I generally don’t care for fantasy films set in ancient times, with swords and sandals. Outside of a few childhood memories—re-runs of Desmond Davis’ 1981 *Clash of the Titans* and the darkly humorous *Army of Darkness* (1992)—there aren't many that I’ve found enjoyable. So, when I saw the poster for *Deathstalker* advertised at Black Sunday Film Festival, I expected it to be a bad time. But I was completely mistaken…

I’m genuinely stunned. This is a truly exceptional Deathstalker movie. The main actor does such an impressive job navigating the circumstances presented. They really ought to get my friend involved to craft some silicone masks, because the foam ones look quite flat on his face. The creature effects are pretty underwhelming overall. What's great about practical effects is that even when they aren’t top-notch, you can …