The Dungeonmaster Blu-ray Movie

Rating summary

Movie		2.5
Video		3.0
Audio		2.0
Extras		1.5
Overall		2.0

The Dungeonmaster Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Martin Liebman July 2, 2017

Computer nerd/visionary/genius Paul Bradford (Jeffrey Byron) has invented a supercomputer that he can wear on his wrist. He's named it X-CaliBR8. He seems to be married to his work, but he wants nothing more than to settle down with his girlfriend Gwen (Leslie Wing). Even the computer thinks they are a perfect match. But one day, Paul and Gwen are pulled into another dimension and taken prisoner by the mischievous and powerful Mestema (Richard Moll), a sorcerer who believes he has finally met a worthy adversary in Paul and his high technology. Mestema tasks Paul with surviving seven challenges. Should he fail even one, he and Gwen will pay a heavy price. Armed only with his computer, which grants him remarkable powers -- including laser beams -- Paul sets out to tackle each challenge and save his girl.

Helmed by seven directors for each of the seven trials Paul must face, The Dungeonmaster, which brings to mind some Dungeons and Dragons game rather than a Sci-Fi-meets-ancient-magic movie, was originally called (and is still titled in-film) Ragewar. That's a bit more edgy, but it probably doesn't matter in the long run. Dated, cheap, but clearly made to please a very baseline want for crude but fun cinema, the film fails to truly excite or prove its worth beyond a passing glance but it does offer a somewhat unique story that pits modern (at least "modern" as it might have been a few decades ago) against hideous creatures and the dark arts. It's hardly high art, even if it shows the potential to be high concept, but it's neither, instead just flat-out fun in a very simplistic way. It's a party movie, offering enough opportunities for laughs but still oddly drawing the viewer into its worlds and, just maybe, easing the viewers in to the point that narrative absorption overtakes the want to poke fun at it.

The Dungeonmaster Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

The Dungeonmaster was shot on film. The results are mixed. The film often looks poor, lacking definition, a consistent grain structure, or bold colors. Colors never find much depth or intensity, but there are times when detail firms, grain tightens, and the image captures a very balanced, very attractive filmic presentation. More often than not, however, details appear flat and grain clumpy. Print wear is constant and sometimes substantial. It's watchable, but it's not particularly attractive.

The Dungeonmaster Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

The Dungeonmaster's troubled DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0 lossless soundtrack will get listeners through the movie but it accomplishes nothing more. Every element struggles. "Flat" describes the whole thing. Screams are shrilly, effects are choppy, music is crunchy. A waterfall at about the 15-minute mark plays with no real definition and instead badly pitched static. Even a Heavy Metal concert partway through lacks any energy, though it at least does push to the further edges of the stage. Dialogue is serviceably clear and naturally positioned in the front-center.

The Dungeonmaster Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

The Dungeonmaster contains two extras: an interview with Director Peter Manoogian (1080p, 32:30) and the film's theatrical trailer (480i, 1:57).

The Dungeonmaster Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

The Dungeonmaster isn't great cinema by any stretch of the imagination. It screams "cheap" and indeed it is, but it offers an interesting juxtaposition of technology versus dark magic. It's silly but somehow a fair bit of fun, given one is in the right mindset to take it in stride. Shout Factory's Blu-ray offers middling video and troubled audio. Two extras are included. Rent it.