Deathstalker (2025)
Directed & Written by Steven Kostanski
Starring Daniel Bernhardt, Patton Oswalt, Christina Orjalo, Paul Lazenby, Nina Bergman, Nicholas Rice, Conor Sweeney
Studio: Hangar 18 Media
Distributed by: Shout! Studios, Raven Banner Entertainment
Rated R; Runtime: 99 minutes
Release date: October 10, 2025

I didn’t know reboots of cheesy ’80s sword & sorcery B-movies were what I needed this year, but after recently seeing the new Red Sonja and now Deathstalker, it’s clear that they absolutely are. The new Deathstalker enhances the fantastical elements of the 1983 original film, while lovingly and knowingly winking through its sillier aspects.

You don’t need to have seen the Roger Corman–produced original Deathstalker to enjoy this reboot, though if you have, you’ll definitely appreciate the new effort even more.

When discussing the history of thrash metal, the contributions of legendary Los Angeles thrash band Dark Angel cannot be overlooked. The band’s second album, 1986’s Darkness Descends, is widely considered to be one of the seminal recordings of the genre. In fact, Revolver magazine placed the album on its “14 Thrash Albums You Need to Own” list.

The quality of the album owes more than a little to the fact that it was the first to feature powerhouse drummer Gene Hoglan who contributed heavily to the writing process. Hogan would go on to be a key member in both Death and Testament.