As Sean Connery approaches the later years of his career, he portrays Zed, an "Exterminator" seeking to uncover the truth behind "Zardoz," a massive, intimidating head considered a deity on Earth in 2293. Zed manages to sneak into the “vortex,” where the ruling class resides—essentially futuristic hippies who are profoundly bored with their immortality. I anticipated something lighthearted like "Barbarella" (1968), but “Zardoz” (1974) shares similarities with "Logan's Run” (1976), though it’s considerably stranger due to writer/director John Boorman’s unusual approach. It presents itself as a serious, 1970s-era science fiction film, although Arthur Frayn/Zardoz (Niall Buggy) provides some amusement with his jester-like persona. "Zardoz” is essential viewing for Connery enthusiasts; he sports a lengthy ponytail and mustache while wearing a revealing futuristic outfit throughout the movie. Charlotte Rampling and Sara Kestelman appear as Consuella and May, respectively, leaders of Vortex 4. The former views Zed as a danger and wants him eliminated, whereas the latter finds him intriguing and potentially valuable. The cinematography, locations, musical score, sets, costumes, and special effects were all quite impressive for the time; however, don’t expect effects on par with "Star Wars.” Actually, the film is worth seeing just for the Irish landscapes alone. However, “Zardoz” truly shines in its thematic exploration. It examines what happens to a society/nation/planet when liberal fascism gains power: The intellectual elite live within protected areas, benefiting from advanced technology and near-immortality, where women hold authority and men are feminized. The "Brutals" reside in the “Outlands,” while the Leftist “Eternals” control them through hired Brutals who receive guns from the Eternals and are called “Exterminators”—essentially the liberal utopia’s police force or military. Naturally, only the Brutals are permitted to own weapons, not ordinary citizens; and the Eternals maintain their dominance through their power. I was reminded of the Left's almost religious support for abortion, which results in millions of deaths annually. If that sounds complex, the film delves even further. The Crystal technology functions like an advanced version of our internet and smartphones. Therefore, “Zardoz” is a rewarding experience if you’re interested in stimulating intellectual concepts, but some familiarity with politics, philosophy, sociology, and comparative religion will enhance your appreciation. Otherwise, you can still enjoy the positive aspects previously mentioned. Its biggest shortcoming is that the narrative isn't particularly captivating, despite its profound themes; Boorman’s script would have benefited from revisions by someone who understood how to craft an engaging story. The film has a running time of 1 hour and 45 minutes and was filmed in County Wicklow, Ireland. GRADE: B-/C+

Source on TMDB