Deathstalker (1983)

I remember watching "Deathstalker" back in my early teenage years and that I was more than entertained and impressed with it, especially since I had just taken up playing Dungeons & Dragons back in that time. So having a movie like this in the sword & sorcery genre was just great.And now having sat down to watch it yet again in 2016, I must say that the movie was not fully as great as I remembered it to be. Sure it is entertaining enough for what it is, but it is a rather simplistic movie. And it is a movie that makes too much usage of nudity. Actually if they had opted to leave that aspect out of the movie, it would be so much more easy to actually take the movie more seriously.The story is about Deathstalker (played by Rick Hill) who is given possession of a powerful sword. With the lands being ruled by a vile sorcerer who also seeks the sword, Deathstalker is in for a grand adventure as he sets out to free the realm of the looming evil.Right, well the story was adequate, especially for a sword & sorcery movie, right? I mean, you have a hero, you have a villain, you have an overwhelming evil threat to the realm, you have women in distress, overwhelming odds stacking against the hero, and you have triumph in times of darkness. Everything a recipe for a good tale needs.However, the movie is suffering from having really bad props, especially the "stones" that are supposed to make up the caves, the pillars, walls, etc. It is just awful to look at. And it doesn't really help that the sword fights are prompted and poorly executed, and who can't help but laugh when a sword misses a man widely yet the man still topples over and dies?As I mentioned earlier on, there is an excessive amount of nudity in the movie, and most of it just makes no sense, and seems nothing more than a chance for director James Sbardellati to showcase nude women. I mean, why would a woman wear a cloak and then nothing underneath? Especially if she was supposed to be a trained warrior? It just made no sense.But removing the critiques goggles, then I will say that "Deathstalker" is still an adequate sword & sorcery movie, especially taking into consideration that it is from 1983. Fans of fantasy role-playing games and the sword & sorcery genre will definitely find some enjoyment in this movie.

...or it might as well be one. Just about every other scene some village girl it getting raped or a harem is frolicking with her boobs out. If they were to make a live-action version of the "Major Boobage" South Park episode, this would be it. The acting is terrible. The effects are campy and low budget. There is little to no continuity between scenes...or even some times within scenes. Apparently they've made 3 more Deathstalker movies. They will have to be on my list. The 3rd one had a MST3000 version of it done in the mid 90s.As another reviewer stated, this is a Fantastically Bad movie! Definitely a great boozing movie with a couple of friends.

The warrior Deathstalker (Rick Hill) is sent by a witch on a quest to find a chalice, an amulet, and a sword, two of which are held by the wicked sorcerer Munkar (Bernard Erhard). Deathstalker finds the sword almost immediately, which has been hidden by the witch in a cave. Sword in hand, Deathstalker sets out to Munkar's castle.The film is noteworthy for launching the career of Lana Clarkson, who became a recognizable cult celebrity in the genre. Clarkson would go on to work with executive producer Roger Corman on the films Barbarian Queen and Barbarian Queen II: The Empress Strikes Back, and guest star in an episode of the television show Black Scorpion.Basically, this is just pure fun. Nothing great, and not even a high quality cheese. This is what happens when you get Roger Corman mixed up with the folks in Argentina, throw in Playboy Playmate Barbi Benton and stunt man Richard Brooker (one of the guys to play Jason Voorhees).

If your a fan of pretty ladies especially undressed ones and a fan of warrior flicks this is my favorite. Believable action hero and plenty of beautiful starlets including Lana Clarkson (one of my personal favorites).Don't expect great acting or a big budget but the premise is great and while not quite like Arnold playing Conan which is another great example of the genre with a bigger budget and and better known cast. I watched this many years ago and bought both the DVD and VHS and enjoyed it many times in between. What's not to like about an near immortal holding a contest to find the greatest Warriors in the land while they eliminate each other in their quest for glory.There are a few others from this time era I enjoyed but most never had all the things in place. If your gonna do a warrior film have the following. 1. premise of plot Yep pretty thin but a plot none the less.2. Lots of pretty ladies including at least one well known one.3. Have the hero with at least fighting skills.4. Actually release a sequel or several.Missing any of the above and it goes downhill pretty quick.Incidentally for those wondering Conan The Barbarian and Destroyer are among my other favorites.Don't expect a lot and you will be surprised as for a low budget film this has everything from Humor (yes for real)a quest (no need for a hero without one right). Barbie Benton (the reason I watched it the first time). And the lovely Lana Clarkson (the reason a watched many times since). I got my DVD at a discount and was glad to finally get it again having sold the tape many years ago. So have fun, pop some popcorn grab a drink and kick back and escape for a hour and half to a time when they only knew one law and that was survivable of the fittest.If you got this far yes it's a grade b movie but in my opinion one of the best.It's the kind of movie just made for late night cable or DVD that does just what a movie should do and that's entertain you.