AllMovie

Richard Harrison is Maciste, Hercules' offspring (or so the theme music would have you believe), in this sword-and-sandal opus. Marilou Toro is the wicked, seductive Messalina, who uses her wiles to gain power in Rome. But Harrison is impervious to Messalina's charms; his only interest is in the just and true. The fight scenes are adequately staged, even if the blood looks more like cranberry sauce. Empress Messalina was given its widest American exposure as part of the ubiquitous "Sons of Hercules" TV package.