Join this week’s guest Prester John Andrews author of Dispatches from the Golden Horde and I on the fifth episode of In Kino Veritās— a podcast where the guest picks a film, we both watch, and discuss.
We don’t simply review films but dive deep into their themes, characters and cultural context. In this episode we explore the 1982 Epic film Conan The Barbarian. Prima Facie a grug-brained action movie with a hulking Arnold as a powerful warrior — 1982’s Conan is so much more. A truly mythical film, even somewhat of a bildungsroman, we follow a man as he becomes Hero — a tale as old as time, yet as true as ever.
Where you can stream Conan The Barbarian
(Use your local library to get a physical copy for free)
Main Points
* Who’s Prester John Andrews? Author of Dispatches from the Golden Horde, host of The Xanadu Review, launching the history show Americana Obscura this fall.
* Prester’s film choice: Conan the Barbarian (1982) — John Milius direction, Oliver Stone co‑write, Arnold Schwarzenegger’s breakout and James Earl Jones as cult‑lord Thulsa Doom.
* Quick synopsis: Orphaned Cimmerian forged on the “Wheel of Pain” seeks vengeance on the snake cult that slew his parents, crossing a mythic pre‑Bronze‑Age world of sorcery, steel and collapsing city‑states.
* Spoilers past this point
* Film’s vibe: last gasp of “old Hollywood” epic (think Ben‑Hur) dropped into early‑’80s new‑Hollywood grit; practical sets, rotoscoped spirits, Basil Poledouris’ thunderous score.
* Unflinching sincerity vs. later ’80s cynicism: no wink, no irony — every line (“What is best in life?”) played straight.
* Howard’s Hyborian Age as post‑collapse mirror: scattered cults, decadent city‑states, looming change—echoes of today’s post‑Bretton‑Woods liminality.
* Riddle of Steel vs. Doom’s “flesh” doctrine: steel alone is useless without the will that wields it; Conan’s final victory fuses both truths as he breaks his father’s sword to slay Doom.
* Civilization ↔ barbarism trade‑off: safety vs. freedom. Snake‑cult order demands cannibal ritual; Conan’s tribe keeps honor amid chaos. Parallels to corporate tech vs. startup scrappiness.
* Arnold as living myth: Austrian farm boy → world‑champion bodybuilder → Hollywood king → governor. Film launches the archetype that culminates in Terminator 2.
* Supporting archetypes:• Subotai – wiry steppe thief, loyal “ride‑or‑die” brother.• Valeria – warrior‑lover who fights demons and dies for Conan.• Mako’s Wizard – comic chorus, healer, bridge to the supernatural.
* Favorite set pieces: “Tree of Woe” crucifixion, hall‑of‑flesh stew, spirit‑armor resurrection, final flaming temple collapse.
* Soundtrack shoutout: “Anvil of Crom,” “Wheel of Pain” and “Riders of Doom” still top workout playlists.
* Personal parallels: both of PJ and I cooked in high‑pressure kitchens — binary success/failure akin to Conan’s battlefield and startup life.
* Closing plugs: check out Americana Obscurawhen it releases; read Dispatches from the Golden Horde; subscribe to Ultimatum for the next In Kino Veritas episode.
