‘Deathstalker’ Reboot Review: Campy Action and Gruesome Monsters Galore

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Director Steven Kostanski’s remake of the 1983 cult film *Deathstalker* is a delightfully cheesy monster movie. It doesn’t take itself seriously at all, featuring a legendary warrior and his quirky team battling demons in a ridiculously over-the-top display of violence. While the plot is predictable and filled with complicated backstory, and the special effects are intentionally campy, there are some genuinely funny moments. It does run a bit long, but fans of B-movies and the genre will likely enjoy it. If you’re not already into this kind of film, it’s probably best to skip it.

The movie begins in the fantastical kingdom of Abraxeon, where undead warriors known as Dreadites are brutally attacking Prince Halgan’s (Adam Brooks) knights. Just when it seems Halgan is about to be killed, a skilled swordsman appears and fights off the Dreadites, reaching out to help the injured prince. However, a ruthless mercenary named Deathstalker (Daniel Bernhardt) quickly steals Halgan’s jewelry and a mysterious amulet from his armor. He then abandons the prince and heads to Munkar’s Tavern for a drink.

A Cult Classic Reborn

Deathstalker’s relaxing evening is interrupted when a terrifying, two-headed monster attacks, searching for a valuable amulet. While the fight isn’t difficult, Deathstalker quickly realizes the amulet is more of a burden than a benefit. He tries repeatedly to get rid of it, but it mysteriously keeps reappearing in his bag. A visit to a mage reveals he’s been cursed to carry the amulet for life, and is being hunted by assassins working for the enemy of Abraxeon – the powerful dark sorcerer Nekromemnon (played by Nicholas Rice), who created the Dreadites. Deathstalker needs to find a wizard who can help him understand the amulet’s secrets and overcome Nekromemnon’s magic. He sets off on this quest, unaware that he’s being followed by Brisbane, a flute-playing thief (Christina Orjalo), and that the small wizard Doodad (Laurie Field, with voice work by Patton Oswalt) holds the key.

In the 1980s and early 90s, producer Roger Corman released four *Deathstalker* movies. Now, filmmaker Steven Kostanski, known for his work on *Psycho Goreman* and *Frankie Freako*, is revisiting that world with a new film. It’s a loving tribute to the originals, offering a fresh story for longtime fans. The movie is packed with bizarre characters and creatures that appear constantly, almost like a game of ‘whack-a-mole.’ You likely won’t remember everyone, but they’re all uniquely strange and have some pretty outlandish powers – think a flying eyeball with bat wings!

Daniel Bernhardt as Deathstalker


Shout! Studios

The real enjoyment of *Deathstalker* comes from its over-the-top violence. Expect plenty of severed heads, bodies split in half, and generally gruesome effects. It’s clear the filmmakers challenged themselves to come up with as many creative ways to show skull-crushing as possible – and they deserve credit for it! This same energy went into designing the monster attacks. Each enemy Deathstalker faces has a unique fighting style; one villain, for example, can teleport and throw chainsaw blades, like a bizarre mix of characters from *Mortal Kombat*. While the special effects aren’t realistic – they’re a mix of cheap CGI and stop-motion – that just adds to the film’s campy, over-the-top fun.

While Kostanki’s overall vision is strong, some parts of the film don’t quite succeed. The sword fighting, which starts impressively, quickly becomes repetitive and lacks originality, focusing more on graphic dismemberment than engaging choreography. It feels like the director was so focused on the visual impact of the kills that he neglected the fights themselves. The same happens with the special abilities of the side characters, Doodad and Brisbane – they seem promising at first but aren’t developed enough before the ending. While the limited budget likely impacted the effects, the sidekicks needed more compelling abilities to feel truly important to the story.

The visual style of *Deathstalker* is inconsistent. While scenes featuring the Dreadites are washed out with a repetitive brown color – seemingly an attempt to visually represent their grim nature – it quickly becomes monotonous and makes those parts of the movie look muddy. The original film had a similar aesthetic, but it wasn’t as bleak. Fortunately, other aspects of the film’s design are stronger, such as the scenes with the three moons, characters moving through swamps, and the Abraxeon castle.

Patton Oswalt Voices Doodad


Shout! Studios

The actors work well together and keep the tone fun. Bernhardt and Oswalt share good comedic timing, especially as their characters, Deathstalker and Doodad, playfully argue like a long-married couple. Brisbane adds a charming, slightly mischievous energy as she develops a sisterly bond with the group. As the story progresses, these supporting characters become Deathstalker’s close friends and help him become a warmer, more open person.

The movie *Deathstalker* is often compared to a lower-budget version of *Conan the Barbarian*, and that’s a fair comparison. It’s filled with references to the original *Conan* films and features a really energetic heavy metal soundtrack. While it’s a bit lengthy, it generally delivers what you’d expect.

Deathstalker is a film created by Hangar 18 Media and Berserkergang Films. Shout! Studios will release it in theaters on October 10th.

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2025-10-10 00:21