Hercules Today Forbidden

Forbidden Zone

Perhaps the strangest modern appearance of Hercules is in Richard Elfman's Black & White cult classic Forbidden Zone.

Hercules, a retired Jewish wrestler, lives with his multi-ethnic family in a poorly drawn house situated above an entrance to the Underworld.

Though silent and more than a bit addled (his family needs to tie him down to prevent him from roaming), he is recruited by his grandson Flash to rescue Frenchy (his granddaughter) from a dire fate in the Forbidden Zone. His tremendous strength and great appetites help the fruit-of-the-fruit of his mighty loins triumph over unbelievable perils.

Herve Villechaise is brilliant as Fausto, King of the Underworld, and Susan Tyrelle is truly mythic as his Queen. The music of The Mystic Knights of Oingo Boingo will haunt you (and make you laugh at inopportune times) forever. Think The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari meets Max Fleischer in Bizarro World to prepare yourself for this truly original film.

Forbidden Zone is much, much funnier than Aristophanes and, besides being available on DVD, can still be enjoyed in theaters.