Review of Dragonslayer (1981) by Dominic B — 12 Jun 2007

Judging by the title you'd be forgiven for thinking this was one of those cheap sword-and-sorcery flicks which the '80s groaned with, but further investigation is highly recommended. It comes from Disney - but far from the insipid, moralistic offerings doled out since these darker days - here beautiful maidens and foolish priests are graphically incinerated by dragon fire and elderly innocents callously murdered by corrupt officials.

The cinematography is first-rate, and the cast are excellent - MacNicol quirkily heroic and Caitlin Clarke quirkily beautiful as the leads. Better, the reliably eccentric Ralph Richardson brings some star-power to an impressive supporting cast - theatre stalwarts Ian McDiarmid and Peter Eyre amongst them.

But the star of the show is unquestionably Vermithrax - 25 years on still the most malevolent and convincingly portrayed dragon on the silver screen. It's not a flawless film, you'll laugh at the hand-puppet baby dragons, but if you have a craving for quality fantasy action this is a must see.