Son of Samson/Son of Cleopatra 2006 Horror Movie Review

When Steve Reeves caused a sensation in Hercules, Italian producers were quick to search for other American actors to fill the beefcake quota in sword-and-sandal films. One of the first of these was Mark Forest, a Brooklyn-born bodybuilder known as “The Adonis with the Perfect Physique,” who went on to make a dozen mythical muscleman movies. In one of the best, Son of Samson, he shows up in the ancient Egyptian city of Tanis where the evil Queen Smedes (Folies Bergere dancer Chelo Alonso) is making it tough for the common folk. A spectacular tale of strength and seduction, presented in lustrous color and scope with the original theatrical trailer!  PLUS a bonus feature, Son of Cleopatra, in which Mark Damon (the young romantic lead of Roger Corman’s House of Usher) stars as El Kabir, an Egyptian Robin Hood who fights for his people against the oppressive rule of Rome. Co-starring Italian bombshell Scilla Gablel (Mill of the Stone Women).  Three hours of bicep-straining action on one special two-sided DVD!