Tuesday, May 16, 2017

Movie review - "Deathstalker 2: Duel of the Titans" (1987) **1/2

I haven't seen the original Deathstalker though it's not too hard to guess what it was like. This is an energetic piece of low-budget sword and sandal-ry, shot in Argentina.

Someone called John Terlesky plays the title role - he was in Chopping Mall. He's not bad, with an amiable grin and muscular torso. He does looks more like a Karate Kid villain than a typical hero - a bit too cocky and smug, maybe? Very contemporary sort of guy - but he is amiable and he totally suits the film.

The storyline feels cobbled from all those Easterns Tony Curtis and Rock Hudson used to make in the 1950s and Maria Montez made in the 1940s. Deathstalker is strolling through the countryside when he meets a "seer" played by Monique Gabrielle, who is a lot of fun. She's trying to get her kingdom back from an evil twin.

The musical sting got on my nerves - they really use it a lot. I mean a lot. It was also irritating how all the women called Terlesky "stalker".

But it's a fun film - it jaunts along, there's always something happening, everyone seems to be having a good time. Wynorski throws in a bunch of stuff - girls mud wrestling at a bar, a comic midget, two hot women getting massaged, John LaZar from Beyond the Valley of the Dolls as the villain (very good he is too), Terleskey taking on a massive woman in a fight, a sword fight between LaZar and Terleskey at the end, some supporting women, Gabrielle in a double role (her sister has sex with Terleskey), a Pit and the Pendulum homage...

Gabriella and Terleskey are a likeable heroic duo, Toni Naples and Maria Socas are enjoyable in support. What can I say? I enjoyed it.

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