This 1980 Fantasy Movie With A Cult Following Is Waiting To Be Rediscovered On Tubi – SlashFilm

When George Lucas’ “Star Wars: Episode IV — A New Hope” turned an enormous hit in 1977, Hollywood responded by producing over a decade of results-heavy sci-fi and fantasy motion pictures of all ranges of high quality. Particular results had been slowly turning into unbound, and an increasing number of cash was being dedicated to fantastical visuals than ever earlier than. A few of the fantasy motion pictures of the early-to-mid-Nineteen Eighties had been thrilling and memorable, and so they’re referred to with fondness by Gen-X children who grew up watching them (the George R.R. Martin favourite “Dragonslayer,” Jim Henson and Frank Oz’s “The Darkish Crystal,” and so on.). 

However for each beloved fantasy epic, there have been 100 low-funds sword and sorcery flicks that some semi-resourceful producers threw collectively and shot out within the woods. One such instance was “Hawk the Slayer,” Terry Marcel’s zany British story of knight errantry starring Jack Palance. “Hawk the Slayer” was made on a really modest funds, most of which most likely went to Palance, the movie’s large “get” when it comes to a Hollywood star. “Hawk” additionally options a number of recognizable and prolific character actors, together with Roy Kinnear (“Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Manufacturing unit”) as an innkeeper, Patricia Quinn (“The Rocky Horror Image Present”) as a blind witch, Patrick Magee (“A Clockwork Orange”) as a priest, and W. Morgan Sheppard (“Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Nation”) because the unforgettable character Ranulf.

In the meantime, the title character is performed by John Terry, who’s had a good sufficient performing profession regardless of by no means turning into a Hollywood main man. “Hawk the Slayer” was type of his large break, though it wasn’t an enormous hit. Certainly, the movie is so foolish and low cost that it is now primarily admired by seekers of cinematic cult oddities, which explains why it is at present on Tubi. It is gradual-shifting, however should you’re tipsy with a number of buddies, it is a hoot.

The story of “Hawk the Slayer” is, when written as a top level view, clear and serviceable. Hawk and the evil Voltan (Jack Palance) are brothers. In the beginning of the film, Voltan slays his personal father, hoping to safe entry to one thing known as the Thoughts Stone. Hawk, additionally current, finds the Thoughts Stone, which attaches itself to his sword because of the weapon’s hand-formed hilt. (Hawk can management his sword together with his thoughts.) Voltan then takes over the dominion and begins a terror marketing campaign for no clearly acknowledged cause.

From there, the motion shifts to Ranulf who’s injured throughout Voltan’s raids. A useful nun factors him within the path of Hawk and, via some unclear plot machinations, they find yourself becoming a member of forces. The duo ultimately accrue a workforce of warriors with the intention to combat Voltan and his military, together with an enormous named Gort (Bernard Bresslaw), a dwarf named Baldin (Peter O’Farrell), and Crow (Ray Charleson), an elf who’s expert at archery.

Each Hawk and Voltan have entry to totally different sorceresses who support them of their respective endeavors. Hawk is teleported to a wanted locale because of a glowing pair of hula hoops. Amusingly, three of the magical particular results in “Hawk the Slayer” are achieved with day-glo objects one might need present in a Toys “Я” Us. Along with the teleportation hula hoops, there’s a magical spell that’s clearly only a can of Foolish String, sprayed proper in a villain’s face. Furthermore, when Hawk and his workforce lastly break right into a convent, a door flies open and a whole lot of magical glowing particles spray inside. The particles are clearly simply Tremendous Balls. By the way, hula hoops, Foolish String, and Tremendous Balls had been all famously distributed by Wham-O Toys.

However “Hawk the Slayer” isn’t as whimsical as all that. Fairly, it is a smoky try to inform an actual grownup story. The misty images and ethereal performances point out that this isn’t on the identical degree as 1987’s then-upcoming “Masters of the Universe.” (We will debate if it is higher or worse than the 2026 “Masters of the Universe” film.) The movie additionally tries to be sporadically gentle and frothy, like a correct picaresque journey, however its makes an attempt at humor fall very, very flat. There is a painfully lengthy, very unfunny scene whereby Gort, about to tuck right into a hen dinner, is tricked by Baldin into giving him the primary few bites.

However the corniness and nonsensical modifying elevate “Hawk the Slayer” from mere mediocrity into one thing type of enjoyable. Greater than something, the film is gratifying for Jack Palance’s ridiculous efficiency. He wears a giant foolish helmet and screams and cackles like Skeletor. “Hawk the Slayer” itself was filmed in Buckinghamshire (through The Guardian), so Palance might need regarded the entire thing as a enjoyable weekend for a paycheck.

By the 2010s, a cult had most assuredly gathered round “Hawk the Slayer.” Rifftrax launched a commentary observe for the movie in 2014, and concepts had been floated for a Kickstarted-backed sequel titled “Hawk the Hunter” shortly after (though it by no means got here to go). Then, in 2023, the parents at Crimson Letter Media watched it for his or her “Better of the Worst” evaluation collection, additional elevating the film’s profile.

Once more, “Hawk the Slayer” is on Tubi, along with the all the time-nice Shout! Manufacturing unit channel. Like me, it is simply ready for a Friday night time and a Negroni.