)))

It's set in what is now Kyrgyzstan where the Prince Regent Zereteli of the Kirghiz (Furio Meniconi) has seized the throne of Sura following the murder of the Grand Khan and plans to wipe out the rival Cherkes tribe. To add to their worries, their caravans are being attacked by a mysterious monster that haunts the countryside.

Zereteli's cousin, Princess Aniko (Mireille Granelli), will be coming of age in a few months meaning that he'll have to abdicate to make way for her. He wants to marry her so he can become Queen- she's not keen ...

Complicating matters even further, she's in love with Ursus (Reg Park), now the leader of the Cherkes. Ursus tries to track down the monster with his brother Ilo (Ettore Manni). But Aniko is not all that she seems and the grotesque creature, created by a mysterious serum, might be closer to home than Ursus realises...

Hercules, the prisoner of evil is an unusual blend of "monster on the loose" (almost hammer horror-style) and the usual sword and sandal romp, a feud between two parties; a power play - the bad guy thinks the Jekyll and Hyde type of creature is really Ursus' doing, but the suspect is sort of obvious. The plot is sharp, brisk and engaging - there's sufficient suspense and an ominous atmosphere, though they could have emphasised the latter more.

The creature isn't very scary, in which where lies the problem- maybe a bloodsucking vampire would've been more creepy, but the negative aside this is a good film that takes a different path from the usual peplum. And Reg Park is the main lead, but everyone plays a part- he's not the only hero, and the villains are just in the centre.

Pity it gets bad reviews as this is a quite entertaining with a spooky cave with an entrance, beautiful women, some good fights. It's got its flaws, but which film doesn't.

URSUS, THE TERROR OF THE KIRGHIZ (aka: HERCULES, PRISONER OF EVIL) stars Reg Park as Ursus / Hercules.

After a caravan is decimated by a werewolf (aka: a hairy man in a cape, shrieking like a hyena that's being electrocuted), Ursuscules jumps right in to help get to the bottom of things.

Meanwhile, the sinister Prince Zereteli uses the incident as an excuse to kill his enemies, and to get Hersuscules out of the way.

The werewolf continues its rampage, while Urcules goes shirtless, eventually getting his chance to toss the Prince's soldiers around like ping pong balls!

A later entry in the muscleman epic craze, the addition of the "monster" is novel, though not that effective. Still, Park does his best with the material...

Some reviewers have been decidedly unkind to this minor sword-and-sandal effort but those willing to indulge the sloppy dubbing, chopping editing, and murky prints may find a certain likable quality here. Think of it as an amateurish but enthusiastic high school play, or a big mutt who climbs in your lap and licks your face. Most of the faults cited by other reviewers can't be denied but the main problem here is Hercules' curious absence from the plot (due to injuries) for a 25-minute stretch in the middle of the movie. That's a real momentum killer. Did Reg Park become ill or otherwise unavailable during the filming and thus they had to film around him? (One fight sequence uses an obvious stand-in for Park, lending some support for this theory.) Yes, the monster is more laughable than frightening with a squawk like Rodan's, and disappointingly little is made of Hercules' superhuman strength. (He isn't even bare-chested very often.) Also note the puzzling Oriental decor in some of the palace interiors. However, if you're kind, all of these things might be viewed as part of the fun.

Ancient peplum hero Ursus is now doing his thing in Eastern Europe where the Mongol conquerors are running things but with arrangements with the locals. Not anyone in the cast looks remotely Asian however, especially one who as it turns out is the lost princess daughter of the Great Khan who was murdered in a palace coup.

Anyway the usurper and his partner who is a sorceress have the common serfs under control, but for Ursus who leads one of the tribes. The sorceress gets the big guy under her control and turn him into some kind of ravenous beast.

Good thing the good guys have someone skilled in the black arts who brings Ursus around.

Just like Hulk Hogan going over to the dark side.