Director of Sword & Sorcery Action Sequel Says “After Four Movies of Nudity” He Just Wanted Monsters

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Sword and sorcery films were incredibly popular in the 1980s, known for featuring strong, muscular heroes like Conan battling evil wizards, witches, and monsters, often alongside strong female characters. Filmmaker Steven Kostanski is now revisiting this classic genre with a new film, but with a focus on avoiding the problematic and sexist elements often found in the originals.

Released in 1983, *Deathstalker* features Rick Hill as the hero tasked by a witch with finding a chalice, amulet, and sword. An evil wizard holds two of these items. The film’s success is easy to understand, and it became a modest hit, earning $11.9 million worldwide despite only costing $457,000 to make. Financed by low-budget film expert Roger Corman, *Deathstalker* went on to generate three sequels between 1987 and 1991.

In a surprising turn of events, a new installment of the franchise was announced in 2024, more than 40 years after the first movie came out. Like *Terrifier 2*, the project received funding through a crowdfunding campaign. Filming took place in early 2025, and the movie was released on October 10th. Director Kostanski explained to Bleeding Cool why he decided to bring the franchise back to life.

I’ve always loved the Deathstalker films, particularly the second one from 1987. When I was given a chance to reboot some older Roger Corman properties, I jumped at the opportunity to do Deathstalker. I saw it as a really fun project where I could create a monster-filled, action-packed movie – one that would finally live up to the exciting imagery of the classic Boris Vallejo posters.

Kostanski Wanted to Deliver More Than Debauchery in ‘Deathstalker’


Shout! Studios

During the 1980s, R-rated fantasy films often featured a lot of nudity alongside their fantastical elements. When revisiting a franchise known for showcasing attractive, lightly dressed women – similar to the style of artist Boris Vallejo – director Kostanski aimed to highlight the monsters, which frequently took a backseat to the visuals, especially given the limitations of special effects at the time. He explained that he wanted to focus on the ‘cool monsters’ and give them more prominence.

From the start, I wanted to create the kind of fantastical monster action you often see on the other side of a classic 80s movie poster – the part that artists like Boris Vallejo were known for, beyond just the glamorous imagery. Those posters always had cool monsters, but the movies rarely delivered on that promise. I figured, since we already had plenty of movies focusing on the ‘eye-candy’ aspect, I could focus on what I enjoy – the monsters and the action. Honestly, as a filmmaker, I’m not particularly interested in nudity. I wanted to make a movie that really delivered on the fantasy and adventure side of things, and that’s what drove my vision.

Deathstalker is in cinemas now.

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2025-10-12 18:33