Dragonslayer

Name: Dragonslayer
Item: Dragonslayer
Rating: 4
Author: Nell Minow

Movie review by

Nell Minow, Common Sense Media

Common Sense says

age 10+

(i)

Vintage fantasy epic is great, despite a too-graphic death.

PG
1981
108 minutes

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Parents say

age 11+

Based on 7 reviews

Kids say

age 8+

Based on 2 reviews

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A lot or a little?

The parents' guide to what's in this movie.

Positive Messages

A princess sacrifices herself in the name of nobility and fairness; however, in a subversion of movie cliches, she is not then saved gloriously by the hero but instead perishes in a horrible and graphic way. The movie also sexualizes the "virgin sacrifice" theme, with attractive young women in floaty white garments serving as sacrifices to the dragon.

Positive Role Models & Representations

Most of the characters, including main characters Galen and Valerian, are fighting the evil dragon to prevent it from harming humans. Against such a terrible threat, most of the characters look noble in contrast. The character of the king, however, is slippery and double-dealing and meets a terrible comeuppance by the movie's end.

Violence

The dragon is quite realistic and scary and may horrify younger or sensitive viewers. For a fantasy movie about a dragon, the violence is lower than modern levels, but at one point a human is incinerated by the dragon's breath and we see him shrieking in the flames. At another point, a noble princess we expect to be saved is instead killed by baby dragons, who gnaw on her legs and tear off her foot as we see the white bone sticking out. Beloved characters die suddenly onscreen, one from being stabbed in a tense and scary scene.

Sex

There are brief instances of nudity, such as when Galen dives into the water and we see him nude from the rear; he then discovers Valerian is a female by glimpsing her naked body from the side as we see a flash of side-breast and buttocks. The girls sacrificed to the dragons are virgins; the movie doesn't explain what a virgin is, but children may ask.

Language

No cursing and only the mildest epithets: "You fool!"

Consumerism

Drinking, Drugs & Smoking

At a festive party, there are references to drinking ale and guests wave cups in the air and toast each other.

What parents need to know

Parents need to know that Dragonslayer is a 1981 fantasy film and is one of the best swords and sorcery movies out there. The movie really builds up the tension, and viewers see bursts of smoke and fire, falling rocks, a shaking ground and other indications that something big is lurking for the first half of the film. When we finally see the dragon, it's quite terrifying and realistic as it looms over our hero, blasts him with fire, and flies menacingly over him in the sky. There's one moment of horrifying violence: A princess who nobly offered herself up as a sacrifice isn't saved by the hero as the viewer expects but is instead dispatched by the dragon's young, who hideously gnaw on her legs, exposing bone. All that said, Dragonslayer is still fresh and believable, by turns charming and scary, and a wonderful whole-family viewing choice for parents and older kids who enjoy medieval settings, magic, and dragons.

User Reviews

Parents say
Kids say

Adult Written byjason6311 October 2, 2015

age 9+

A classic, though could disturb younger viewers

This is a thrilling, moody fantasy movie that I fondly remembered from my own adolescent years. The dragon effects from ILM were a landmark for stop-motion. I w... Continue reading

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Adult Written byDr3w November 9, 2011

age 18+

Disney Made This?

I think I should mention that the above-mentioned nudity is very brief. You see the guy's bare bottom VERY clearly as he jumps into the lake, and then a m... Continue reading

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Kid, 10 years old April 14, 2009

age 5+

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Teen, 15 years old Written bysotoren000 July 7, 2018

age 10+

[6.8X] | [PG] (10+)

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What's the story?

DRAGONSLAYER follows the quest of sorcerer's apprentice, Galen (Peter MacNichol), who sets out to kill a dragon and stop a cycle in which virginal girls are sacrificed in order to keep the beast from destroying an entire kingdom. Galen makes a valiant attempt at killing the dragon, but when the beast returns, Princess Elspeth discovers that her father, the King, has kept his daughter's name off of the list of girls to be sacrificed. As another sacrifice day draws near, Elspeth puts her name on the list and Galen decides to battle the dragon again, unaware the creature is guarding a nest filled with eggs that are on the verge of hatching.

Is it any good?

This medieval fantasy-adventure is filled with moral dilemmas, giving kids a lot to think about. For example, the king negotiated a terrible deal with the dragon, but it was better for his people than the uncertainty they had before. This poses the question, when the community is at risk, how do you decide what to do? And, Galen doesn't know what he doesn't know. He thinks because he knows a few tricks, he has enough magic to defeat the dragon. He's wrong, of course, and the princess dies because of his mistake. But when the time comes, and he has to know the right moment to destroy the amulet, he is able to trust himself, and he gets it right. Dragonslayer also reveals a world in which religion eventually replaces magic.

Talk to your kids about ...

Families can talk about how to decide whether to fight, compromise, or run. How have you seen those questions presented?
Do you think this movie seems dated, or does it stand the test of time? Is it a classic?
If the movie was remade, who would you cast in the various roles?