Red Scorpion (1988)
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- R
- 1h 45min
- Action, Adventure
- 19 Apr 1989 (USA)
- Movie
A Spetsnaz commando is sent on a covert mission by his Soviet superiors to infiltrate a rebel army and assassinate its leader.
Director:
Writers:
Stars:
Photos and Videos
Complete, Cast awaiting verification
| Dolph Lundgren | ... |
Lt. Nikolai Rachenko
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| M. Emmet Walsh | ... |
Dewey Ferguson
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| Al White | ... |
Kallunda Kintash
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| T.P. McKenna | ... |
General Vortek
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| Carmen Argenziano | ... |
Col. Zayas
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| Alex Colon | ... |
Mendez
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| Brion James | ... |
Sgt. Krasnov
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Ruben Nthodi | ... |
Ango Sundata
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Vusi Dibakwane | ... |
Guerilla Officer
(as Vuzi Dibukwana)
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James Mthoba | ... |
Guerilla Officer
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Dinky Motsemme | ... |
Guerilla Officer
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Ernest Ndlovu | ... |
Guerilla Guard / Guerilla
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Thapelo Mofokeng | ... |
Guerilla
(as Thapeld Mofokeng)
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Mxolisi Hulana | ... |
Guerilla
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| Nicky Rebelo | ... |
Occupation Officer
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Drummond Marais | ... |
Occupation Officer
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Charles Comyn | ... |
Occupation Officer
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Tullio Moneta | ... |
Occupation Soldier
(as Tulio Moneta)
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Jurgen Hellberg | ... |
Occupation Sergeant
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| Graham Clarke | ... |
Soldier
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Irene Stephano | ... |
Cuban Stenographer
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Nomsa Nene | ... |
Noe Kossongo
(as Nomse Nene)
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Elijah Dhlamini | ... |
Elano
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| Patrick Shai | ... |
African Soldier
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Peter Se-Puma | ... |
African Driver
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Tu Nokwe | ... |
Hooker
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Salathial Maake | ... |
Old Man
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Regopstaan | ... |
Gao
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Anthony Fridjhon | ... |
General Alfonso Callaraga
(as Tony Fridjohn)
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| Greg Latter | ... |
Russian Soldier
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| Robin Smith | ... |
Russian Officer
(as Rob Smith)
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Neo Matsunyane | ... |
Beaten Prisoner
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| Rest of cast listed alphabetically: | |||
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Joe Mafela | ... |
African Rebel (uncredited)
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Isaac Mavimbela | ... |
Barman (uncredited)
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David Vlok | ... |
(uncredited)
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Directed by
| Joseph Zito | ||
Written by
| Robert Abramoff | ... | (story by) & |
| Jack Abramoff | ... | (story by) and |
| Arne Olsen | ... | (story by) |
| Arne Olsen | ... | (screenplay by) |
| Joseph Zito | ... | (rewrite) (uncredited) |
Produced by
| Jack Abramoff | ... | producer |
| Robert Abramoff | ... | executive producer |
| Barney Cohen | ... | associate producer |
| Paul Erickson | ... | executive producer |
| Harmon Kaslow | ... | associate producer (uncredited) |
| Moonyeenn Lee | ... | associate producer |
| Mati Raz | ... | associate producer |
| Daniel Sklar | ... | executive producer |
Music by
| Jay Chattaway | ||
Cinematography by
| João Fernandes | ... | director of photography |
Editing by
| Daniel Loewenthal | ... | (as Dan Loewenthal) |
Editorial Department
| Mark Herman | ... | associate editor |
| Mato | ... | color timer |
| Timothy Mozer | ... | assistant film editor |
| Tatiana S. Riegel | ... | first assistant editor |
| Sherril Schlesinger | ... | assistant editor |
| David Block | ... | colorist (uncredited) |
Casting By
| Louis DiGiaimo | ... | (as Lou Di Giaimo) |
Production Design by
| Ladislav Wilheim | ||
Set Decoration by
| Patrick Willis | ||
Costume Design by
| Richard Bruno | ||
Makeup Department
| Anni Bartels | ... | makeup artist (as Annie Bartels) |
| Adam Behr | ... | special makeup effects artist |
| David Murat | ... | hairdresser (as Dave Murat) |
| Daniel Parker | ... | key makeup artist |
| Alan Scott | ... | hair designer |
Production Management
| Avi Kleinberger | ... | executive in charge of production |
| Gladys Pearce | ... | unit production manager |
| Johan Wicht | ... | production manager: South Africa |
Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
| Newt Arnold | ... | second unit director |
| John Finnegan | ... | second assistant director |
| Michael Kanski | ... | second assistant director |
| Nico Sachse | ... | additional second assistant director |
| Eddie Stacey | ... | second unit director |
| Andrew Warren | ... | assistant director: second unit |
| Leo Zisman | ... | first assistant director |
| Eddie Ziv | ... | additional second assistant director |
| Daniel Loewenthal | ... | second unit director (uncredited) |
| Ken Shane | ... | key second assistant director (uncredited) |
Art Department
| Mary-Jane Botha | ... | assistant art director |
| Victor Botha | ... | set dresser |
| Gary Bunge | ... | set dresser |
| Mike Fowlie | ... | property master |
| Roland Hunter | ... | scenic artist |
| Michael Hyman | ... | lead scenic |
| Kathryn Johnson | ... | set dresser |
| Maurice Jones | ... | property master |
| Kes Peyper | ... | props maker |
| George Crawford | ... | construction manager (uncredited) |
| Ashley Waldorf | ... | picture car consultant (uncredited) |
Sound Department
| John A. Larsen | ... | supervising sound editor |
| Richard Marx | ... | adr: editor |
| Bob Newlan | ... | sound effects editor |
| Gary Rich | ... | sound mixer |
| Jay Wilkinson | ... | sound effects supervisor |
Special Effects by
| John Evans | ... | special effects supervisor |
| Robert Nugent | ... | special effects technician |
| Tom Savini | ... | special effects makeup |
| Jeff Clifford | ... | special effects technician (uncredited) |
Stunts
| Peter Diamond | ... | stunt coordinator |
| Gavin Genlloud | ... | stunts |
| Richard Hammatt | ... | stunts (as Richard Hammet) |
| Anger Mabaso | ... | stunts (as Anger Madaso) |
| Isaac Mavimbela | ... | stunts (as Isaac Mauvimbela) |
| Philip Notununu | ... | stunts (as Philippe Notunu) |
| Chris Olley | ... | stunts |
| John Pasternak | ... | stunts |
| Greg Powell | ... | stunts (as Gregory Powell) |
| Sydney Radebe | ... | stunts |
| Raymond Sammel | ... | stunts |
| Eddie Stacey | ... | stunt coordinator |
| Ray Wilson | ... | stunts (as Roy Wilson) / stunts |
| Ed Anders | ... | stunts (uncredited) |
| Terry Cade | ... | stunts (uncredited) |
| Gerry Therrien | ... | stunts (uncredited) |
Camera and Electrical Department
| George Bartels | ... | camera operator |
| Robin Frost | ... | clapper loader |
| Paul Gilpin | ... | clapper loader |
| David Gurvich | ... | still photographer |
| W.C. 'Chunky' Huse | ... | key grip |
| Buzz Jochheim | ... | key grip |
| Ivan Leathers | ... | camera operator |
| Terence Maritz | ... | focus puller |
| Bevil Moritz | ... | clapper loader |
| Eugene D. Shlugleit | ... | camera operator (as Eugene Shlugleit) |
| Bernard Van Speyk | ... | focus puller |
Casting Department
| Moonyeenn Lee | ... | location casting |
Costume and Wardrobe Department
| Melissa Ferreira | ... | wardrobe assistant |
| Ruy Filipe | ... | wardrobe assistant |
| Janis McVee | ... | wardrobe assistant |
| Melissa Moritz | ... | costume assistant |
| Laurie Riley | ... | costumer |
Location Management
| Danny Ben Menahem | ... | location manager |
Music Department
| Jay Chattaway | ... | music supervisor |
| Stephen Croes | ... | music programmer / musician: electronic music |
| Don Hahn | ... | music mixer / music recordist |
| Pete Levin | ... | musician: electronic music |
| Barry Levine | ... | music supervisor |
| Joe E. Rand | ... | assistant music editor (as Joey Rand) |
| Joseph Smith | ... | orchestrator |
| Jack K. Tillar | ... | music editor (as Jack Tillar) |
| Jay Chattaway | ... | music producer (uncredited) |
| Judd Miller | ... | musician: african flute (uncredited) |
Script and Continuity Department
| Cornelia 'Nini' Rogan | ... | script supervisor |
Additional Crew
| Lynne Motijoane | ... | pre-production accountant |
| Vaughan Peacock | ... | pilot |
| David Rowe | ... | pilot |
| Ole Dieter Sturm | ... | production assistant |
| Clay Wright | ... | aerial supervisor (as Clayton D. Wright) |
| Wayne Fitzgerald | ... | title designer (uncredited) |
| Sholom Gelt | ... | International Sales Executive (uncredited) |
Production Companies
Distributors
- Shapiro-Glickenhaus Entertainment (1989) (United States) (theatrical)
- Cineplex Odeon Films (1989) (Canada) (theatrical)
- Constantin-Film (1989) (Austria) (theatrical) (as Constantin-Filmverleih)
- Herald Film Company (1989) (Japan) (theatrical)
- Les Films Jacques Leitienne (1989) (France) (theatrical)
- Scotia-Cannon (1989) (West Germany) (theatrical)
- Cinematografica Vicarsa (1989) (Mexico) (theatrical)
- Nippon Herald Films (1989) (Japan) (theatrical)
- Ufilms (1989) (Spain) (theatrical)
- Union Films S.A. (1989) (Spain) (theatrical)
- Unirecord Internacional (1989) (Spain) (theatrical)
- Vestron Pictures Australia (1989) (Australia) (theatrical)
- Cineplex-Odeon Home Video (1989) (Canada) (VHS)
- MCA Home Video (1989) (Canada) (VHS)
- SGE Home Video (1989) (United States) (VHS)
- UFA Video (1989) (Germany) (VHS)
- Videosonic (1989) (Greece) (VHS)
- Alsen Cinematografica (1990) (Italy) (theatrical)
- Indipendenti Regionali (1990) (Italy) (theatrical)
- CEL Home Video (1990) (Australia) (VHS)
- Delta Vidéo Diffusion (1990) (France) (VHS)
- Filmkompaniet Distribution (1990) (Norway) (VHS)
- Herald Videogram (1990) (Japan) (VHS)
- Showtime Video (1990) (Finland) (VHS)
- Vestron Video International (1990) (United Kingdom) (VHS)
- RTL Plus (1992) (Germany) (tv)
- Starmaker Entertainment (1992) (United States) (video)
- Shapiro Glickenhaus Television (1993) (United States) (tv) (syndication)
- Razzel Video (Finland) (VHS)
- Simitar Entertainment (1998) (United States) (DVD)
- Future Film (2001) (Finland) (DVD) (cropped to 1.33:1)
- 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment (2002) (United States) (DVD)
- Atlantic Film (2002) (Sweden) (DVD)
- H.O.M. Vision (2002) (Netherlands) (DVD) (cropped to 1.33: 1)
- Star Media Entertainment (2002) (Norway) (DVD)
- Video Services Corporation (VSC) (2002) (Canada) (VHS) (reprint)
- Tango Entertainment (2005) (United States) (DVD) (UMD)
- Dutch FilmWorks (DFW) (2011) (Netherlands) (Blu-ray)
- Pan Vision (2011) (Finland) (DVD) (cropped to 1.33: 1)
- Splendid Film (2011) (Germany) (DVD) (uncut)
- Arrow Films (2012) (United Kingdom) (Blu-ray)
- Arrow Films (2012) (United Kingdom) (DVD)
- North American Pictures (2012) (World-wide)
- Synapse Films (2012) (United States) (Blu-ray)
- Synapse Films (2012) (United States) (DVD)
- VL-Musiikki (2013) (Finland) (Blu-ray)
- Carlotta Films (2016) (France) (Blu-ray)
- SC Movies (2016) (Australia)
- SC Movies (2016) (New Zealand)
- Nameless Media (2017) (Germany) (Blu-ray)
- NSM Records (2020) (Germany) (Blu-ray)
- NSM Records (2020) (Germany) (DVD)
- Renaissance Content Group (2023) (United States) (tv) (AVOD)
- Troma Entertainment (2021) (World-wide)
- ABM Group (1993) (Canada) (VHS) (EP Mode)
- Amsell Entertainment (1996) (World-wide)
- Integral Video (1994) (France) (video) (laserdisc)
Special Effects
Other Companies
- Blue Light Sound (sound post-production)
- Castle Oaks Productions (sound post-production)
- Varèse Sarabande (soundtrack)
Storyline
| Plot Summary |
Hesitating in the moment he is about to kill the rebel leader, Nikolai fails and is captured. Rather than being killed outright, he is forced to undergo a shamanic initiation ritual. The ingestion of the poison of a local scorpion, and his initiation ceremony, including scarification (a scorpion), give him a new identity and role in the world: the Red Scorpion. Written by Phillip Batz |
| Plot Keywords | |
| Taglines | He's a human killing machine. Taught to stalk. Trained to kill. Programmed to destroy. He's played by their rules... Until now. See more » |
| Genres | |
| Parents Guide | View content advisory » |
| Certification |
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Additional Details
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Box Office
| Budget | $16,000,000 (estimated) |
| Opening Weekend United States | $1,972,994, 23 Apr 1989 |
Did You Know?
| Trivia | The filmmakers used a real bushmen tribe and Regopstaan was their 95 years old leader who only agreed to play in the movie if his tribe can follow him everywhere. See more » |
| Goofs | When Lt. Nikolai Rachenko is lifting the truck out of the ground in the final battle, he props his gun up leaning on the truck. As he lifts, the gun noticeably slides off; in the next shot, it's standing up again. See more » |
| Movie Connections | Edited into The Cyprus Tigers (1990). See more » |
| Soundtracks | Jenny, Jenny See more » |
| Crazy Credits | Sound effects of various weapons firing and exploding are heard over the Little Richard song the plays during the closing credits. See more » |
| Quotes |
Dewey Ferguson:
Man, what I'd give for a bacon-cheeseburger right now. Wash it down with an icecold glass of beer. Fuckin' A. Kallunda: When we arrive at Porto Silva, there will be a celebration, and much feasting. Beer too. Dewey Ferguson: Fuckin' A! Lt. Nikolai: Do the americans all swear so much as you do? Dewey Ferguson: As a matter of fact, in America, an american can swear whenever, wherever, however much he or she fuckin' well pleases! It's a little something we call freedom of speech, which I'm sure you russians aren't real familiar with! Lt. Nikolai: We are free to swear. Dewey Ferguson: Well yippee dee *fuck*! Guess I've got you bastards figured out totally wrong after all! I'll take the first watch. Shit! [He walks away] Dewey Ferguson: Shit! Shit! Shit! Lt. Nikolai: Noisy little fuck. See more » |