Film

Hawk the Slayer

Name: Hawk the Slayer
Genre: Fantasy, Adventure, Action
Released: 1980
Cast: Jack Palance, John Terry, Bernard Bresslaw, Ray Charleson, Peter O'Farrell

A 1980 fantasy adventure where a wronged warrior assembles a ragtag band to face his evil brother. Hawk the Slayer is pure pulp—earnest, scrappy, visibly made on a shoestring, populated by characters who feel like they wandered in from different stories. It's the kind of film that knows exactly what it is and swings for the fences anyway. For anyone who loves fantasy that prioritizes fun over polish.

TMDb rating

2.4

Should you watch it?

Watch it if you have a soft spot for cheap-and-cheerful sword-and-sorcery, the kind where a hero's ridiculous gadgets and a bellowing giant matter more than polish, and where the 1980 British fantasy rush still feels like a grubby sugar high.

Skip it if you need tight plotting or convincing effects, since the swordplay, sets and monsters show their age and the storytelling moves in clumsy, lurching bursts you may find more tiring than charming.

What it asks of you: Ninety-odd minutes of brisk, unpretentious adventure, with little slow setup and a tone that stays light and earnest, so you just need to let its creaky enthusiasm carry you along.

Not sure? Find tonight's pick in a minute.

If you liked this

Conan the Barbarian1982

Another muscular fantasy adventure from the early 80s with a similar sword-and-sorcery setup, but with vastly bigger resources and a genuinely magnetic lead in Arnold Schwarzenegger. The scaffolding of both films is identical; Milius's execution just happens to be immaculate.

But Conan is considerably more violent and bleak in tone. If you're drawn to Hawk's ramshackle charm and earnestness, Conan's grinding brutality might feel like a different thing entirely.

The Beastmaster1982

Another early-80s fantasy adventure with a scrappy hero, a motley crew, and the same b-movie DNA. Marc Singer's hero is likeable in the same under-resourced way, and the film has genuine moments of strangeness that elevate it beyond formula.

But It's slower-paced than Hawk, and the animal-telepathy subplot might test your patience. The tone wavers between serious and silly in ways that don't always land.

Krull1983

A magical-realm fantasy with a ragtag band assembling to fight a powerful enemy, complete with an elf and a giant. Krull has superior production design and cinematography, but shares Hawk's willingness to be unabashedly pulpy and earnest about its heroes.

But Its pacing is deliberately stately, almost meditative at times. If you want action and momentum, Krull's lingering shots of alien landscapes might feel like the film is working against you.

Not sure tonight? Get a pick in a minute, starting from Hawk the Slayer

The wildcard

Something you would not have found on your own.

The NeverEnding Story1984

Both are fantasy adventures made in the early 80s with genuine belief in their own worlds; but where Hawk is action-driven and confrontational, The NeverEnding Story is contemplative and about the power of imagination itself.

A fantasy adventure about a boy reading a magical book where he gradually realizes he's part of the story. It has the same sense of wonder and the same motley-crew dynamics, but filtered through a child's perspective and German earnestness. Visually stunning.

But It's a children's film, which some adults find saccharine. The pacing is uneven, and the meta-narrative about stories eating themselves can feel self-conscious.

The Dark Crystal1982

A fantasy epic built entirely from puppetry and miniatures, with no cynicism about its world. Like Hawk, it's visibly constructed and unapologetic about it, but the ambition and artistry elevate it into something genuinely strange and memorable.

But It's slow, episodic, and entirely dependent on your tolerance for puppets doing everything on screen. Some find it hypnotic; others find it exhausting.

Highlander1986

A revenge-and-adventure story with an outsider hero, a motley group of allies, and practical effects that show their seams. Highlander has a cult energy and a willingness to be weird that makes its low moments charming rather than embarrassing.

But The mythology is baroque and confusing, and the film rewrites its own rules as it goes. Some viewers find that exciting; others find it a mess.

Excalibur1981

Another early-80s fantasy with a non-traditional look—painterly, occasionally campy, shot through with genuine magic. Boorman's direction makes the Arthurian legend feel alive in ways that stuffy adaptations never manage.

But It's long, densely plotted, and sometimes incomprehensible. The acting styles range wildly, and some scenes border on unintentional comedy.

Dragonslayer1981

A grounded, surprisingly gritty fantasy adventure about a wizard and a plucky young companion facing an actual dragon. It's beautifully shot and treats its fantasy elements with a kind of weary realism that gives the whole thing weight.

But It's darker and more melancholic than Hawk. There's no real humor here, and the pacing is deliberate in ways that modern viewers sometimes find slow.

The Sword and the Sorcerer1982

Pure, unfiltered 80s fantasy schlock—three-bladed sword, demons, warlords, the works. It's made with visible enthusiasm and zero pretension, and if you love Hawk's raw-nerve charm, this has it in spades.

But The acting is genuinely rough, and the plot barely holds together. The film's technical execution is often sloppy, and some of the tonal shifts are jarring.

Barbarian Queen1985

A cheerfully trashy fantasy-action hybrid with a female lead, a similar b-movie energy, and the same willingness to embrace its own absurdity. It's never boring, and it has the same scrappy appeal.

But It's poorly plotted and the acting is thin. The novelty of the premise wears off quickly, and there's not much underneath to sustain interest.

Daens1992

Both films believe in the power of a small group to resist tyranny; both assemble their team carefully and let each member matter. Hawk does it with a magic sword and an elf; Daens does it with faith and community organizing.

A Belgian film about a priest rallying a community against entrenched power structures—a different context entirely, but structurally identical to Hawk: one determined man gathering allies to fight something larger. It's a masterpiece of ensemble storytelling and moral clarity.

But It's a serious historical drama, nearly three hours long, in French and Dutch with subtitles. If you're coming from Hawk looking for quick action, this is the opposite—slow, talk-heavy, politically dense.