Sorceress (1982)

Sorceress (1982)

Dir. Jack Hill (credited as Brian Stuart)

It's not a phenomenon exclusive to the Sword and Sorcery genre, but in a great many cases the quality of such a film can be measured by the frequency and rapidity by which it feels the need to have its female characters strip naked. In short, the quality tends to be inversely proportional to the tit-count. Sorceress (1982) is very much at the wrong end of that scale.

The plot, such as it is, involves an evil wizard's (Roberto Ballesteros) pledge to kill his first born child in service of his god, and the resultant quest of vengeance undertaken by blessed twin sisters Mira and Mara (Leigh and Lynette Harris, respectively). 

Eraldo Carugati's poster art makes it look fantastic, but the reality is very different. The twins clearly weren't hired for their acting or combat skills, but the weak overdubbing of them — and everyone else — ruins any atmosphere that may have been possible during dialogue scenes. It could've been easier to tolerate that if Jack Hill's direction was any good, but for the most part it's terrible, too.

The best part of the production was the bonkers finale. If everything that preceded it had been as imaginative and daring as that ending, it would've been a lot more fun to watch. But as it stands I'm of the mindset that it's a movie for dedicated low-budget Sword and Sorcery fans only. I say that with no hint of malice or disrespect. I am, after all, a fan of the genre myself.

-Psssst, don't tell anyone, but my beard is a clever fake.-