16th Century
Some time after the death of his wife Heather, Connor travels to Japan to request training from the Immortal Japanese sorcerer Nakano. Nakano holds his residence in a cave of Mount Niri, and has gained a reputation as a master of Illusion. However, another Immortal named Kane is also interested in mastering the power of Illusion. He is making his way across Asia in order to reach Nakano again, with two henchmen in tow (Khabul Khan and Senghi Khan). Entering a nearby village seeking information, they proceed to burn it to the ground, and massacre its population. Eventually, they reach the cave. Kane soon manages to defeat and decapitate Nakano, despite Connor's attempts to prevent this. However, the energies released during the battle cause the cave to collapse. The Highlander manages to escape in time, but Kane and his men are left trapped inside the depths of the mountain. Their situation prevents them from participating in "The Gathering" of 1985.
18th Century
In 1788/1789, Connor was in France, where he makes the acquaintance of Sarah Barrington, an Englishwoman visiting relatives there, and who happens to resemble the future Alex Johnson. The two eventually become lovers. However, when the French Revolution begins, MacLeod becomes involved.
MacLeod is captured, and sentenced to death by guillotine for treason against King Louis XVI of France. His Immortal friend Pierre Bouchet explains that he was tired of his immortal life, and dupes the guards into executing him in his place. Connor is falsely reported deceased. Believing her lover dead, Sarah is left grieving. After his escape, MacLeod returns to discover that she has moved on with her life by marrying another man, and having children.
Modern Day
In 1994, Connor is living with his adopted son John in Marakesh. It is revealed that in 1987, Brenda Wyatt, the woman he married after the Gathering, was killed in a car accident. Although he survived the accident himself, he still believes that "The Game" is over. Meanwhile, in Japan, two archaeologists have started excavating a cave in order to discover whether the legend of the sorceror Nakano was based on fact. One of these archaeologists is Dr. Alexandra "Alex" Johnson, whose interests in the legend eventually lead her to Connor MacLeod. Connor is intrigued by Alex due to her resemblance to Sarah.
The excavations free Kane, who immediately sets out in pursuit of Connor. MacLeod leaves John in the care of his friend Jack Donovan, and then departs to New York City to engage in the final showdown for the Prize. However, as Khabul's decapitated body is found in a hospital washroom, Lt. John Stenn goes on the trail of the main suspect of the 1985 "headhunter" case, Russell Nash. Russell Nash was the alias used by MacLeod during the time of the Gathering. As Alex investigates a piece of cloth found on the site, she discovers that it is a shred of a kilt, with a design that designates a branch of the MacLeod family. This leads her to Nash Antiques, where Connor has returned in preparation for the battle against Kane. The Highlander is confronted on Holy Ground at a former Buddhist shrine by Kane, who proceeds to challenge him. The resulting fight is a violation of the Immortal Golden Rule; the battle ends when MacLeod's katana blade is shattered. Kane flees, and Connor decides to return to Scotland to build another sword. Alex tracks him down, and the two quickly fall in love. However, the trip is cut short, as MacLeod learns from Jack Donovan that his son John is on a plane bound for New York. MacLeod returns as quickly as possible, but he's too late. Kane abducts John, and holds him hostage to lure MacLeod to him. MacLeod meets Kane in an old church mission, and then follows him into an abandoned power plant for their final battle. The Highlander defeats Kane, wins the Prize by receiving the final Quickening, and returns to Scotland with Alex and John to live out the rest of his natural life.
Cast:
Christopher Lambert as Connor MacLeod/Russell Nash
Mario Van Peebles as Kane
Deborah Kara Unger as Alex Johnson/Sarah Barrington
Martin Neufeld Lt. as John Stenn
Mako as Nakano
Raoul Trujillo as Senghi Khan
Jean-Pierre Perusse as Khabul Khan
Daniel Do as Dr. Fuji Takamura
Gabriel Kakon as John MacLeod
Louis Bertignac as Pierre Bouchet
Michael Jayston as Jack Donovan
Triva:
Ignores the events of Highlander II: The Quickening (1991) (after the poor reception of Highlander II, the fan-rumor was that this film would be entitled "Highlander III: The Apology").
Although Khan's "Warrior #1" is never referred to by name on-screen, the script refers to him as "Khabul Khan."
Actress Deborah Kara Unger did her love scenes with 'Christopher Lambert' herself, declining to use a body double.
At one point, Christopher Lambert walked off the production over a pay dispute.
Some scenes for this film were shot in Morocco.
The US theatrical release was rated PG-13, and a slightly-longer "R"-rated Special Director's Cut was later released on home video.
In a 1996 Cinefantastique interview, Highlander producer William Panzer mentioned that several references to the TV series' continuity were inserted into Highlander: The Final Dimension, meant as a means of linking that film to the TV universe.
Reportedly, Christopher Lambert considered this film to be the "real" sequel to the original film since the actual Highlander II was such a radical departure from what the first film established
Errors:
Errors in geography: "Bienvenue à Montréal" ("Welcome to Montreal") sign in an airport supposedly in Newark.
Miscellaneous: US Navy Submarine Service insignia pin (Dolphins) on Japanese security guard's hat.
Crew or equipment visible: Dolly tracks visible when Conor is in the Psycho ward.
Miscellaneous: When Connor's sword is shattered by Kane's sword, it shatters all the way down to the tsuba, or guard. In subsequent scenes with Connor holding the broken sword, the blade extends 2-3 inches out from the tsuba.
Continuity: When MacLeod arrives in New York City, he is seen walking down Broadway, and the streets and sidewalks are clean. Then he turns into a side street, and it is ankle-deep in snow.
Crew or equipment visible: When McLeod is back in his antique shop, saying "Welcome back, McLeod", a silhouette of a crew member is visible in lower right.
Alternate Versions:
The version released to video tape in the US has two extra scenes. The first addition is a scene early on when Kane first arrives in New York in which he picks up a prostitute. The second is the love scene between Conner and the reporter Alex, which contains more explicit footage. Both scenes are reported to be present in European theatrical prints.
In the trailer for this film, there was a clip of the scene where Kane tells Connor about Kane and says, "Some say he is the Devil himself..." This line never made it to the final cut of the movie.
In the European version of the film, Kane says, "Highlander is out there somewhere, and he owes me for all those years." after he escapes from the cave in 1994. In the US version, he says, "Highlander is out there somewhere, and he owes me 400 years." It makes a little more sense in the European version because Kane would have no way of knowing how long he was in the cave.
In the US version of the film, a rock song plays over the final credits. In the European version, "Bonny Portmore" by Loreena McKennit plays over the final credits.
In the US version of the movie, we see Kane use his sorcerer's powers to transport himself to New York. In the European version, we simply see Kane walk out of a shipyard, implying that he got to New York by stowing away on a ship.
UK video version is cut by 57 sec. to maintain a "15" certificate.
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