Review of The Beastmaster (1982) by Mark S — 01 Sep 2008

This is one of those movies where the villains make such a slow and elaborate ritual out of raising and lowering a knife over a victim that it's obvious nobody's going to get stabbed and that somebody's going to swing to the rescue at just the last second. Not that anything like realism matters when you're watching something like The Beastmaster, Phantasm director Don Coscarelli's 1982 foray into pure fantasy entertainment.

Full of mystic marvels, imaginative set pieces, danger, and cute, cuddly animals to amuse the kids, The Beastmaster is a barbarian movie with a heart, probably the best of the lot that followed in the wake of Conan.

The Beastmaster is a movie people remember fondly from childhood, and remains just as fun for adventurous grown-ups. See it. And if you've already seen it, see it again - tonight!