Conan the Barbarian 2011

After the Oceans engulfed Atlantis, humanity entered an era marked by the rise of various kingdoms across the globe. Among these was the sinister empire of Acheron, ruled by ruthless Necromancers who sought the secrets of bringing the dead back to life. They forged a mask from the bones of ancient kings, awakening its terrible power with the pure blood of their daughters. This mask allowed the Acherons to unleash unspeakable evils upon the world, granting them power beyond mortal comprehension.

As a result, they enslaved the civilized nations, leaving only the barbarian tribes to rise against their oppression. Eventually, the mask was shattered, leading to Acheron’s downfall. Each tribe safeguarded a piece of the mask, ensuring that it could never be reassembled. These shards remained hidden throughout time, until the dawn of the Hyborian age—a grim and savage period.

Born amidst the chaos of battle, Conan, portrayed by Jason Momoa, is the son of Corin—a barbarian chieftain played by Ron Perlman—and his wife Fialla. From a young age, Conan demonstrates not only his ferocity in combat but also the skill befitting a warrior. His father, Corin, nurtures Conan’s abilities, creating a powerful bond and even forging a new sword for him.

Tragedy strikes when their village is invaded by Khalar Zym (a menacing warlord played by Stephen Lang), who yearns to reconstruct the Mask of Acheron in order to resurrect his deceased wife, Maliva (Gisella Marengo), who was an evil sorceress seeking dominion over Hyboria. The mask was shattered to prevent such unification, but Zym, with the aid of his daughter Marique (portrayed by Rose McGowan), violently decimates Corin’s village, leaving only young Conan alive.

Years later, now an adult, Conan has become a fierce pirate and is consumed by a thirst for revenge against Zym for the murder of his father. Alongside his companion Artus, Conan embarks on a mission to liberate slaves globally. In the bustling city of Messantia, he crosses paths with Ela-Shan (Said Taghmaoui), a thief on the run from Lucius (Steven O’Donnell), a soldier loyal to Zym whom Conan recognizes from the horrors of his past. Allowing himself to be captured alongside Ela-Shan, he brutally interrogates Lucius, uncovering Zym’s quest for a pure-blooded descendant of the Acheron sorcerers to awaken the mask’s full powers.

Conan successfully liberates Lucius’ enslaved victims, who subsequently eliminate Lucius. Determined, Conan heads to Khor Kalba to face Zym, with Ela-Shan joining him out of gratitude for his earlier heroics. Meanwhile, Zym and Marique assault a sacred monastery in pursuit of the pure-blood descendant. A monk named Fassir (Raad Rawi) urges his student Tamara (Rachel Nichols) to flee, aware that she is Zym’s true target.

In a dramatic rescue, Conan saves Tamara and captures Zym’s henchman, Remo (Milton Welsh). Learning of Tamara’s identity, Conan hurls Remo back into Zym’s lair as a challenge for Zym to confront him at Shaipur Bay Outpost. As Zym reflects on the past, mourning his wife’s demise, Marique reveals her blood ties to Maliva and the potential to unlock the mask’s ominous powers.

Their confrontation sees Zym ultimately recognize Conan as the young boy he spared, igniting a fierce battle. During the clash, Marique uses a poisoned weapon against Conan, requiring Tamara’s aid for his recovery. United again, they escape to Conan’s ship, where they fend off another assault from Zym’s forces.

Determined, Conan prepares to assault Zym’s castle in Khor Kalba, but Tamara is captured during the night. Rallying his allies, Conan breaks into Zym’s domain, learning that Zym intends to use Tamara’s blood to complete the mask and channel Maliva’s soul through her body. After overcoming monstrous guardians in the dungeon, Conan liberates Tamara and engages Zym in a fierce struggle, reclaiming the sword once stolen by Marique.

As they battle, Zym utilizes the mask’s dark magic to summon his wife’s spirit, which threatens to consume Tamara. In a final act of defiance, Conan destroys the bridge they stand upon, sending Zym plummeting into lava below, while preventing Maliva’s spirit from seizing control of Tamara. With the mask’s destruction, Tamara returns to her true self.

Conan, ever the warrior bound by honor, brings Tamara back to her homeland before returning to his own roots. Reflecting on the memories of his father, he finds solace in the honor restored through vengeance and the reclaiming of his father’s legacy.