Deathstalker II (1987) Concorde Pictures/Fantasy-Action-Adventure-Comedy RT: 89 minutes Rated R (violence, language, nudity, sex) Director: Jim Wynorski Screenplay: Neil Ruttenberg Music: Chuck Cirino Cinematography: Leonardo Rodriguez Solis Release date: November 11, 1987 (US, video) Cast: John Terlesky, Monique Gabrielle, John La Zar, Toni Naples, Maria Socas, Marcos Woinsky, Queen Kong, Jake Arnt. Box Office: N/A
Rating: ** ½
I like the sword-and-sorcery sequel Deathstalker II a little better than its predecessor because director Jim Wynorski (Chopping Mall) takes a different approach to the material. He turns it into a comedy of sorts with its self-awareness and anachronistic dialogue. It’s funny and weird at the same time. Actually, it leans more towards weird than funny.
John Terlesky (The Allnighter) takes over the role of Deathstalker, the roguish warrior/thief that saved the world from great evil in the previous film. His latest task is no less challenging. It starts with him saving a woman from being raped by three men. She turns out to be Reena the Seer (Gabrielle, Bachelor Party), a not very good crystal gazer who tends to misinterpret her predictions. It’s a serendipitous meeting for her as she’s in desperate need of a hero. She’s actually Princess Evie of Jzafir, at least she was before she was deposed and replaced by a clone (also played by Gabrielle) created by the evil sorcerer (is there any other kind?) Jarek (LaZar, better known as Z-Man from Beyond the Valley of the Dolls) and his henchwoman Sultana (Naples, Sorority House Massacre II). Reena convinces Deathstalker to escort her back home to reclaim her throne.
Their long-ish journey is fraught with danger and misadventure with a hired killer (Woinsky, The Warrior and the Sorceress) and his band of mercenaries trying to kill them. Luckily, Deathstalker is as handy with Chinese throwing stars as he is with swords and daggers. At one point, they’re captured by a band of Amazons whose leader (Socas, The Warrior and the Sorceress) doesn’t appreciate Deathstalker’s womanizing ways. She subjects him to trial-by-combat against their fiercest warrior Gorgo (female wrestler Queen Kong).
How cheap is Deathstalker II? VERY! Wynorski actually reuses second unit footage from the first movie. In one case, he clumsily shoehorns in an entire scene. He also reuses sets from previous Roger Corman movies. Yep, the master schlockmeister is back on board as producer only now he distributes his work through Concorde, the production company he set up after leaving New World in ’83. It’s one of the first movie outfits to use home video as a major distribution tool.
Deathstalker II went straight-to-video which is why I passed on it until I purchased a used VHS copy in ’94. It wasn’t at all what I expected. I knew I was in for something completely different when Sultana said, “I’ll have my revenge…. and Deathstalker too!” right before the opening titles. Okay, that’s my Deathstalker II story.
In keeping with the film’s lighter tone, Terlesky smirks and jokes his way through a “performance” that seems inspired by Lee Horsley’s performance in The Sword and the Sorcerer. The difference is Terlesky can’t sell it like Horsley…. or Rick Hill, for that matter. He’s a lousy actor. It comes with the territory as these movies generally aren’t known for fine acting. I was especially disappointed in LaZar who brings none of the campy glee with which he imbued Z-Man.
Surprisingly, the most interesting performance(s) comes from Gabrielle in her dual role as the good and evil versions of her character. Note that I didn’t say it’s a good or terrible performance(s). The best word to describe it is “curious”. She has a waifish quality that makes Reena likable and a bitchy quality that makes Evil Evie unlikable. I like how she portrays Reena as a blonde bubblehead, a character type I didn’t even know existed in the age of swords and sorcerers. BTW, would you hold it against me if I said Gabrielle has a nice body? Do you think she’d hold it against me? Sorry, I couldn’t resist.
Like the first movie, Deathstalker II has plenty of naked boobs on display. It’s nowhere near as many as the original, but it’s enough to keep horny teen boys interested. Oddly enough, the second movie is smarter than the first. The plot is dumb, no question, but the movie has a sense of humor about itself. It’s extremely self-aware with at least one reference to Conan and a humorous closing line. And all the anachronisms from the words the characters use to modern-ish ideas like the hired killer throwing coins into a lake to call Jarek. It’s the world’s first pay phone!
Deathstalker II never takes itself the least bit seriously and why should it? It’s another low-budget S&S job Corman filmed in Argentina. This time, the plot makes more sense. The rest of it- i.e. the bad acting, dopey dialogue, cheesy effects, poorly staged action, etc.- is about the same. To its credit, it doesn’t look as cheap as the first movie. I’m not terribly disappointed by any of this. It’s part of the experience.
What I am disappointed in is the lack of graphic violence. WTH, guys? It’s a sword-and-sorcery flick, emphasis on the sword. When swords are involved, I want to see copious bloodshed. I want severed heads and limbs. I want disembowelments. I want a movie where the makers have to hire a guy to mop up at the end of each day’s shoot. Is that too much to ask?
I don’t dislike Deathstalker II at all. It’s another so-bad-it’s good movie. It’s more apt to make you laugh than anything else. It’s derisive laughter, but laughter nonetheless. It’s funny how bad movies from back then are better than the ones from today. I’d rather watch the two Deathstalker movies back-to-back than something like Wonder Woman 1984 or Zack Snyder’s Justice League (ALL FOUR HOURS OF IT!). It’s the purity in form that appeals to me. The makers of Deathstalker II know they’re making junk and don’t care. I admire that.
