Cinema retrospectives examine the legacy of genre-defining films

Retrospectives on influential cinema examine the enduring legacies of cult and genre-defining films.

In the fantasy genre, the 1982 film ‘Conan the Barbarian’, directed by John Milius and starring Arnold Schwarzenegger, is highlighted for its cultural impact and its depiction of masculinity. Based on the stories of Robert E. Howard, the film follows a Cimmerian blacksmith's son seeking revenge against those who killed his parents.

In science fiction, the 1995 film ‘Strange Days’, starring Ralph Fiennes and Angela Bassett, is noted for its influence on the cyberpunk subgenre. Despite being a commercial failure at the time of its release, the film explored themes of virtual reality and recorded human sensations, establishing tropes that would later become common in the genre.