Last time, I covered the reboot of The Toxic Avenger which is an... Unusual and chaotic remake i've ever watched...
Anyway, the next remake of the B movies is what happened if you make a low budget sword and sorcery film (aka action fantasy film) following the success of Conan The Barbarian? Well, that’s exactly what we have in today’s review.
“Deathstalker” is a 2025 sword and sorcery film that was written/directed by Steven Kostanski and produced by Pasha Patriki, Michael Paszt, and Avi Federgreen.
Normally, I would like to explain where did the idea came from, its a remake, yes, but how or why would they remaking it? Well, unlike many movies I’ve covered, this one is actually started a Kickstarter campaign. While his old production company called “Astron-6” has been defunct, but it doesn’t mean Steve has given up his career, instead he like to going back to his low-budget film business. So in March of 2024, he launched his campaign about his remake of Deathstalker with the goal is to reaching $75K, and after having nearly 600 backers, it was a success with more than $95K pledged.
But before we start, let me give you a brief history. The creation of Deathstalker came all the way back in 1983. Like I said before, thanks to the success of Conan The Barbarian, late legendary B Movie filmmaker, Roger Corman decided to cash in to financing on Palo Alto company the production were set in Argentina. I did saw some reviewers of this movie, which by look at it, it shows what happened if you mix Conan and sexy music video into this. Its weird, its violence and… Rather sexy, eh? And somehow, the first Deathstalker made a lot of money, around $5M or $11.5M. So much so that Roger Corman and his team (depending if its the same or different) released three move Deathstalker films, Deathstalker 2 played like a comedy film, Deathstalker And Warriors from Hell weirdly changed into fantasy medieval movie, and Deathstalker 4 is more like stock-footage fest, despite the plot is different, while brought back Rick Hill from the first Deathstalker. Yeah, these four Deathstalker movies are weird…
So, could this remake worth it over the Corman’s take of Conan? Lets find out.
So the movie begins in the warzone with good’ol fashion blood and gore, where many soldiers with weirdly four metal plates on their heads were all killed by those menacing red warriors called “Dreadites”. But it wouldn’t be until we introduce our main hero and the former knight named “Deathstalker” to fight back those Dreadites. After steal a golden amulet from dying man in warzone, he should’ve realized this amulet is cursed that many assassins are coming after him from tavern to the forest. After a brief discussion to a box-head witch named Toralva, he walked in the cave to freeing a little wizard named “Doodat”. Upon learning about the amulet, they discovered this amulet came from returned ancient necromancer named “Necromemnon”, which is why Deathstalker got cursed by amulet for how many assassins, Dreadites and his former friend named Jotak are coming after him, so its up to Deathstalker, Doodat and a thief named Brisbayne to stop the curse and find the way to stop Necromemnon before unleashing a powerful demon called Sytor.
I find the story feels like a standard sword and sorcery adventure like something out of 1980s, again, ever since Conan came out. But to be fair, at least it actually has a nice execution for complex and yet, cheesy plot for fighting against the evil threat from being cursed by ancient item like an amulet. But one thing that I like to give, is some character development to some characters like Deathstalker from what we’ve learned rather than being a typical barbarian, especially learning what happened to his past like when he used to be partnered with Jotak before he turned against him. Even though I wish if they could give us more depth like Doodat (kinda) and Brisbayne, but that’s just me. Although they also add humors in this movie, which I will say, I did received some chuckle moments that can work, along with some made me laugh from some deliveries. Though some jokes can get weak from either questionable names (though I may like some) or some cheap pop culture reference, but at least the culture reference is very minimal.
As for the presentation,, it looks pretty nice what they’ve done. Though if im guessing, the budget is much cheaper than say, The Toxic Avenger 2023(25), im assuming less than $100K, since as I mentioned, they made a campaign to do their own remake and they got it.
The way they filmed look actually pretty good from filming in the forest, the tavern, the village, the cave and ruined castle to Necromemnon’s fortress. Though the most common where they filmed is outdoor for the forest, the village and couple others they filmed, while others like tavern, the cave and the fortress were done on set, I think. The setting looks pretty good, even if they can be look cheap, but il give credit what they’re trying.
The action scenes are not bad, some choreograph aren’t perfect for the sword fight, but again, il give credit they did the best for the sword fight and even some creative moments like when Jotak had bone-like spear after he lost his hand to pull a dirty move for injury or death. Or even a mummy-like monster named Scarabus with buzzsaw chain for a brutal slash or dismemberment. Speaking of violence, in typical B movie fashion, its no stranger to giving us a good’ol gory kills from slicing limbs, decapitation and other brutal kills, and its no stranger that a lot of fights and kills were done via practical effects. Good love those practical gore. Although they also one time did the CG effect how some characters got stabbed though the heart, that was one done with CG, but to be fair, at least the CG looks okay, not like the cringing PS1 graphical CG effects.
Since this is a sword and sorcery, they gave some of the most unique costume and creature designs and monster designs, which I find some of them pretty fascinated, standard and badass, whether be a Dreadites armors, a walking rock soldier with pebble laser eyes, a two heads troll and some gave us a nice reminder, like the Pigman that brought in from the OG Deathstalker films. I forgot to mention this movie has couple of Easter Eggs (if you’re lucky to be one of those people who’ve seen four Deathstalker films), one example (aside the Pigman) is the tavern simply called “Munkar’s Tavern”, who’s based on the first movie’s villain who happens to be an evil sorcerer who takes over the kingdom for his dark magic power. Though im quite surprised that there isn’t any scantly clad ladies around in this remake, its more focus on unique and gory than sexual. Its a shame we didn’t have any hot ladies around, but eh. And lastly, il give a credit for the composure for playing the mix orchestral fantasy to badass to playing rock music with guitar, definitely fitting to show how Badass Deathstalker is.
Speaking of which, when It comes to the characters, I find some characters are pretty nice, along with some actors did a fun job for their action, how they’re written and their delivery.
When it comes to Deathstalker himself (played by Daniel Bernhardt), I find him to be nicely written how he’s developed, gone for being a barbarian from the original, he plays more of an anti-hero for killing monsters and bad guys on his way and kind of being no-nonsense, as a former knight and used to be former friend of Jotak. I actually find the portrayal of Deathstalker is pretty good for, again, how he’s developed, being a badass former knight on his journey before dealing with the evil threat from Necromemnon, along with unlikely forming his party for his quest. And Daniel did a good work of his performance, especially this is the same guy who’s been in many movies back then, along with stunt choreograph
As for the rest of the character, I find them to be hit or miss, there’s Doodat (played by Laurie Field with voiced by Patton Oswalt) who’s a little wizard who gives us plot development about the amulet and a comic relief for his skill issue for magic missile and some of his questionable humor, Brisbayne (played by Christina Orjalo) is an unlikely thief who likes to looting, playing with flute and wrist blades (Assassin’s Creed style), Jotak (played by Paul Lazenby) is a secondary antagonist who’s resurrected from decapitation and takes his anger against his former friend Deathstalker, Grendul (played by Nina Bergman) who’s a proud and oblivious thief leader, and Necromemnon (played by Nicholas Rice), the ancient necromancer and the main villain where his goal is to bring evil force to unleash Sytor, along with giving us his cheesiest performance, but sometimes some moments he made me laugh from his delivery.
In the end, out of all the remakes I’ve watch, I think I actually enjoy this movie what they’ve came up with, especially after raised the money from their Kickstarter campaign, like, ithink they accomplished it.
The writing is pretty good, the story is standard with well executed writing for the developments, the presentation looks good for low budget, the characters are good, the actors have a nice performances and the action scenes are pretty good too with blood and gore.
Though its nowhere perfect with numerous issues like some jokes are hit or miss and while some characters are good, but maybe I would like to give some for extra development.
While its not as big attention as many of big budget movies today, but I think this remake is pretty underrated. If you’re a fan of sword and sorcery, or a sick fan with blood and gore like me, I recommend to check it out. Its nowhere perfect, but at least they did a good job for this movie after campaign.
And that’s all for my mini review, tell me what you think in the comments bellow.
Thanks for reading, and im Anthony, signing out.
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