During the early ’80s, Dungeons and Dragons became a massive sensation. Hobby shops would have sections of the store dedicated to selling tiny metal figures. Kids would bring their polyhedral dice to school with the hopes of sneaking in a short adventure campaign during lunch or even study hall. It was all the rage in the nerdy part of the student body as they imagined themselves as wizards or warriors. While it was great to use your imagination to visualize the world that the Dungeon Master created, kids appreciated seeing things. Roger Corman saw this audience and was eager to give them their fantasy world on the big screen. Deathstalker came out in the Fall of 1983 and did well. High schoolers delayed their game to hit the local cineplex. The film achieved cult status on VHS as the D&D crowd would rent and watch when they need a break from the dice during an all-night marathon. Kids are back to playing Dungeons and Dragons thanks to Stranger Things. To make it feel even more authentic, Deathstalker has returned to the big screen with a new sensibility.
The movie that opens with a close up of a beheading during a fierce battle. This movie doesn’t water down the action and gore. Steel shall slice and blood will flow across the screen. We’re informed that the kingdom of Abraxion is under siege from a Dreadite horde. The end of a battle, one of the last humans alive is surrounded by the ghastly Dreadites. Before he’s chopped up, the Deathstalker (John Wick‘s Daniel Bernhardt) arrives and hacks away the Dreadites. Instead of rescuing the dying human solider, Deathstalker proceeds to swipe his valuables including amulet with a face on it. He receives a message in the last gasp of the solider about what he must do with the amulet. But Deathstalker doesn’t care. Although he quickly learns that the amulet is magical when after repeatedly throwing it into a pond, the amulet keeps reappearing on him. He must solve the mystery of this enchanted hunk of medal especially since every Dreadite wants to take it off him. He gets a bit of help when he frees a small inept wizard named Doodad (voiced by Patton Oswalt and acted by Laurie Field). Later they’re joined by the thief Brisbayne (Astrid and Lilly Save the World‘s Christina Orjalo) who helps them deal with all the strange oddities that come out of the darkness. But can they solve the meaning of the amulet and stop the Dreadites?
Deathstalker really nails it in reviving the character. Daniel Bernhardt’s career has mostly been as a stunt man or a villain’s goon in major movies. What’s surprising is how good he is at both action and the comedic lines Deathstalker delivers. He works well with the lines Patton Oswalt delivers. He rounds out his warrior so he’s not just a musclebound lunk slashing away.
Director Steven Kostanski got his start as part of Astron-6 who made the modern giallo The Editor. He’s since gone solo as a director including last year’s blast Frankie Freako. While I don’t know much about his background, the movie makes it feel like he’s a guy who asked for polyhedral dice as a birthday present. He captures the tone of a fun D&D adventure on the screen. There’s a lot of physical effects so this isn’t just CGI overload. The fights look great. The special effects used have that Ray Harryhausen feel which adds to the fun of watching the film. There’s no bad roll in the entire movie.
Deathstalker brings back the joy of wizard and warrior films.
Shout! Studios and Radial Entertainment present Deathstalker. Directed by Steven Kostanski. Screenplay by Steven Kostanski. Starring Daniel Bernhardt, Patton Oswalt, Christina Orjalo, Paul Lazenby, and Nina Bergman. Running Time: 103 minutes. Rating: Theatrical Release Date: October 10, 2025.
