REVIEW: “Deathstalker” (2025)

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I might be showing my age, but I really miss the classic fantasy movies of the 1980s. I loved getting lost in the worlds of films like “Conan the Barbarian,” “Clash of the Titans,” “Beastmaster,” “Krull,” “Red Sonja,” and “Dragonslayer” when I was growing up. While we still get fantasy adventures today, like “The Lord of the Rings” and “Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves,” those 80s movies just had a unique feel to them.

I’m so excited about “Deathstalker,” coming out in 2025! It’s a total love letter to 80s sword and sorcery films. If you loved Steven Kostanski’s “PG: Psycho Goreman,” you’ll definitely get the same vibe here – it’s just as over-the-top, playfully violent, and wonderfully gory. What really impresses me is that even though it wasn’t made with a massive budget, it’s packed with incredible practical effects and doesn’t hold back on its big ideas. It’s a really ambitious film!

“Deathstalker” is a fresh take on the 1983 Roger Corman film of the same name. Director Kostanski stays true to the original’s look and feel, but tells a completely new story. The film follows Deathstalker (Daniel Bernhardt), a former soldier, who finds a valuable gold amulet while searching a battlefield in the war-ravaged kingdom of Abraxion. He intends to sell it for a profit, but things don’t go as planned.

Deathstalker discovers the amulet he carries is cursed and can’t be removed. Determined to find someone who *can* break the curse, he begins a quest. He’s soon joined by Doodad, an eccentric sorcerer brought to life by Patton Oswalt (and physically portrayed by Laurie Field), and later by Brisbayne, a quick-tempered thief voiced by Christina Orjalo.

However, a dangerous necromancer named Nekromemnon (Nicholas Rice) also wants the amulet, and for truly evil reasons. He plans to use its power to obliterate the world and then reshape it according to his twisted vision. To achieve this, Nekromemnon dispatches a wave of assassins to eliminate Deathstalker and steal the amulet. This sets the stage for the rest of the film, which largely consists of Kostanski guiding us through one thrilling and violently intense scene after another.

The story is generally enjoyable, consistently lighthearted, and clearly inspired by the films it’s based on. While the backstory gets a bit confusing at times and there’s some unnecessary explanation, its playful humor keeps things from feeling too heavy. The world created is wonderfully imaginative and fantastical, filled with unique and interesting places and creatures – from two-headed trolls and witches to pig soldiers and swamp monsters, and even the undead!

The real joy of this movie comes from its incredible special effects. “Deathstalker” feels like a tribute to the days when effects were made by hand. Instead of relying on today’s digital technology, the filmmakers and their team used a fantastic mix of techniques – stop-motion animation, detailed costumes and makeup, latex masks, prosthetics, and carefully crafted sets. Like classic films of the genre, the effects aren’t always seamless, but that’s part of their charm. It’s wonderfully refreshing to see a creative vision that doesn’t depend on the flawless look of computer-generated imagery.

“Deathstalker” feels like a return to classic fantasy adventures, the kind made with imagination and practical effects rather than relying on today’s computer-generated imagery. Despite a limited budget, the film tells a wonderfully fun story and builds a truly creative world. It’s made with genuine enthusiasm and a playful understanding of its own style, which is what makes “Deathstalker” such a delightful and nostalgic experience.

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2025-10-09 17:58