The Beastmaster (1982)

Director: Don Coscarelli

Starring: Marc Singer, Tanya Roberts, Rip Torn

A sword-and-sorcery fantasy about a young man’s search for revenge. Armed with supernatural powers, the handsome hero and his animal allies wage war against marauding forces.

Prophecy tells of King Zed’s unborn child who will kill the high priest Maax. So, through magic, Maax has the child removed from the king’s wife’s womb and into a cow. When the child is born and to be executed, a villager saves him. He then raises the child as his own, calling him Dar.

Years later, Dar’s village is attacked leaving Dar as the only survivor. With a gift of communicating with animals (Tarzan fantasy style!), Dar befriends an eagle, two ferrets, and a black tiger. Together, they go on a mission avenge those responsible for the slaughter.

Along the way Dar meets a slave girl named Kiri (Tanya Roberts), who is to be sacrificed. We’re introduced to many characters along the way as Dar ventures to save Kiri, and stop Maax. The film finds every excuse to show off Marc Singer’s great physique and I’m certainly not complaining. Eye candy in the midst of all the action and adventure is always welcome!

‘The Beastmaster’ is a classic sword and sorcery tale of revenge, and I must admit the film was better than expected. The final act is non-stop action with a good finale. In a time before CGI, this was quite stunning actually. Very entertaining indeed.

At the box office ‘The Beastmaster’ earned $14.1 million on a $9 million budget. It was followed by two sequels, and a TV series.

Would I watch it again? Yes.