Deathstalker, Starring Daniel Bernhardt

Casual viewers might think of fantasy heroes as virtuous Tolkienesque dragonslayers, but for real fans, the irresponsible antiheroes are even more important. Conan was that kind of freebooter and so was Red Sonja (in the books and comics). The title character of Roger Corman’s 1983 rip-off has always been a cult-favorite, because he was so grungy and roguish. The reboot might not share much with the original, but at least the wandering swordsman still refuses to reform himself in Steven Kostanski’s Deathstalker, executive produced by Guns ‘n Roses’ Slash, which opens this Friday in theaters.

As the film opens, the universally despised Deathstalker makes his coin scavenging from dead bodies fallen in battle. That is pretty scummy behavior, but nobody challenges him, because he is too lethal. However, this time around, he “liberated” an amulet from a “mostly dead” knight that apparently carries a curse.

From now on, no matter what he does with it, it always turns up back in his pocket. Making everything worse, a demonic army led by his old nemesis, Jotak, seems hellbent on recovering the amulet, even if it does him serious harm in the process. To lift the curse, he must find Doodad, a little person wizard. However, Deathstalker must first save the sorcerer from his own magical entrapment. Heck, at this rate, Deathstalker is practically becoming heroic.

The ruckus but comfortable combination of bloody carnage and outrageous over-the-top humor will compute for fans of Kostanski’s previous films, such as PG: Psycho Goreman. Deathstalker also reflects the former makeup artist’s passion for practical effects. It doesn’t exactly transport the audience to an immersive fantasy world, but it certainly dives right in, embracing the hacking and slashing, as well as the creature-creation.

In fact, both are quite good thanks Kostanski in the latter case, and martial artist-actor Daniel Bernnhardt (star of the Bloodsport sequels) for the former. There are strange and exotic fantastical monsters, rendered with eccentric verve. Yet, Bernhardt keeps it grounded with the slicing and dicing. Thanks to him and former MMA fighter Paul Lazenby “The Mauler” (who provides a worthy foil, as Jotak), the vibe never gets too goofy. That is rather saying something, considering Patton Oswalt’s shticky voiceover work for Doodad.

Regardless, Corman would mostly approve of the spirit and energy displayed by the new Deathstalker. However, he would wonder why there isn’t any sex or nudity (at least the early 80s Corman would wonder). Still, Kostanski’s reinterpretation maintains a consistent level of fun, which is what really matters. Recommended fans of “unpretentious” fantasy, Deathstalker opens Friday (10/10) in New York, at the Lower Manhattan Drafthouse.