Deathstalker Gets A Reboot!

[Mind of tempest]

This looks very meta to me. Like its deliberately trying to look like an 80s B movie.

and?
I have no idea what this even is and I am hyped

 

[Paul Farquhar]

and?

I guess I'm wondering, to what end? Is it simply to cash in on the nostalgia of 50-something geeks? That seems like a very limited target audience. Or does it have something to say?

 

[Mind of tempest]

I guess I'm wondering, to what end? Is it simply to cash in on the nostalgia of 50-something geeks? That seems like a very limited target audience. Or does it have something to say?

I am not 50 by a long shot

 

[Benjamin Olson]

Just saw the new Deathstalker, and I was pleasantly surprised. It is definitely a B movie made on a small budget with limited ambitions, but within those limitations they basically knocked it out of the park. Strong action comedy script, serviceable acting (which for a cheap action movie is good), much better pacing than most fantasy movies have, all or nearly all practical effects with all the charm people hope for out of that, and easily the most creative monster design of basically any movie I've seen without Lucasfilm and/or the Henson company involved. An homage to 80s fantasy that easily surpasses most of its source material (though I think the movie it borrowed the most from was actually Jason and the Argonauts). Also, other than focusing on one character and a couple companions who come and go it played out basically like a D&D campaign and I think many viewers will find an idea or two for their fantasy roleplaying. Oh, and the cute young female thief who teams up with our much older male hero: they don't have an age inappropriate romance like Hollywood historically would have done, nor does he become some sort of father figure for her like Hollywood would insist on doing today. They're just people who adventure together and become buddies, and it's a nice change of pace.

The only places where I felt it fell down a little is the cinematography was pretty cramped and confined, probably to keep sets and locations small, and there's probably never a scene with more than seven or eight people it it (other than some clips of what I think is stock footage from the original). Obviously there was a limited budget, but just a few long shots of Deathstalker questing somewhere out in nature and a crowd scene or two would have made the budget limitations on those fronts less noticeable. In any case, while I really like it it's definitely not some sort of grand spectacle that really needs to be properly seen in the cinema. The charitable reading of the cinematography was that it was shot more for the small screen. And this is good news because it seems to be getting only a very limited release.

Anyway, I went in out of a compulsion to see every cheesy fantasy movie, and was blown away that this one of which I had virtually no expectations was way above average in most respects. Very glad I saw it. Movies that are homages to cheesy movies usually fall flat for me, because they usually use that premise as an excuse to not try very hard, but this one was clearly made with serious love and just got almost everything right. If the genre appeals to you make sure to see Deathstalker (2025) when you get the chance.

 

[Olgar Shiverstone]

I'm assuming it doesn't start with the main character committing sexual assault like the original.

I love cheesy sword and sorcery B-movies, but that shouldn't fly anymore IMO.

 

[Benjamin Olson]

I'm assuming it doesn't start with the main character committing sexual assault like the original.

I love cheesy sword and sorcery B-movies, but that shouldn't fly anymore IMO.

No, it starts with him robbing a dying person who thought he was being saved by him, which establishes that he's edgy and morally neutral more than well enough.

Actually, outside of the implications of a couple joke bits, I don't recall the movie having any sexual content at all, which I suppose would be its biggest departure from 80s Sword and Sorcery.

 

[Jahydin]

Finally got around to watching my copy and absolutely loved it! Had that early Sam Raimi "cheesy" vibe throughout and was fun to watch start to finish. Very apparent a lot of fun was had making it, that's for sure. Recommend to anyone who likes fantasy and cool practical effects.

Oh, thought it was funny Slash (GnR) was the producer!

 

[Aeson]

Finally got around to watching my copy and absolutely loved it! Had that early Sam Raimi "cheesy" vibe throughout and was fun to watch start to finish. Very apparent a lot of fun was had making it, that's for sure. Recommend to anyone who likes fantasy and cool practical effects.
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Oh, thought it was funny Slash (GnR) was the producer!

I'm surprised no one mentioned Slash until now. His name was nearly as big as the title. The trailer also mentioned music from him. Did he make a cameo appearance also?

 

[Aeson]

Based on the SFX, that looks like a show that could air on The CW.

Not a critique; an observation.

I was thinking syfy original. Asylum presents.