In a bygone era lives Deathstalker, an involuntary hero who, in his search, ends up between a ruler and the country’s rightful heir to the throne. He does not want to get involved, but he has no choice since he looks for three magical objects. He already possesses the sword, and the false king owns the magic goblet and a magic amulet. The one who has all three objects becomes all-powerful. Only when all three objects are together will power become total.

Deathstalker may not be the most well-played fantasy movie in cinematic history, but I like it. It has a charm and a presence that many other sword and sorcery films lack. It does not take place in ancient Greece as is traditionally considered. It’s a barbarian film to be reckoned with and one that – unfortunately – seems to be a bit forgotten.

I first thought it was a production made by Spain or Italy when I first saw it. It was shot entirely in Argentina, although it was co-produced between Argentina and the US. I do not know if this affects anything, but it probably does because of the European atmosphere.

Cheesy? Yes. Good? Yes, and not for its profound content; this movie is a nostalgic trip to the ’80s when life was more accessible and entertainment not yet tarnished by soul-searching superheroes with ambiguous feelings.

Unlike some other films, plenty of imaginative creatures inhabit the film’s universe. There is simply a rich fauna of creations in the movie. So it’s not just about monsters but about warriors with pigs’ heads and things like that. There are also a lot of creatures that remind me more of trolls than anything else—an excellent epithet in a fantasy film.

Men are muscular, especially the main character, and women are voluptuous and vulnerable for the most part. Of course, some are more reminiscent of Amazon women and do not need a man to defend them. The film takes place at a time when it may not always have been necessary for a woman to cover her charms, and the breasts shown in the film do so in a natural way. Clothes tear apart; no garment lasts forever when touched by a sword, and it would be illogical that the king’s harem should be overdressed.  

Rick Hill fits perfectly in the role of Deathstalker, blonde and with massive muscles. He does the part as well as Miles O’Keeffe does Ator the invincible. The difference is that Deathstalker is an anti-hero who does not want to be in the center of events and who is not humble in any way either. I would even like to call him complacent.

None in the cast are what you might call renowned actors, but they do their part. Lana Clarkson, who plays Kaira, does a decent job too. Cheesy? Yes. Good? Yes, and not for its profound content; this movie is a nostalgic trip to the ’80s when life was more accessible and entertainment not yet tarnished by soul-searching superheroes with ambiguous feelings.

As far as B movies go, Deathstalker delivers on all accounts: poor acting, questionable story, and a generous amount of nudity. When watching this flick, don’t forget to turn up the volume on your speakers now and then because the entire soundtrack is a gem!