DESERT WARRIOR

(director/writer: Rupert Wyatt; screenwriter: David Self, Gary Ross, Erica Beeney; cinematographer: Dan Levy; editor: Guillermo Garza; music: Dan Levy; cast: Anthony Mackie (bandit), Aiyasha Hart (Princess Hind), Ben Kingsley (Emperor Kisra), Ghassan Massoud (Al-Numan), Sharito Copley (Jalabzeen), Sami Bouajila (Hani); Runtime: 126; MPAA Rating: R; producer: Jeremy Bolt; Vertical; 2025)

“7th century Arabian drama.”

Reviewed by Dennis Schwartz
 
British filmmaker Rupert Wyatt (“Captive State”/”The Gambler”) directs this 7th century Arabian drama as an old-school sword-and-sandals epic that’s based on a real event. It’s written by Wyatt, David Self, Gary Ross, and Erica Beeney. It was filmed in the gorgeous mountain country of Tabuk Province in Saudi Arabia, and features a mostly non-Arab cast. It looks good visually but lacks substance and its characters are undeveloped.

After rescued in the desert by an unnamed nomad bandit (Anthony Mackie), the exiled Princess Hind (Aiyasha Hart, British-Saudi actress) and her father, the deposed king Al-Nunan (Ghassan Massoud), unite with the warring desert tribes to engage in battle with the army of the ruthless despot  Emperor of Persia, Kisra (Sir Ben Kingsley). He’s in the habit of keeping concubines of those captured in battle. The emperor’s right hand military man is Jalabzeen (Sharito Copley).

I loved the desert locale, the efforts of the stunt work crew in battle, and the colorful costumes. Though the most expensive film ever made in Saudi Arabia looks good there’s more to a film than looking good for it to work.

It played at the Zurich Film Festival.

REVIEWED ON 5/26/2026  GRADE: C+
dennisschwartzreviews.com