Deathstalker and the Warriors from Hell

As a avid watcher of Mystery Science Theater 3000, I am used to the bottom of the cinematic barrel. However this movie is so irritating, it is in a category of pain all its own.

First, John Allen Nelson makes a particularly loathsome 'hero' as Deathstalker. His arrogance comes off angering, and his attempts at sexuality come off as repulsive. You don't believe that anyone has ever desired his help or praised him. Plus, his accent lasts about 2 lines.

Second, the support characters are laughable. The princess is wooden and unpleasant. The other characters are overacted and thoroughly unbelievable-especially in the case of Thom Christopher (Troxartas).

Lastly, it is possible to make a good movie with a low budget. It is also possible to turn this type of movie into light-hearted and fun. But, with the hideous characters, bad editing, and vague plot, this movie feels pained and leaves you caring less what happened and praying they didn't make Deathstalker 4.

The only positive thing I can say is that the MST3K crew does a decent job of poking fun at it, although it is obviously painful for them as well.

Deathstalker meets twin princesses and goes on a quest for a magic diamond.

Along with the stilted Alfonso Corona's direction, Howard R. Cohen slack at best screenplay lacks logic. Silently produced by Roger Corman, Alejandro Rulfo Israel Torres medieval music borrows from The Raven, Battle Beyond the Stars and Brian Eno's prophecy theme from Dune. With arrow and sword action littered throughout the pacing is more plodding than its predecessors. That said, there's an impressive spectre and undead warriors thrown in for good measure. The exterior locations give it a little depth; but it's very set and stage like throughout.

The third of four Deathstalker movies, hero Deathstalker is replaced again now played by John Allen Nelson (best known for Killer Klowns from Outer Space). Nelson is more cocky than swashbuckling John Terlesky from II, and less Conan-like than Rick Hill in the original. Aarón Hernán hams it up as wizard Nicias, stunning Carla Sands can do no wrong in tone dual role. Terri Treas as Camisarde wrestles impressively with the laughable sparse script. Novel bald on top evil sorcerer Troxartes played by Thom Christopher (Hawk from Buck Rogers) along with the rest of the cast do their best with the clunky sword fights and dialogue.

Overall, a little tamer and less fun than the first two, that said worth watching for the leads.

My review was written in May 1989 after watching the film on Vestron video cassette.

Third edition in Concorde's "Deathstalker" series is a bland, made-in-Mexico affair constituting little more than a title and pretty package for undiscriminating video retailers.

Soap opera thesp John Allen Nelson is miscast in title role, smirking his way through a non-adventure in a mythical medieval land searching for the secret treasure city of Erendor. He accompanies Princess Carissa (Carla Herd) and her big diamond in quest for a matching stone. She's killed and he finds her twin Princess Elezena (also Herd) and eventually to matching gems, for chintzy visual effects when the powerful diamonds are joined.

Herd is upstaged by a pretty Amazonian warrior played by Claudia Inchaurregui, as well as Concorde regular Terri Treas as a villainess with arch dialog readings. Nelson's all-American approach is way out of place and supporting cast is weak. Previous pics in this series had some campy material but this one's a stiff.

This third part of the "Deathstalker" series has some amusing moments, but bogs down in the second half because of too much plot, and many of the swordfights are badly and clumsily choreographed. Still, if you like your violence completely bloodless and your hero totally self-conscious about the kind of film he's in, you may like this. (**)

I only saw this from Mst3000, and this movie is a perfect candidate. Bad acting, bad effects, stupid story. John Allen Nelson (or relson, your choice) loses his English accent within 5 minutes of this movie, and the guy playing Truxardis is wearing the shortest skirt even worn on a man before. from what I understand there are 4 of these films, I think MST should have done all of them, but hey we'll take this one. Potatoes are what we eat!!