The Dungeonmaster (1984) – Review

What would you get if you mixed Disney’s science fiction classic Tron with a Dungeons & Dragons role-playing game but then hired seven directors to put it all together? The answer to that would be The Dungeonmaster a film by the legendary B-movie director Charles Band and is an entry either destined for greatness or the bargain bin at your local Walmart.

The film follows the story of Paul Bradford (Jeffrey Bryon), a skilled computer programmer who has developed a quasi-sentient personal computer named X-CaliBR8, which to the dismay of his girlfriend Gwen Rogers (Leslie Wing) has become a central focus of his life, to such a point that when Paul proposes marriages she says no because she is not willing to play second banana to a computer. Of course, this film isn’t about relationship problems in a world of evolving technology, not at all, this a sci-fi fantasy adventure tale and that aspect kicks into gear when Paul and Gwen suddenly find themselves pulled into a supernatural realm by a demonic sorcerer named Mestema (Richard Moll). I certainly didn’t see that coming. The basic plot that follows is that Gwen becomes a hostage and in order to save her Paul must face a series of challenges set within different fantasy settings.

“Hello my dear, would you like to trade up for a real man?”

But what exactly does an all-powerful sorcerer want with Paul? Has Hell developed a computer virus or perhaps he needs relationship advice of his own? Well, it seems that Mestema has spent millennia seeking a worthy opponent with whom to do battle, having defeated a long list of his enemies over the years with his magic, and now he has become bored.  He has since become intrigued with current technology and thinks that Paul could offer him, if not a challenge, at least an entertaining diversion. Outfitted with a plush costume and a portable version of X-CaliBR8 that Paul can wear on his wrist – this gives him critical information when needed as well as various laser beam attacks – our hero strides forth to save the fair damsel…or something along those lines. The most notable moment in this film is when Mestema conjures up a dragon for our hero to fight and Paul is able to use this high-tech wristband to create a dragon of his own.

Not exactly Disney level of animation but it’s pretty neat.

One of the notable aspects of The Dungeonmaster is its creative and diverse set of scenarios, each serving as a unique chapter within the larger narrative, from battling a frozen gallery of famous murderers to escaping sadistic Heavy Metal rockers, Paul confronts a range of imaginative challenges that put his skills and wits to the test, unfortunately, while these scenarios allow for an exploration of various genres, including science fiction, horror and even post-apocalyptic wastelands, the solution to most of these conflicts is Paul simply tapping a few buttons on his portable version of X-CaliBR8 to win and that gets old quickly. And sure, it’s a pretty impressive weapon but I bet he could have done even better if he’d had the Nintendo Power Glove instead.

“Do I double tap “X” and then shoot?”

Stray Observations:

• Paul Bradford has a “Smart Watch” that monitors and tracks his exercise routine and I have to wonder “Did this movie just introduce the idea of the Fitbit?”
• How do we know this movie was made in the 80s? Women are wearing Flashdance leg warmers and practice dance aerobics. If only a vengeful ninja would possess one of them.
• I guy yanked from our world to one of high fantasy had already done in the Dungeons & Dragons cartoon by Marvel Productions and it was a lot better than what we got here.
• X-CaliBR8 in forms Paul that Mestema equals Beelzebub, Belial and Satan.  If that’s the case I’m a little sad as I’d hate to think the actual ruler of Hell was bored enough to create virtual reality games to fight some dude from the 80s.
• Paul chases after a couple of little people who steal his computer wristband, despite several shots clearly showing him still wearing it. I guess the continuity girl was sick that day.
• The segment titled “Desert Pursuit” has a very Road Warrior post-apocalyptic vibe to it and consisted of vehicles from Charles Band’s previous film Metalstorm: The Destruction of Jared-Syn.
• This film includes the fantastic line “I reject your reality and substitute my own” and if for nothing else this science fiction/fantasy earns a gold star for that.

But who could honestly reject this reality?

The special effects and practical makeup work found in The Dungeonmaster are not what you would call great, however, the film compensates for its technical limitations with its sheer enthusiasm and willingness to embrace its B-movie charm and one cannot help but get caught up in it all. The action sequences are energetic and the cinematography, despite its occasional shortcomings, effectively captures the fantastical atmosphere of each scenario. There is one brief segment called “Stone Canyon Giant” where Paul must defeat a massive stone giant from an ancient Thai-inspired temple that was a nice nod to the classic stop-motion animation of the legendary effects genius Ray Harryhausen. Sadly, once again Paul simply defeats this awesome adversary by tapping on his wristband and destroying it with a laser beam.

Sinbad never relied on lasers or computers to win a fight.

Jeffrey Byron delivers a stilted performance as the film’s protagonist, attempting to portray the character’s determination and growth as he faces each new challenge and only halfway succeeding at this. On the other hand, Richard Moll’s portrayal of the sinister sorcerer Mestema is a highlight, his commanding presence and wicked charm infuses the film with a delightful touch of villainy and camp. Unfortunately, Leslie Wing as the girlfriend wasn’t given much to do because despite being introduced as a smart and independent woman she quickly becomes the “Damsel in Distress” which undermines her character to a distressing degree. But for me, the most disappointing element was the conclusion, after Paul defeats Mestema in hand-to-hand combat our two protagonists are simply sent home and Gwen quickly agrees to marry Paul, and then the film just rolls the end credits.  This was lazy and how much better would it have been if there had been a big reveal that X-CaliBR8 had actually created Mestema and all of those trials were orchestrated as a way to fix Paul and Gwen’s relationship?

“Paul, I think you need to get a software upgrade.”

Of course, that’s Monday Morning quarterbacking and we shouldn’t do that, but the film’s conclusion was far from the only problem for me, another key flaw of The Dungeonmaster was its narrative’s overarching thread that could have been developed further to provide a stronger sense of cohesion between the individual scenarios, instead of feeling like disjointed pieces from other movies that were stuck together by talented chimpanzees. Nonetheless, the film’s unique structure and quirky execution will make it an enjoyable watch for fans of cult classics and lovers of ’80s fantasy cinema, and despite its flaws, The Dungeonmaster remains an enjoyable watch for fans of ’80s B-movies.  Well, at least for those with a penchant for cheesy special effects and nostalgic gaming references. This film encapsulates the spirit of the era and offers a quirky blend of genres – on an incredibly low budget that is – which you kind of have to admire.

Who couldn’t find fun with Richard Moll as a sorcerer?

Charles Band’s The Dungeonmaster, known as Ragewar in some markets, may not be a polished masterpiece and Band is no cinematic pioneer, but the film certainly has its own brand of charm and with a meagre 80-minute running time, depending on what version you are watching, it doesn’t wear out it’s welcome. Its blend of genres, imaginative scenarios and a spirited performance by Richard Moll makes it entertaining experience that transports us to a world of magic and adventure.  If you’re willing to overlook its flaws and appreciate it for its campy charm, The Dungeonmaster just might transport you back to the golden age of practical effects and imaginative storytelling.