Kindar the Invulnerable (1965) User Reviews (11)

An interesting twist on the standard formula

[bensonmum2 · 6/10 · 21 May 2009]

The son of a Sultan named Siro, Kindar is born just as his mother is hit and killed by lightning. The strange happenings at his birth make Kindar invulnerable to all human attacks, save one – the mysterious red rose. But soon after his birth, Kindar is kidnapped and taken to grow up as the the son of a desert warrior and bandit named Seymuth. Seymuth's one ambition in life is to destroy Kindar's real father and his city. And with an invulnerable son at his side, no one would dare stand in his way. But before Seymuth's grand day of glory, Kindar learns the truth of his birth. Which side will Kindar choose – Siro or Seymuth? And how will the discovery of the red rose affect the events to come?

Something of a rare peplum, Kindar the Invulnerable is also a bit different from the standard fare. Instead of ancient Athens or Rome or Sparta, Kindar the Invulnerable is set in the deserts of North Africa. I'm not sure where the movie was filmed, but it looks wonderfully authentic. The vast, empty deserts, the lush oasis, and the walled city of Uthera – it's a nice change of pace from the normal scenes of coliseums and chariot races. Another plus for me was the acting. While Mark Forest is basically "the body" the role of Kindar calls for, he's as good as any of the muscle-bound would-be actors that populated these peplums. In fact, I was actually a bit impressed with his acting prowess. The rest of the cast includes the always welcome genre favorite Rosalba Neri in a small role and Mimmo Palmara chewing more scenery than one actor has a right to in his role as Seymuth. I must admit that I was also enjoyed the performance of Dea Flowers in her one and only listed credit. I'm amazed she didn't do anything else. Finally, there are a couple of moments in Kindar the Invulnerable that really caught me off guard by how well they were shot. Two of my favorites that I'll mention are Kindar's nighttime trip into the walled city and the film's finale with Kindar back home holding his one true love. That last one may be hokey, but it's a wonderful shot nonetheless. You know, other than a slow patch in the film's second act, I've got no complaints. I'll give Kindar the Invulnerable a strong 6/10. If you're a fan of the genre, this is one worth seeking out for its uniqueness if nothing else.

KINDAR THE INVULNERABLE (Osvaldo Civirani, 1965) **1/2

[Bunuel1976 · 6/10 · 18 March 2014]

Although Steve Reeves is the first name which comes to mind when one thinks of "Peplum" movies – and with good reason since he was the subgenre's first (and perhaps only) bona-fide star – the sheer fact that I was introduced to them as a kid in the early 1980s via Italian TV broadcasts of MOLE MEN AGAINST THE SON OF HERCULES (1961) and GOLIATH AND THE SINS OF BABYLON (1963) has made me look out for Mark Forest's movies more than any of the others who have likewise stepped in the sandals of such muscle-bound heroes over the years. Indeed, out of 14 titles in Forest's filmography, I have now watched all but one – THE MAGNIFICENT GLADIATOR (1964). The film under review, then, made when the mythological epics had been overtaken in popularity by the newest fad in Italian cinema i.e. Spaghetti Westerns, was his last film appearance since, unlike his contemporaries, he apparently chose not to diversify his curriculum – even though he was a professional singer and a qualified teacher of that art form!

Rather than bow out playing in any one of the roles that had made his name like Hercules and Maciste, Forest's final star vehicle was an "Arabian Nights"-type fable with his superpowers – emphatically stated in the film's very title – here being attributed not to any blood relation to the gods but having his mother being hit by a lightning bolt during the fatal childbirth. This conveniently satisfies a prophecy that this kingdom's first-born can only ever be harmed by "a red flower". Needless to say, a band of rogue desert nomads come to hear of this through the duplicitous court maid and they kidnap the child and murder the latter witness. Curiously enough, the villain (Mimmo Palmara) dispatches his newly-acquired son to be raised by an old woman in a remote part of the sand dunes and only returns to claim him 30 years later!; by that time, he has not only grown into Mark Forest but his favourite past time seems to be swimming in crocodile-infested waters while racing and daring them to catch up with him (even if he is still unaware of his extraordinary powers)! Once he is back into the fold of Palmara's tent encampment, he is belatedly and summary trained in the art of war and sold to the troops – by ordering his astonished archers to cut down his own son with arrows – as their secret weapon against the armies of Forest's real sovereign father – led by his younger brother Howard Ross (here still billed under the more colourful moniker of "Red Ross").

True to formula, given that there are two brothers and two battling factions in the narrative, there must also be two women, one who divides the siblings and one who comes between putative father and adopted son; the former is played by the unlikely-named Dea Flowers (in what appears to be her only role) and the sultry Rosalba Neri fills the latter. Flowers is bethrothed to Ross but soon falls for Forest's tender loving care when kidnapped by Palmara's clan and supposedly given to him as a slave; similarly, Neri is the rebel leader's favourite but soon falls under the spell of Forest's brawny figure. During the course of the film, the two brothers are unknowingly engaged in a duel to the death but the kind-hearted Forest is somehow unwilling to go through with it and spares Ross' life; later still, while ostensibly employed to insinuate himself into the enemy fortress, Forest gets to learn the truth after meeting his father and brother face to face. Needless to say, our hero turns against Palmara and executes him – but not before Neri sacrifices her life for him to "the red flower" (which turns out to be plain fire after all) – and new Prince Regent Ross relinquishes his bride-to-be Flowers to a modest family life in the desert oasis Forest inhabited as a kid.

All in all, while not a particularly outstanding entry in the genre, this proved a surprisingly decent and enjoyable one which I came across dubbed in English on "You Tube" – especially in view of the fact that it was Forest's swan-song, was directed by Civirani – who had made the latter's weakest effort, HERCULES AGAINST THE SONS OF THE SUN (1964) – and, what is more, was originally titled very similarly to Antonio Margheriti's ANTHAR L'INVINCIBLE aka THE DEVIL OF THE DESERT AGAINST THE SON OF HERCULES (1964) starring Kirk Morris that I just caught up with a few days ago, which ought to have spelled redundancy!

Getting it done

[kosmasp · 6/10 · 19 August 2020]

So this at least has some resemblance of a different story. And baby stabbing ... don't worry, he's invincible. The baby that is - also they didn't use real swords (or did they? No they didn't!). So yes there is some resemblence of a story here and it is kind of fun to watch.

Other than that, you get the usual Sword and Sandals mix and goodies you'd expect to get. So many movies, this does not stand out especially. Neither in good or bad terms. It's ok, though I hope if you get to watch it, you get a better copy than the one I had to watch

Mark Forest amidst an Egyptian tribe of degenerated desert bandits who try to conquer the walls of a rich desert city. He's invulnerable!

[alphaboy · 21 September 2002]

Mark is hit at his birth by a bolt of lightning which kills his mother but makes him almost invulnerable: Only the "Red Flower" can harm him, though nobody knows what it is. Unfortunately, he is soon thereafter kidnaped and made the chief warrior of a desert bandit tribe led by Mimmo Palmara, which tries to sack Mark's city of birth. Two great scenes: Mark, without knowing it, has to fight his own brother in a whipping and wrestling duel in the mountains. And: Mark lets himself be put into an iron maiden to prove that he cannot be harmed; he steps out of it and simply states, "I am invulnerable." Extra wooden acting during love scenes (even in comparison to other products of Italian popular cinema of this time)!! Low production costs, partially boring. Recommended for fans of Mark Forest or Italian trash cinema only. Almost the bottom of the barrel. Rosalba Neri has only a very small part to play, which is a pity.

Loving the skin tight leggings the men wear.

[mark.waltz · 4/10 · 17 February 2022]

Mark Forest was certainly a beauty of natural woodsy proportions, and he can use one of the reasons to watch this late sword-and-sandal peplum action film that deals with the stolen prince dealing with evil forces determined to kill him. He was the subject of a prediction that he had his father believing that he was killed when young, and when he turns up to prove his identity, he takes on the villains with gusto. They set them up against his own brother, but of course, good as meant to be evil even if the casting is a bit questionable with Forest clearly not of the nationality of where this film is set in the Egyptian desert.

Nonetheless, this is impressively filled with Rick this does that must have looked fantastic on the big screen. These peplum sale for the most part has not been well restored or maintained, but just one looks pretty good even in the pan and scan prints. Not much different than the many Hercules or Machiste films made around this time, it's still an adequate time filler cast with a huge ensemble, filled with lots of battle scenes and sword fights, and accomplishing what most peplum films set out to do, although this is more successful than most because of its unique setting.

Superman On The Desert

[bkoganbing · 2/10 · 20 December 2010]

As foretold by the prophets there would one day arise a man who was born of lightning and would be invincible. And that's who Mark Forest plays in Kindar The Invulnerable.

Someone must have been reading Superman comics and decided to create a Superman like character for their sword and sandal film. Forest is impervious to all, swords, spears, rocks. There is something in the prophecy also about a red flower being his Kryptonite, but no one can figure that one out.

This was the last film made by Mark Forest aka Lou Degni of Brooklyn who went to Italy to study opera and paid his way through the lessons by doing these muscle films. He was the best looking of all the muscle dudes who were glutting the market with these epics in the early Sixties. I sincerely hope he had a good career in opera to make up for some of these films. He certainly had a focus.

Mark Forest Shows His Pecks Arabic Styled

[Rainey-Dawn · 1/10 · 21 January 2017]

Mark Forest is Kindar this time. At least he's not named Hercules/Maciste or one of the many other strongman names this time. The character is basically the exact same as all of his other roles - a musclebound dude, star of the picture that kicks butt on screen while trying to flex all his muscles for the viewers. But this time he's in an Arabic flavored setting but still showing off his pecks. Oh he has magical powers this time.

Same routine stuff: our "hero" has a love interest, there is an evil bandit (sometimes a evil King or Queen), he has to save the day and battles happen. He kisses the girl. The End.

1/10

A Kindar Suprise!!

[coltras35 · 6/10 · 9 February 2024]

An evil desert bandit kidnaps the son of a sultan and raises him as his own. It turns out that the son has magic powers and is invincible. Years later, as a young man, he falls in love with a woman and is preparing to raid a village--when he finds out that the woman is actually his brother's fiance and the village belongs to his real father.

Mark Forest Stars as Kindar who, thanks to a bolt of lightning while in nappies, is invincible- no dagger can go through him. Kindar the Invincible is essentially a muscle peplum in the guise of an Arabian adventure. It's a comic book adventure with desert, horses, tents, villains and heroines. A simple story and fairly routine, yet unusual, at least when it comes to Kindar's invincibility. It's like Marvel wrote the script. It's quite enjoyable with great desert scenery, a dreamy look and a good last performance from Mark Forest. He certainly fits the Arabian landscape, though he bares his muscled torso. There's some good action, a long wrestle in the sand and some sword clashing. Rosalba Neri and Dea Flowers add some glamour quotient while Mimmo Palmara twirls his beard as the dastardly villain.

Mark Forest Goes to Egypt

[zardoz-13 · 8/10 · 23 September 2013]

"Hercules Against the Sons of the Sun" director Osvaldo Civirani and scenarists Alessandro Ferraù, Roberto Gianviti, and Luciano Trasatti concocted a warrior unlike any other in the annuals of traditional Sword & Sandal films. In some way, Kindar is like Superman, but he isn't an extraterrestrial. Instead, Kindar (Mark Forest) is born into royalty as the son of a sultan, but his birth is singular. He was born during a storm, and lightning struck his mother when he was born and killed her. Meantime, baby Kinder emerges as a man who isn't vulnerable to anything. Like Superman and Kryptonite, Kindar has only one weakness, a red rose. Actually, the red rose here is a metaphor for fire. Nothing but flames can harm Kindar. The Sultan is awestruck by this turn of affairs. Essentially, a villainous rebel leader, Seymuth (Mimmo Palmara), abducts the infant and raises him as his own. He keeps Kindar hidden for some twenty years, and Kindar hasn't the slight clue that Seymuth isn't his real father. When he rides into battle for the first time, Kindar lives up to his name as 'the Invulnerable.' Seymuth plans to use Kindar to lead his army of nomadic warriors into the city. Unfortunately, Seymuth's plan doesn't work out, and Kindar discovers that he is the son of Eman, King of Utor. Eventually, Kindar and Seymuth have a face-off.

Civirani, who also served as cinematographer, lensed the action on location in Egypt as well as on the Nile River. The pyramids of Giza, Abusir, and Dahshur are visible in some long shots. The spectacle, Palmara's villainy, and the authentic Egyptian scenery make this Sword & Sandal melodrama tolerable, but it lacks surprises and revelations. Forest furnishes his solemn muscular presence, while Palmara is every inch an audacious dastard. Rosalba Neri and Dea Flowers provide the feminine pulchritude. Only serious Peplum fans should apply. "Kindar the Invulnerable" isn't one of Forest's better epics.

"I'm So Confused, I Don't Know My Real Sentiments!"...

[azathothpwiggins · 21 June 2021]

Mark Forest stars as KINDAR THE INVULNERABLE.

As a newborn, Kindar is the fulfillment of a prophesy that tells of an indestructible savior of his people.

Oh no!

Baby Kindar is abducted! This is very disturbing, since everyone involved wants to test infant Kindar's invulnerability by trying to plunge a dagger into him! Bad parenting all around!

Fast-forward to the chuckling adult Kindar, still wearing some sort of diaper, stomping and smashing people for fun and relaxation. Raised by desert marauders, Kindar believes he's the son of their leader, Seymuth (Mimmo Palmara).

Soon, romance blooms between Big K and a captive princess. This makes Seymuth's woman, Kira (Rosalba Neri) jealous, since she's had her eye on him herself. Now, she's up to no good!

Then, Kindar must face his equally huge brother in a fight to the death! The sand really flies when these two crash and bang into each other like a pair of enchanted oak trees!

QUESTIONS: #1- Will Kindar discover his true identity before helping to destroy his own homeland? #2- Can he possibly withstand Kira's aggressive advances? #3- Will he ever tire of cracking people's heads together?

A late entry in the genre, it still manages to be fun and worth a viewing. Forest is his usual, lumbering self, breaking bones and taking names!...

Only for invulnerable viewers

[Wizard-8 · 5 April 2017]

This is without doubt one of the toughest Italian sword and sandal movies I have sat through. I will admit that it's not completely without merit - the location shooting in Egypt does provide at times a somewhat eye-catching backdrop. But a pretty look does not a film make. The movie has many problems, but I think the most pressing is that it is surprisingly boring. There aren't that many action sequences, and the few that there are come across as absolutely flat, being given passionless choreography and clunky direction. And between those drab action scenes, viewers will be subjected to a really slow story and endless sequences of dry chat. As for the movie's title protagonist, I don't think it was a good idea to make him invulnerable to practically everything - knowing that he doesn't stand a chance of being killed or even hurt, no tension is ever built, nor does the viewer feel any empathy for this guy, since he never has to struggle. Definitely one time when being stuck in public domain hell is well deserved.