This week on Fantasizing About Fantasy Films, we're taking a deep dive into one of the strangest films ever to emerge from Disney – Dragonslayer – a co-production with Paramount Pictures that ranks as one of the darkest sword and sorcery movie of the eighties. Peter MacNicol (Ghostbusters 2!) stars as a young wizarding apprentice set to kill a terrifying dragon, Vermithrax Pejorative. Directed by Matthew Robbins, the great Ralph Richardson co-stars with Caitlin Clarke, with cutting-edge VFX courtesy of ILM (the first time they ever did special effects for a non-Lucasfilm LTD production) and an acclaimed score by Alex North.
Last Updated on August 2, 2021
sponsored content
Source:
JoBlo Videos
About the Author

Editor-in-Chief - JoBlo
Favorite Movies: Goodfellas, A Clockwork Orange, Boogie Nights, Goldfinger, Casablanca, Heat, The Guns read more of Navarone, The Dirty Dozen, Pulp Fiction, Taxi Driver, Blade Runner, any film noir
Likes: Movies, LP's, James Bond, true hollywood memoirs, The Bret Easton read more Ellis Podcast, every sixties british pop band, every 80s new wave band - in fact just generally all eighties songs, even the really bad ones, and of course, Tom Cruise!
Latest 1981 News
See More
JoBlo Originals
Outland is the Best Movie You Never Saw (and a quasi sequel to Alien?)
Posted 2 years ago
We look back at the underrated 1981 Sean Connery action film, Outland, a sci-fi styled remake of High Noon.
JoBlo Originals
The Best Movie You Never Saw: Nighthawks
Posted 4 years ago
With Sylvester Stallone's Tulsa King premiering , we decided to take a look back at an under-seen Stallone gem - Nighthawks!
JoBlo Originals
Excalibur (1981) – Fantasizing About Fantasy Films
Posted 5 years ago
Chris In 1981, John Boorman released his passion project, Excalibur. A bold, very adult, serious take on the Arthurian legend, the film was a modest financial success, grossing $34 million domestically. However, to many, it stands at the definitive story...
Latest Movie News

Movie News
Richard Riehle, best known for Office Space and Star Trek, has died at 78
Posted 14 hours ago
Richard Riehle, the veteran character actor who seemed to appear in just about everything, has died at the age of 78.

Horror Movie News
Crystal Lake behind-the-scenes video shows off bloody kills and Jason Voorhees makeup
Posted 15 hours ago
A new Crystal Lake behind-the-scenes video reveals the practical effects, gruesome kills, and Jason Voorhees makeup

Movie News
Jeremy Saulnier’s Slayground sets January 2027 release with first trailer dropping tomorrow
Posted 16 hours ago
The first full trailer for Jeremy Saulnier's Slayground will drop tomorrow, with the film set for a January 2027 release.

Horror Movie News
George A. Romero’s long-lost short film Expostulations to screen with live orchestra in 2027
Posted 16 hours ago
George A. Romero’s lost 1962 film Expostulations will screen in full with a live orchestral score during a special Pittsburgh concert

Movie News
Sword, Sorcery & Slapstick: Brett Bean’s Breakout Comic D’orc Heading to the Big Screen at Sony
Posted 17 hours ago
Sony Pictures acquires the live-action film rights to Brett Bean's breakout Image Comics fantasy series, D'orc.

Horror Movie News
GWAR and Joe Bob Briggs team up for new album GWAR and the Last Drive-In-Stein
Posted 17 hours ago
GWAR and the Last Drive-In-Stein brings GWAR, Joe Bob Briggs, and John Brennan and the Bigfeet together for a new album

Movie News
Penthouse: Tom Holland Teams Up with The Fall Guy Writer Drew Pearce for a New Thriller
Posted 17 hours ago
Following the $2B success of Spider-Man: Brand New Day, Tom Holland is set to star in Sony's new thriller Penthouse, written by Drew Pearce.

Horror Movie News
Ghoulies reboot update: lawsuit settled, Jefery Levy eyes 2027 production
Posted 18 hours ago
The Ghoulies reboot may be back on track after a lawsuit was settled., and production could begin in 2027

Interviews
Interviews: Linda Hamilton and Kal Penn discuss the Anna Nicole Smith dramedy Trust Me, I’m a Doctor
Posted 19 hours ago
The stars and director of the new true-crime film discuss approaching the tragic story with respect and also how to make it funny.

Movie Trailers
The Nicolas Cage and Justin Long action thriller, Best Pancakes in the County gets a trailer
Posted 19 hours ago
Nicolas Cage, Justin Long and Shelley Hennig star in the tense action thriller standoff that takes place at a diner.


The comment section exists to allow readers to discuss the article constructively and respectfully, focused on the topic at hand.
What’s Not Allowed