History Film / Zardoz

* SciFiWritersHaveNoSenseOfScale: The reason the Tabernacle was created was because scientists explored the universe and discovered that nothing existed outside of Earth. Even if it was proven that mankind was alone in the universe, the universe is both massive and constantly expanding, so it's almost impossible that they were able to explore the entire universe.

* SciFiWritersHaveNoSenseOfScale: The reason the Tabernacle was created was because scientists explored the universe and discovered that nothing existed outside of Earth. Even taking into account the possibility that mankind is alone in the universe, the universe is both massive and constantly expanding, so it's almost impossible that they were able to explore the entire universe.

* ParodyRetcon: [[invoked]] Actually invoked by Arthur Frayn in his opening monologue, calling the story "Rich in irony, and most satirical."

-->'''Arthur''': I bred you. I led you.
-->'''Zed''': And I have looked into the face of the force that put the idea in your mind. You're bred and led yourself.
-->'''Friend''': Arthur, we've all been used.

* BiTheWay: Friend seems to be bisexual, and Consuella and May are lovers, though they both find themselves attracted to Zed.

[[caption-width-right:240:Creator/SeanConnery, as you really, ''really'' [[FetishRetardant don't want to see him!]]]]

* ActorAllusion: In his first scene, Creator/SeanConnery [[Film/JamesBond aims his gun at the camera]][[SeanConneryIsAboutToShootYou and shoots it]].

* AgeCut: [[spoiler:The [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MisPtPPwZNA final scene]] takes it further than most, aging two characters and their newborn son repeatedly until the adult son walks off and the parents remain until they're nothing but skeletons.]]

* ActorAllusion: In his first scene, Creator/SeanConnery [[Film/JamesBond aims his gun at the camera]] [[SeanConneryIsAboutToShootYou and shoots it]].

* AfterTheEnd: Apparently this takes place after a [[NukeEm nuclear war]].

* HistoricalInJoke: The hand prints at the very very end of the film are a reference to the hand prints found in [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pech_Merle Pech Merle]].

* ResurrectiveImmortality: One aspect of the Eternals' immorality.

[[caption-width-right:240:Creator/SeanConnery, as you really, ''really'' [[FetishRetardant don't want to see him!]]

[[caption-width-right:240:Creator/SeanConnery, as you really, ''really'' [[FetishRetardant don't want to see him!]][[note]]If you thought that was nuts, wait 'til you see Connery in a bridal gown![[/note]]]]

* NeverTrustATrailer: The trailer features Zardoz saying "The gun is good", while omitting its second part "The penis is evil".

* AgeCut: [[spoiler:The [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MisPtPPwZNA final shot]] takes it further than most, aging two characters and their newborn son repeatedly until the adult son walks off and the parents remain until they're nothing but skeletons.]]

* AgeCut: [[spoiler:The final shot takes it further than most, aging two characters and their newborn son repeatedly until the adult son walks off and the parents remain until they're nothing but skeletons.]]

* GambitRoulette: Arthur Frayn's plan as Summed up by [[WebVideo/BrowsHeldHigh Oancitizen]]:
-->''"So his plan was... herd a bunch of working class Brits into breeding someone genetically able to think on the Eternals level; lead him to a library. Hope, that he taught himself how to read properly. Hope, that he came across the one specific book that inspired the whole Zardoz shtick. Hope, that he would stow-away on the Zardoz head and shoot him. Then hope, that the head would crash back inside the vortex. Hope, that the other Eternals didn't kill him immediately, and teach them all that they know; in the hopes that he would figure out how to destroy the tabernacle and therefore all the Eternals. In other words, the exact kind of plan you expect for a man who draws on his goatee."''

* {{Trickster}}: Arthur Frayn, though he functions as a TricksterMentor to Zed.

* WatchItStoned: Boorman [[DoNotDoThisCoolThing admits he used drugs]] during filming.

* MrExposition: The floating head of Arthur Frayn at the beginning (the studios insisted on this).

* ScienceFiction

-->'''Friend''': Arthur, we've all been used!

* MindScrew: The whole movie, from beginning to end.

* LargeHam: Arthur Frayn.
* LoveTriangle: Consuella explicitly identifies herself as May's lover, but from the start May is attracted to Zed, and Consuella's jealousy fuels her hatred of him. But as the film goes Consuella becomes interested in him as well (though, since it's been centuries since the Eternals have actually experienced love, a lot of this plays out subtextually).

** The Eternal women wear midriff-baring two piece outfits with low necklines that look like some sort of ''Series/IDreamOfJeannie''-themed collection at JC Penney.
* {{Trickster}}: Arthur Frayn.
* TrrrillingRrrs: Arthur Frayn.

%%* BuryYourGays: Friend is clearly intended to be bisexual at the very least. He's also the one who gets made an example of.

* GunPorn: Note the scene where a fountain of guns spills out of the giant floating head.

* LoveTriangle: Zed/May/Consuella, though none of the characters really understand "love" as a concept.

** The Eternal women wear midriff-baring two piece outfits that look like some sort of ''Series/IDreamOfJeannie''-themed collection at JC Penney.