I Watch Films: Hawk The Slayer

 

Hawk The Slayer

Voltran (Jack Palance) confronts his father, demanding the mindstone. His father won’t give it to him (he’s evil, also in pain from a disfiguring scar) so Voltran mortally wounds him and leaves. Voltran’s brother Hawk (John Terry) arrives and his father gives him the stone which bonds with his sword to make the Mindsword, which obeys Hawk’s mental commands. Hawk vows revenge on Voltran as his father dies.

Voltran and his men (including his son Drogo) ravage the countryside. Ranulf flees them after they destroy his village and cut off his hand. He gets to a convent where the sisters tend to his wound. Voltran’s wizard tells him only one stands between him and his victory, which it’s implied may also heal his scar. Voltran attacks the abbey, kidnaps the Abbess and holds her for ransom. The nuns send Ranulf to the High Abbot; rather than pay up he sends Ranulf to find Hawk. On his way Ranulf is captured by brigands, but then Hawk arrives and frees him.

Hawk decides to recruit his old friends so goes to visit a sorceress who puts him in contact with them; Gort the giant (Bernard Bresslaw) who uses a warhammer; Crow the elf, an archer; Baldin the dwarf, who has a whip. Each is in a risky situation, and agrees to help Hawk after he intervenes. The five including Ranulf (repeating crossbow) go to the river Shale and attack slave traders there to get the gold for the ransom.

At the convent Drogo arrives for the gold but Hawk and the others drive him off, demanding the Abbess. A senior nun suggests paying up, but Hawk knows Voltran cannot be trusted as he has a flashback to Voltran killing his wife. The nun drugs Hawk and the others to avoid a fight. Captured, the sorceress helps them escape, though Baldin does not survive. They return to the abbey for a final battle.

The special effects are unconvincing but very stylised, almost comic book like. It’s not especially great, the plot and powers incoherent and mostly revealed in the scene they become relevant. On the other hand it is great fun, even the dwarf and giant slightly laboured comic relief.

Watch This: Sword and sorcery classic of heroism and villainy
Don’t Watch This: Often looks cheap and unconvincing, odd dialogue, nonsensical events