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Does “Highlander” (1986) Hold Up?
Reviewing an “immortal” film: Can there only be one?
In anticipation of an upcoming remake of Highlander starring Henry Cavill, I watched the original “cult classic” with my husband’s family this weekend. As a fan of both sci-fi/fantasy and Scottish history (hello, Outlander fans!), Highlander has been on my to-watch list for ages, even before I knew it was being rebooted.
The 1986 fantasy classic, directed by Russell Mulcahy, has stood the test of time for many devoted fans. And there’s little doubt that the 2026 reboot will be spectacular, coming from Cavill (whose love of the source material made The Witcher an insta-hit). But does the original film hold up for a modern audience without nostalgia for the 80s?
Plot & Effects
The first scene of Highlander already dates the movie, opening with an extremely 80s wrestling match and a Queen song. The protagonist, “Russell Nash” (Christopher Lambert) becomes agitated and leaves the wrestling match early. “Nash” subsequently encounters a man with a sword in the parking garage and gets into an extremely choreographed battle sequence with this stranger, including many unnecessary backhandsprings.
Turns out, “Nash” is actually immortal Scotsman Connor MacLeod, and other immortals are hunting him —…
