Dynamic Marc Singer, stunning Tanya Roberts, horrific creatures and cute ‘n’ cuddly critters
Seeking vengeance for the murder of his adopted family & tribe, a warrior named Dar (Marc Singer) goes after the man responsible, high priest Maax (Rip Torn). On the way Dar enlists an eagle he names Sharak, a pair of thieving ferrets named Kodo and Podo, and a black tiger called Ruh. Tanya Roberts is on hand as Kiri, a woman Dar finds alluring while John Amos appears as Seth, a formidable bodyguard.
“The Beastmaster” (1982) came out during the sword & sorcery glut of the early 80s. It may not be as great as “Conan the Barbarian,” but it’s superior to “The Sword and the Sorcerer,” both released earlier the same year.
The film has a fitting cast and features a nice mix of horrific, dynamic and cute. The witches and winged creatures fit into the horrific category while Singer presents a dynamic protagonist. He’s 6’2” and lithe with a masculine face despite the (dirt) blond hair. He seems smarter than Schwarzenegger and lacks his cumbersome bulk. Meanwhile this is a great flick for animal lovers and you’ll probably want to go out and buy a ferret or two.
Tanya is stunning as usual, but appears too thin. She’d look better in “Sheena” (1984) and, especially, “A View to a Kill” (1985). Unfortunately, she never advanced to anything greater than these films; but at least we have these to remember her.
Unlike “The Sword and the Sorcerer” and “Conan the Barbarian,” which came out 3-4 months prior, “The Beastmaster” failed to generate similar box office earnings. It only garnered $14 million from its $8 million investment. Nevertheless, it’s an entertaining early 80’s sword & sorcery flick
The movie runs 1 hour, 58 minutes, and was shot in Valley of Fire State Park in Overton, Nevada, as well as Pyramid Lake & Semi Valley, California, both northwest of Los Angeles in the high country.
GRADE: B