When Ator senior is killed and his magic sword broken Ator junior raised by a sorcerer gnome troll Grindle goes on a quest to kill the wicked Gunther and free the treasure of the kingdom of the West.
Director writer Joe D'Amato returns under the psydonum of David Hill. Sadly Miles O'Keeffe doesn't reprise his role and is replaced by Eric Allan Kramer. Baby long-haired Kramer plays both Ator senior and junior; Ator here is reminiscent of a bulky He-Man, in-fact his costume could be straight out of Masters of the Universe (1987).
Again it has all the D'Amato shortfalls synonyms with his previous instalments, clunky music, editing and the like. This also at times feels more TV-like than it's film feeling predecessors. That said, the real location exteriors offer atmosphere. Again although a low budget offering some of the craftsmanship on the production, from the sets to weapons and costumes is well produced. Also much of Carlo Maria Cordio music is quiet fitting and gives a little weight to shenanigans when it's not sounding like a game show jingle. There's plenty of cheap fantasy elements to enjoy, Two head clockwork robots; an evil Grindle (sporting a recycled by effective mask from D'Amato's Troll 2), fire breathing lizard man reminiscent of Godzilla and plenty of disposable warriors. It’s nudity free. The third act loses focus, meandering on before coming to abrupt end.
Laura Gemser returns to the series as a different character, an evil princess Grimilde. Marisa Mell's Nephele, Ator's guide and pops up as the script dictates. Memorable is Margaret Lenzey's DeJanira clad in an Ancient Greek-like armour. Donald O'Brien (Zombie Holocaust and Name of the Rose) briefly appears in leper make-up as Gunther. Actor Don Semeraro who died shortly after is credited as Thorn-Grindel Hagen, he plays Gunther's little sidekick Hagen and the gnome sorcerer Grindle who cruelly raised Ator.
Overall, it's cheap and cheerful and gives the Deathstalker series a run for its money, packed with fantasy elements; but it's also deeply flawed. However, if you enjoyed the other Ator films, there's no reason not to indulge.
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