Deathstalker II

I can't believe I haven't reviewed this one already. It's one of my favorite B movies. Directed by breast enthusiast Jim Wynorski, it's a surprisingly funny entry into the mostly dreadful sword & sorcery fad of the '80s. John Terlesky gives a wonderfully likable performance as the titular hero. Monique Gabrielle is pretty and adorable. Her line delivery is a little amateurish (and possibly entirely ADR judging by the sound quality) but she seems to be having so much fun that it kind of adds to the charm of her performance. She plays dual roles here, one good girl one bad girl. And yes, she gets naked. The rest of the cast is enjoyable as well.

The sets and costumes and special effects are cheap but it never matters. This is the kind of fun movie that filmmakers just starting out should be trying to emulate, not whatever blockbuster or Oscar bait they just saw. Making a good B movie seems to be a lost art these days.

The second part of the "Deathstalker" series has a spirited beginning, a fun score, and is overall entertaining because of its campiness, but it's not to be mistaken in any way as a good film. The big surprise here is that, unlike most former models, Monique Gabrielle CAN act: she plays two roles and she manages to give each one a distinct personality (intensely likable/intensely bitchy), and she's the best reason to see this movie. As for John Terlesky, he flashes a smile that is comparable to Tom Cruise's. (**)

This is one of the great fantasy "B" flicks. It has some of the funniest one liners, delivered in clasic "B" movie style. There's plenty of action and lots of laughs to be had watching this one. Besides the princess is cute and you have to love the villians style. If you're looking for perhaps one of the best low grade fantasy films ever produced than this would definitely be the one to watch. It rocks!

This is easily the best of the Deathstalker movies. John Terlesky isn't the musclebound hulk that Rick Hill was, and certainly not the musclebound hulk in the Boris Vallejo painting they used for the poster, but he doesn't have to be. This is a Deathstalker who knows perfectly well that he's in a campy, B-grade sword-and-sorcery flick, and is determined to have as much fun with it as he can. He takes nothing seriously, and almost everything is done with a wink at the audience. He wonders aloud at one point where the cliche Spikey Trap O'Death is, and when the spikes immediately pop out of the walls he just rolls his eyes, says, "Son of a bitch!", and deals with it.

John Lazar as the villain Jarek knows it too. He's gleefully, manaically evil, but when he learns his adversary's moniker he can barely suppress the giggle as he repeats, incredulously, "Deathstalker?!"

Monique Gabrielle takes her parts seriously, and it's just as well. She's the one who's always in need of a rescue, and I suppose that *someone* has to put up a show of genuine peril. She also fills out admirably the part that's absolutely essential in films of this quality: she supplies the main set of on-screen boobs. It wouldn't be a proper B-grade sword-and-sorcery flick without them.

Sit back, have a beer or 5, and enjoy Deathstalker II. Laugh; you're supposed to. And stick around through the end credits for the outtakes. Those are funny too.

This has to rank alongside Roger Corman's best as one of the great cult favorites.

The acting is atrocious and the direction is primitive at best. But there's plenty of action and bare bosoms, which is what such movies are all about.

Terlesky seems to be getting by in Hollywood nowadays as a writer, director and actor in mostly B-movies, but D-2 represents the best of his early days.

"Is Deathstalker your first name or your last?" You gotta love lines like that.

A classic of sorts.