Samson 2018

A Hebrew man endowed with an extraordinary gift of strength faces the challenge of fulfilling his divine calling to liberate his people from oppression. Set in 1170 BC, the Philistines exert ruthless control over the Hebrews in Gaza, enslaving them and imposing heavy taxes.

King Balek, portrayed by Billy Zane, commands his son Rallah, played by Jackson Rathbone, to capture the increasingly formidable Samson, who is feared for his rumored strength, as Balek aims to crush any hope of Hebrew rebellion. Rallah enlists the help of a Philistine brute to draw Samson out, but soon finds himself tangled in a web of intrigue, especially when he notices Samson’s fascination with Taren, depicted by Frances Sholto-Douglas.

In a twist of fate, Rallah enslaves Delilah, whom Caitlin Leahy plays, alongside her father. Delilah, Rallah’s mistress, is troubled by his tyrannical schemes. Rallah harbors ambitions to usurp the throne by any means necessary, including murder. Meanwhile, Samson’s courtship of Taren faces resistance from his parents, leading to complications when Taren, serving Delilah, confides her love for Samson. Delilah manipulates Rallah into compelling Taren to marry Samson, hoping to bind him in gratitude and debt.

As their wedding night nears, Rallah mocks Samson, who retaliates by posing a riddle. Rallah resorts to threatening Taren’s safety to extract the answer, and when Samson responds, Delilah inadvertently overhears. Having won a bet that costs Samson dearly—30 tunics—Samson embarks on a bloody rampage, taking down a Philistine patrol to reclaim his honor, but his attempts fail to change his fate. Rallah, having supplanted Samson at the wedding, banishes him to the mines.

Samson’s burning of the wheat fields causes Rallah to retaliate by claiming Taren’s life. In a desperate gambit, Rallah seizes Samson’s village, obliging Samson to surrender or witness further suffering. He ultimately agrees to sacrifice himself; however, Rallah betrays him, killing Samson’s father. Fueled by rage, Samson purposes to confront the entire Philistine army wielding only a donkey’s jawbone, defeating hundreds, but Rallah escapes with only a lost eye as a mark of their battle.

Anointed the king of the Hebrews, Samson’s saga continues as King Balek exiles Rallah to Egypt, an uneasy peace forming between him and Samson. Years pass, yet Rallah’s return signals the rekindling of Philistine cruelty, prompting Samson’s brother Caleb, played by Greg Kriek, to advocate for war, but Samson chooses negotiation instead.

In Gaza, Rallah lays traps leading to Samson’s peril, yet Delilah arrives just in time to warn him. In a display of strength, Samson tears the city gates from their hinges to escape Rallah’s clutches, but sustains injuries in the process. Delilah, returning the next day, tends to his wounds, deepening their bond. However, betrayal brews as Delilah is revealed to be in Rallah’s employ.

As their relationship evolves, Samson divulges his Nazarite vows to Delilah, prohibiting him from cutting his hair, consuming alcohol, or touching the dead. Two vows are already broken, and if she were to sever his hair, his strength would vanish. Under the cover of night, Delilah deceives him with drugs, matches his hair, and surrenders him to Rallah, whereupon Samson’s eyes are gouged out.

Rallah, seizing Balek’s life to fulfill his ambition, intends to showcase the broken Samson annually to remind the Hebrews of their subjugation. Yet, during a public spectacle, Samson prays for divine strength and is miraculously empowered to collapse the structure, claiming Rallah’s life and destroying countless Philistines. This incident incites a rebellion among the Hebrews to reclaim their sacred land, marking the dawn of their liberation.