RyothChatty ridiculous rating

YouHeart I gave it a 7.5 out of 10

Borgarkeri A bit overrated, but still an amazing film

Zlatica One of the worst ways to make a cult movie is to set out to make a cult movie.

Veronica65 ...that Pico and the gang fall victim to a vampire. I like hippies! I root for hippies to win the day! The first part seems less like a horror film (aside from the opening scenes) and more like a 'hippies- find-their-spiritual-path' movie...call me a sentimental old fool if you will, I was rooting for Pico and the gang to find a more satisfying outlook on life. Quarry is masterful, of course, even in Manson drag... and I really liked Bill Ewing as Pico. It's also always a treat to find a movie with John Fiedler. Main criticism: Pico SHOULD have used his Kung Fu against Barbado, he would have come off better. It was almost like the filmmakers forgot that Pico had that particular training in the second half. I love this movie! Music and all.

Scarecrow-88 Enigmatic vampire, who arrived oddly on the shore of a beach in his casket, whose arrival is introduced by his enforcer/guardian, Barbado(LaSesne Hilton)playing a flute, masquerades as a philosophical leader, whose language regarding life and love casts a spell among the aimless hippie youth in a quiet little town. Only young Pico(Bill Ewing), who resists his power of influence, can stop vampire Count Khorda(Robert Quarry)who plans to sacrifice his girlfriend Rona(Brenda Dickson)in a Satanic ceremony. Pico will have to rely on the only help he can depend on, an aging hippie, Pop(character actor, John Fiedler, who is one of the most recognizable faces in Television history and the voice of Piglet in Winnie the Pooh)to help defeat Khorda who has turned all their friends into vampires.Rarely seen Quarry vampire picture that, according to the great actor, was purchased by Sam Arkoff and buried into obscurity. Thankfully, Fred Olen Ray's DVD company Retromedia was able to get the rights and, not only that, but have audio commentary for DEATHMASTER with Quarry, which is quite a rewarding experience for fans of the horror icon. The print is fantastic and the director of the film, Ray Danton, has a very distinctive style where the camera follows the action, but in a very sophisticated way. The film is definitely of it's time, quite dated, but a fascinating curio for Quarry fans who are very familiar with his Yorga character, but not Khorda(..this film was sandwiched between the Yorga films according to Quarry)who is dressed in elaborate robes, jewelry, and long hair carrying the appearance of some guru or oddball prophet..Quarry admits in the audio commentary that his look is fashioned after Charles Manson and that the film itself regarding the hippie youth was modeled after his followers. Not incredibly violent, with Khorda's neck attacks shot in a non-offensive way, and DEATHMASTER still follows the basic vampire principles established in filmdom(..the cross effects them as does a stake through the heart)that we're accustomed to. By and large, this film benefits almost entirely from Quarry's charismatic presence alone, even if what he has to say to the hippie kids is basic mumbo jumbo(..Quarry admits that he ad-libbed much of this dialogue)often used at that point and time while these youth were stoned or spaced out on acid. Quarry even gets to pay homage to Lugosi with the close-up of his sinister eyes multiple times as Khorda uses his power to hypnotize victims. Barbado is about as imposing as his master, a bulky statuesque type of security who towers over everyone he comes in contact with. His face never changes, always distant and cold. Ewing is a very unlikely hero, a kid out of his league against a far superior foe..but the film allows him to become a worthy adversary, because of the very fact that he's not particularly your prototypical knight-in-shining-armour. The beach is a stunning location as is the cool tunnel underneath the hippie commune house where Khorda keeps his resting place(..it also leads to the beach and has a submarine door!). Only real beef I have(..despite the now silly hippie-speak)is the title..this kind of vampire movie needs a more credible title.

sonya90028 Deathmaster is a new twist, on the old Vampire film genre. Robert Quarry stars as Khorda, a guru-like character, who happens to also be a Vampire. The film takes place in the early 70s, when hippies were still around, and on the fringes of society. The main setting for the movie is an old abandoned mansion, inhabited by a group of young hippies in southern California. It begins with a mysterious, hulking black dude, who plays flute on the beach. He's adorned with lots of bone necklaces, and a colorful flowing robe. A coffin washes-up on the beach, and is intercepted by a young surfer. The black man chokes the surfer to death, then hauls the coffin to the mansion containing the hippies.Meanwhile, two of the hippies, Pico and his girlfriend Rona, are hanging-out at the local Nic-Nack shop. It's owned by an eccentric older fellow, who is a kindly father-figure to Pico and the other hippies. A belligerent biker named Monk, arrives with his girl, who's named Esslin. Monk threatens the shop-owner, over the price of a bauble that Esslin is interested in. Pico intervenes, and has a scuffle with Monk. But Monk is no match for Pico, who uses martial arts on him. A cop comes to investigate, so they all flee. Pico has no hard feelings towards Monk, and so he invites him and Esslin to the mansion for dinner. The large mansion is teeming with the dope-smoking, philosophizing hippies. Pico offers his guests a sumptuous meal of organic foods. The eerie black guy who killed the surfer, is a part of the group too. They call him Barbado. Barbado is a mute, who 'speaks' through his flute-playing and bongo-drumming.Outside the mansion, the coffin that Barbado had brought there opens, and a large bearded man emerges. Beneath a spooky full-moon, he waves his hand, and a sudden storm blows-up. He enters the mansion, announcing himself as Khorda. The hippies think that this weirdly charismatic guy, is 'far-out'. Khorda spends the evening regaling the enthralled hippies, with advice about 'life and love'. They are looking for ways to find meaning in their lives, and Khorda seems to have all the answers. Little do they know, Khorda is a Vampire. Soon, Khorda's influence over the hippies, results in horrifying consequences for them all.Robert Quarry, is mesmerizing as Khorda. His piercing gaze alone, is enough to send chills up your spine. The supporting cast is mostly lackluster. The notable exception, is Betty Anne Rees, as Esslin. Esslin becomes a Vampire, after being ravished by Khorda. Betty Anne Rees infuses the character of Esslin with a scary, yet irresistibly hypnotic aura, as Khorda's newly converted Vampire mistress.All in all, Deathmaster is an intense, yet campy 70s horror flick. It's the kind of B movie classic, shown in the drive-in theaters back then. For fans of 70s B horror films, Deathmaster is a must-see.

Gafke A pipe playing reject from the cast of "I Walked With a Zombie" and an ancient vampire who bears more than a passing resemblance to Jason Isaacs take over some prime oceanside property (isn't that just like a bloodsucker?) and seduce a bunch of young and groovy hippies, forcing them to participate in all-night dance parties. A pretty girl who looks like Jane Asher falls under the spell of the Vampires, and it's up to her inept boyfriend and an old geeky man to save her. When the police fail to believe their story, they attempt to make a rescue on their own. Can they save her in time? Who cares, really?A biker-momma and her old man are the first to become food. A young man displays his Kung Fu talents at films beginning, and when attacked by a group of vampires, apparently forgets all of his martial arts training and starts kicking and screaming like a two year old having a tantrum. The Vampire dresses like Liberace...it's all pretty goofy, but it's harmless. I can think of worse ways to waste an hour or so.