Deathstalker II

Last updated
Deathstalker II: Duel of the Titans
DeathstalkerII.jpg
Theatrical release film poster by Boris Vallejo
Directed by Jim Wynorski
Screenplay byNeil Ruttenberg
Story byJim Wynorski
Produced byFrank Isaac, Jr.
Starring
Cinematography Leonardo Rodríguez Solís
Edited bySteve Barnett
Music by Chuck Cirino
Production
companies
  • Aries Films International (Aries Cinematográfica Argentina)
  • New Horizon Picture Corp
Distributed byConcorde Pictures
Release date
12 September 1987 (Japan)
Running time
85 minutes
Countries
  • Argentina
  • United States
LanguageEnglish

Deathstalker II, also known as Deathstalker II: Duel of the Titans, is a 1987 Argentine-American fantasy comedy-adventure film directed by Jim Wynorski and a sequel to 1983's Deathstalker . It was written by Neil Ruttenberg (with an extensive uncredited rewrite by Wynorski, Terlesky and R. J. Robertson) and starring John Terlesky, Monique Gabrielle, John LaZar and María Socas. Terlesky replaced Rick Hill, the protagonist from the previous film, in the starring role of Deathstalker. This is the last sword and sorcery movie that Roger Corman produced in Argentina during the 80s. [1]

Contents

Owing to its low-cost production and the perceived self-awareness of the movie, Wynorski called the film an "anachronistic comedy of sorts". [2]

Synopsis

Princess Evie of the Jzafir kingdom is possessed by the sorcerer Jerak, who creates an evil clone of Evie. Through the clone, Jerak and his voluptuous and dangerous ally, Sultana, rule over Jzafir. The real Evie escapes Jerak's control, and posing as Reena the Seer she enlists the aid of the renowned hero Deathstalker. Together they fight against the forces of evil to take back Evie's kingdom.

Cast

Production

Roger Corman had a deal to make several sword and sorcery films in Argentina in a coproduction deal with Aries Cinematográfica Argentina, of which Deathstalker II was the last. Corman asked Jim Wynorski, who had just made Chopping Mall (1986) for Corman, to direct it. Wynorski said Corman was upset that he did not get the chance to produce Conan the Barbarian (1982): "he should have done Conan, but he didn’t, someone else did it and he said 'I’m gonna copy it', so that’s what he did." [3]

Casting

Wynorski cast several actors he had worked with before, including John Terlesky. Terlesky was dating Monique Gabrielle at the time, and he had also dated Toni Naples, and both were chosen for the cast. Wynorski also hired John LaZar because he had been in Beyond the Valley of the Dolls (1970). [3]

Wynorski described working with Maria Socas, who had already starred in The Warrior and the Sorceress (1984; the second sword-and-sorcery film Corman produced in Argentina), the following way: "Maria Socas was/is a very sweet person, she was trying to do the role [the Amazon Queen] serious, and finally I just said: 'play it serious and we’ll do comedy around you'." [3]

Monique Gabrielle later described the film as her favorite:

It was a very difficult shoot, in a way, because we were shooting in Argentina and our script had a lot of stunts that couldn't be done with the limitations they had down there. It wasn't safe and there were a lot of problems. I almost got dropped into a pot of water, which, luckily, wasn't boiling (it was supposed to be). But, besides all that, it was really my favorite because I loved the role I played. I got to play dual characters. [4]

Wynorski said "it took a lot from me" to get Gabrielle to play comedy: "she had more apogee for playing the evil queen, but I said 'you have to play yourself', which is very sweet, and 'you have to play [it] as a funny, you know, waif', and she did, she did a good job." [3]

Writing

There was a script by Neil Ruttenberg which Wynorski felt was "terrible", so the latter rewrote it with Terlesky and regular collaborator R. J. Robertson. Wynorski said the original script "was trying to be a Conan movie, and I just said, you know, 'not what I want to do'. And I want to be entertaining and I had John who was very, very personable, and I had Toni and Monique and John (LaZar) and Queen Kong, when she was there, and some of the Spanish actors spoke English very well, and they were very happy to do something different". [3]

Wynorski explained: "we kinda did our version of It Happened One Night (1934)". He wrote two parts for Monique Gabrielle "because it gave me an extra person, I needed a lot of people who could speak English and so, by creating a dual role for Monique, I created yet another character, and every night, John and I would go back to the hotel and rewrite new stuff and shoot it over the next couple of days." [3]

Filming

Wynorski reused sets from the previous sword-and-sorcery films Corman made in Argentina. He also stated that "the sets were pretty much trashed by the time I got there, cause I think I was the last guy to use them before they got torn down". [3]

Wynorski said the producer, Frank Isaac, was "very upset" because they kept changing the original script: "finally he [Isaac] got so angry about it he called Roger Corman, and Roger Corman’s family came down and Roger watched [the] dailies and said, 'This is fine, keep going'". [3] When Corman got back to California, Wynorski asked him to send down the biggest lady wrestler he could find. Corman hired Dee Booher for the production, and so Wynorski filmed the Queen Kong scene with her. [3]

Wynorski stated that the Argentinian producers "didn’t want to spend any money on this production, and it was difficult to get them to pony up a little money for extras or anything, but, you know, Roger kept calling up and saying, you owe me this, give it to the guy – and again, we were trying to be fun, without spending a lot of money and I think we got away with it, a lot of people enjoyed the movie because it doesn’t take itself seriously at all. It’s a comedy with action". [3]

Re-release

The film was re-released in the 2000s by Shout! Factory as "Roger Corman's Cult Classics: Sword and Sorcery Collection". The collection features Deathstalker , Deathstalker II, Barbarian Queen and The Warrior and the Sorceress .

The release of Deathstalker II on this collection is quite different from past VHS and DVD releases. It features a new Anamorphic Widescreen Transfer (1.78:1) and an Approved Director's Cut of the film.

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lana Clarkson</span> American actress and fashion model (1962–2003)

Lana Jean Clarkson was an American actress and fashion model. During the 1980s, she rose to prominence in several sword-and-sorcery films. In 2003, record producer Phil Spector shot and killed Clarkson inside his home; he was charged with second-degree murder and convicted in 2009.

<i>Chopping Mall</i> 1986 film by Jim Wynorski

Chopping Mall is a 1986 American techno-horror film co-written and directed by Jim Wynorski, produced by Julie Corman, and starring Kelli Maroney, Tony O'Dell, John Terlesky, Russell Todd, Paul Bartel, Mary Woronov, and Barbara Crampton. It focuses on three high-tech security robots turning maniacal and killing teenage employees inside a shopping mall after dark.

Jim Wynorski is an American screenwriter, director, and producer. Wynorski has been making B-movies and exploitation movies since the early 1980s, and has directed over 150 feature films. His earliest films were released to film theaters, but his later works have predominantly been released through the cable or straight-to-video market. He often works under pseudonyms such as "Jay Andrews," "Arch Stanton," "H.R. Blueberry," "Tom Popatopolis," and "Noble Henry." His adult films often spoof popular horror movies: Cleavagefield, for example, parodies Cloverfield, The Bare Wench Project parodies The Blair Witch Project, and Para-Knockers Activity parodies Paranormal Activity.

<i>The Warrior and the Sorceress</i> 1984 film by John Broderick

The Warrior and the Sorceress is a 1984 Argentine-American fantasy action film directed by John C. Broderick and starring David Carradine, María Socas and Luke Askew. It was written by Broderick and William Stout (story).

John LaZar is an American actor of both stage and screen, best remembered for his lead role as Ronnie 'Z-man' Barzell in the Russ Meyer film Beyond the Valley of the Dolls (1970), co-written by Meyer and Roger Ebert.

<i>Sorority House Massacre III: Hard to Die</i> 1990 American film

Sorority House Massacre III: Hard to Die is a 1990 American slasher film written by Mark Thomas McGee and James B. Rogers, directed by Jim Wynorski, and starring Gail Harris and Melissa Moore. The film features a similar storyline and many of the same actresses from its predecessor, and Wynorski's previous film Sorority House Massacre II, of which Hard to Die is essentially a remake.

<i>Wizards of the Lost Kingdom</i> 1985 American film

Wizards of the Lost Kingdom is a 1985 sword and sorcery film written by Ed Naha and directed by Héctor Olivera. It stars Bo Svenson as Kor the Conqueror, Vidal Peterson as Simon, and Thom Christopher as Shurka. The film is one of ten that Roger Corman produced in Argentina during the 1980s, beginning with Deathstalker in 1983. The sequel Wizards of the Lost Kingdom II followed in 1989.

<i>Deathstalker</i> (film) 1983 sword and sorcery film

Deathstalker, also known as El cazador de la muerte, is a 1983 Argentine-American sword and sorcery film directed by James Sbardellati, and starring Rick Hill, Barbi Benton, Bernard Erhard and Lana Clarkson.

<i>Not of This Earth</i> (1988 film) 1988 film by Jim Wynorski

Not of This Earth is a 1988 American science fiction horror comedy film, directed by Jim Wynorski and starring Traci Lords in her first mainstream role after her departure from the adult film industry. It is a remake of Roger Corman's 1957 film of the same name, written by Charles B. Griffith and Mark Hanna.

<i>976-Evil II</i> 1992 American film

976-EVIL II is a 1992 American direct-to-video supernatural horror film directed by Jim Wynorski. The film is a sequel to the 1988 horror film 976-EVIL. It was referenced in Invasion of the Scream Queens (1992).

<i>Sorceress</i> (1982 film) 1982 American film

Sorceress is a 1982 sword and sorcery film directed by Jack Hill, and starring Leigh Harris and Lynette Harris. It was the last film directed by Jack Hill.

Popatopolis is a 2009 documentary film directed by Clay Westervelt about the making of Jim Wynorski's soft-core horror film, The Witches of Breastwick.

<i>Deathstalker IV: Match of Titans</i> 1991 American film

Deathstalker IV: Match of Titans, also called Deathstalker IV: Match of the Titans, is a 1991 sword and sorcery fantasy film written and directed by Howard R. Cohen. Rick Hill, who played the title role in the first film, reprises his role in this film. It is the fourth and final installment in the Deathstalker tetralogy.

John Todd Terlesky is an American actor, film director, television director and screenwriter. As an actor, he is best known for playing Deathstalker in the 1987 film Deathstalker II, and Mike in Chopping Mall (1986).

<i>The Wasp Woman</i> (1995 film) American TV series or program

The Wasp Woman is a 1995 television body horror film directed by Jim Wynorski and starring Jennifer Rubin, and Doug Wert. It is a remake of the 1959 film of the same name, which was produced and directed by Roger Corman. The film first aired on the Showtime Network in 1995.

Wizards of the Lost Kingdom II is a 1989 American sword and sorcery film written and directed by Charles B. Griffith and starring David Carradine, Mel Welles and Lana Clarkson. It was Griffith's last feature film credit and is a sequel to the Argentine-American cult film Wizards of the Lost Kingdom (1985).

<i>Dinosaur Island</i> (1994 film) 1994 film by Jim Wynorski and Fred Olen Ray

Dinosaur Island is a 1994 B-movie directed by Fred Olen Ray and Jim Wynorski. Wynorski called it "a very 1950's type of picture, like The Lost Continent except that we're going to have better dinosaurs and more girls."

<span class="mw-page-title-main">María Socas</span> Argentine actress

María Antonia Socas Ortiz Lanús is an Argentine actress.

Scream Queen Hot Tub Party is a 1991 American black comedy horror film directed by Jim Wynorski and Fred Olen Ray. The film stars actual scream queens Kelli Maroney, Brinke Stevens and Michelle Bauer.

<i>Vampirella</i> (film) 1996 American film

Vampirella is a 1996 American direct-to-video superhero film which was part of the Roger Corman Presents series. It was based on the Vampirella comic book.

References

  1. ↑ Fevrier, Andres (2008-03-24). "Hollywood in Don Torcuato (third part)": When Roger Corman and his B-movies invaded Argentina Archived 2013-12-26 at the Wayback Machine Cinematófilos.com.ar(in Spanish)
  2. ↑ "interview with Jim Wynorski". Justin Bozung. Archived from the original on 2018-10-22. Retrieved 2017-05-14.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Hill, Kent (15 November 2016). "IS THAT YOUR FIRST NAME OR YOUR LAST NAME?: REMEMBERING DEATHSTALKER 2 WITH JIM WYNORSKI". podcasting them softly.
  4. ↑ "The Incredibly Bad Film Show Deathstalker II". Trash City.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.