Who is Rexor?
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Rexor is the hulking high priest of Thulsa Doom’s snake cult in Conan the Barbarian (1982), and in my view he’s the film’s most satisfying “mini‑boss”. He is the man who helps slaughter Conan’s village, oversees human sacrifices, and later meets Conan steel to steel.
Rexor’s Role in the 1982 Film
Rexor, played by former NFL star Ben Davidson, is introduced during the opening raid on Conan’s Cimmerian village. He rides at Thulsa Doom’s side, shouting orders as the raiders butcher Conan’s people and seize their steel. While Thorgrim swings the hammer, Rexor acts as enforcer and field commander, clearly second only to Doom in the cult’s hierarchy.
Years later, when Conan infiltrates the Tower of the Serpent in Shadizar, Rexor is the one presiding over a human sacrifice to the giant snake. Conan, Valeria and Subotai kill the serpent and steal the Eye of the Serpent jewel, leaving Rexor furious and embarrassed before his master.
Wielder of Conan’s Father’s Sword
One of the film’s nastier touches is that Rexor eventually comes to wield Conan’s father’s sword. After the raid on the pleasure gardens and Conan’s failed attempt to infiltrate the Mountain of Power disguised as a priest, Rexor and Thorgrim capture and beat him nearly to death before nailing him to the Tree of Woe. By the time of the final battle at the mounds, Rexor is carrying the Cimmerian sword as his own.
In the climactic duel, Rexor charges Conan after watching Thorgrim die in one of Conan’s traps. He almost kills the Cimmerian, only for Valeria’s ghostly valkyrie form to intervene and deflect the killing blow. Conan then rallies, shatters his father’s blade on Rexor’s armour, and finishes him with his Atlantean sword – symbolically reclaiming his past by destroying the man who stole it.
How Rexor Fits the Howard‑Verse
Rexor is not a direct lift from any Robert E. Howard story, but I think he embodies the kind of brutal northern warlord Howard loved to pit Conan against. The film hints that Rexor and Thorgrim are Vanir or Aesir types who fell under Doom’s sway, turning from free raiders into cult enforcers.
Within the Howard‑Verse context, Rexor works as a cinematic composite – part sorcerer’s henchman, part tribal champion, part corrupted barbarian. That makes him a useful touchstone when comparing the films to the original tales: he personifies what happens when a warrior like Conan bends the knee to a cult instead of carving his own path.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Rexor in the original Conan stories?
No. Rexor is unique to the 1982 film and its spin‑off material. Howard never wrote him into the prose canon.
What is Rexor’s position in Thulsa Doom’s cult?
He is described as a high priest and top lieutenant, second only to Thulsa Doom, commanding warriors and overseeing major rituals such as the Shadizar sacrifice.
How does Rexor die in Conan the Barbarian?
Rexor dies in the final battle at the mounds. After nearly killing Conan with his father’s sword, he is blinded by Valeria’s spectral intervention and then slain by Conan, who breaks the stolen blade in the process.
