Wednesday, 30 November 2022

Deathstalker II: Duel of the Titans (1987) Review

 

A Princess enlists the aid of the renowned hero Deathstalker and together they take on the forces of evil to take back her kingdom.

Jim Wynorski takes over directing duties of this Roger Corman produced sequel. With equal amounts of gratuitous nudity, pig-men, lapses in logic and low budget trappings, this outing is more tongue in cheek than the original, even going as far to mention Conan the Barbarian. The highlights of Wynorski's offering is a straight zombie scene in contrast to a ridiculous wrestling match. Intrusive stings aside, Chuck Cirino's bombastic western poppy score livens up the wacky action, swordplay and clone high jinks.

Deathstalker is played by John Terlesky who replaces Rick Hill, swaggering Terlesky does his best Indiana Jones, Han Solo. Here Deathstalker is more swashbuckling Robin Hood-like along side Monique Gabrielle who does her best with the script as Princess Evie, a carbon copy of Kate Capshaw's Willie character in Temple of Doom and Princess Jehnna, from Conan the Destroyer. Gabrielle seems to have more fun while playing her serious evil clone. Memorable are leather clad Toni Naples and John LaZar who have plenty of fun hamming it up as the villains. MarĂ­a Socas is notable as the Amazon Queen who steals every scene. That said, Gabrielle retains her crown in the humorous outtakes. 

Overall, part 2 is far more enjoyable than it should be thanks to it's pacing and likeable leads.

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