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Barbarians at the Gates of Hollywood: Sword and Sorcery Movies of the 1980s
Journey into the realm of VHS tapes and midnight showings where brawny barbarians rescue nubile virgins from evil wizards, giant snakes, and armies of the undead!
Although originating in the era of the pulp magazines, sword and sorcery fiction enjoyed a cinematic boom in the 1980s; a decade that gave us Conan the Barbarian and The Beastmaster as well as more low-budget offerings like the Roger Corman-produced Deathstalker series and the Italian entries like Conquest and the Ator saga. Some of these movies are fondly remembered as cult classics today but many were released directly to VHS and lurked on the shelves of video rental stores before vanishing into obscurity. While some have long since lost their lustre, there are plenty of diamonds in the rough to be found. This book takes a comprehensive look at over 40 sword and sorcery movies from the 1980s, from the towering titans to the bargain basement sleaze-fests, unearthing them from their tombs and dusting them off so that they may shine once more.
Although originating in the era of the pulp magazines, sword and sorcery fiction enjoyed a cinematic boom in the 1980s; a decade that gave us Conan the Barbarian and The Beastmaster as well as more low-budget offerings like the Roger Corman-produced Deathstalker series and the Italian entries like Conquest and the Ator saga. Some of these movies are fondly remembered as cult classics today but many were released directly to VHS and lurked on the shelves of video rental stores before vanishing into obscurity. While some have long since lost their lustre, there are plenty of diamonds in the rough to be found. This book takes a comprehensive look at over 40 sword and sorcery movies from the 1980s, from the towering titans to the bargain basement sleaze-fests, unearthing them from their tombs and dusting them off so that they may shine once more.
194 pages, Paperback
First published August 25, 2020
32 people are currently reading
46 people want to read
About the author
P.J. Thorndyke
19 books14 followersP. J. Thorndyke is a writer of horror, fantasy and adventure fiction inspired by the trashier side of pop culture like dime novels, pulp magazines, and grindhouse movies.
His 'Celluloid Terrors' series consists of standalone horror novels set in different decades and inspired by the horror movies popular in those decades.
He is also the author of the Lazarus Longman Chronicles; a series about a British secret agent in an alternate 19th century that blends Steampunk with the Lost World genre.
His 'Celluloid Terrors' series consists of standalone horror novels set in different decades and inspired by the horror movies popular in those decades.
He is also the author of the Lazarus Longman Chronicles; a series about a British secret agent in an alternate 19th century that blends Steampunk with the Lost World genre.
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Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
April 25, 2023
I like non fiction I can dip in and out of. Had this on the go for a year (yikes!). Solid enough read of synopses for 40+ sword and sorcery films. Would’ve benefited from some cover art though. Also could’ve done without the shameless plug by the author at the end of the book about his own sword and sorcery novel.
December 16, 2022
A quick read and a fun little guide to Sword and Sorcery movies, it’s great for if you’re planning a S&S marathon. It’s mostly synopses of the Films listed with a bit of trivia and the writers own observations. I would have loved for pictures of the poster art for each film to have been included but overall I enjoyed it ⚔️
April 2, 2022
I think it says everything about my taste in movies that I've watched about 90% of these films ranging from Deathstalker to Beastmaster to Red Sonja to The Adventures of Hercules. The vast majority of these are shameless skin-heavy B-flicks with a tableau of fantasy plot on top of them--which is exactly what the 14 year old audience in the Eighties and early Nineties was looking for (and I was a perfect example of).
The book provides a brief synopsis of the films and generally what to expect from it in terms of quality (i.e. very little) but never gets mocking in its tone. We also get a lot of insight into how these movies got made and why Roger Corman ended up making about two dozen of them during the twilight but still prolific days of his career.
Quite the entertaining book.
The book provides a brief synopsis of the films and generally what to expect from it in terms of quality (i.e. very little) but never gets mocking in its tone. We also get a lot of insight into how these movies got made and why Roger Corman ended up making about two dozen of them during the twilight but still prolific days of his career.
Quite the entertaining book.
September 26, 2020
Mere plot summaries, no reviews.
November 5, 2020
This is not the book I wished it to be.
It’s not terrible. Its early chapters: “Forward”, “Introduction” and “Influences” give an admirable background of how swords and sorcery came to be. It’s short entry for each movie give entertaining plot capsules, but not much discussion.
There are some neat tidbits given, but I get the sense that not much research was performed other than watching the movies. I wanted tropes identified and discussed, commonalities not just pointed out (the book does do this), but dived into.
I wanted movie stills. Not one. I do, however, dig the retro look of the cover.
Enjoyable, but not ground breaking. This is little more than a fan’s blog with a cool cover.
Major annoyance: the book ends with an elevator pitch for the author’s latest novel “Available Now!”
It’s not terrible. Its early chapters: “Forward”, “Introduction” and “Influences” give an admirable background of how swords and sorcery came to be. It’s short entry for each movie give entertaining plot capsules, but not much discussion.
There are some neat tidbits given, but I get the sense that not much research was performed other than watching the movies. I wanted tropes identified and discussed, commonalities not just pointed out (the book does do this), but dived into.
I wanted movie stills. Not one. I do, however, dig the retro look of the cover.
Enjoyable, but not ground breaking. This is little more than a fan’s blog with a cool cover.
Major annoyance: the book ends with an elevator pitch for the author’s latest novel “Available Now!”
October 18, 2022
These are the movies I enjoyed as a teen, but I was surprised by how many of the movies I had over looked. I had never heard quite a few of the movies until I had read this book.
Barbarians at the gates of Hollywood is an excellent list of all the 80's Sword & Sorcery movies. I am grateful for this books existence because now I can track down all the movies I have missed and watch and enjoy.
However, I was disappointed in this book only giving a plot summary of each movie with only tiny snippets of information about the production and filming. I'm not interested in an outline of the plot, eventually I will watch the darn movie. What I would have liked to have read was a deep analysis of the genre with more details on the trends that influenced Sword & sorcery cinema. Why did they go for that certain look? What was the critics reactions? What was the fan base like? Who watched these movies? This book didn't even attempt to answer the big question that has mystified me for decades. Why is everyone wearing fur undies and fur boots in these movies?
Barbarians at the gates of Hollywood is an excellent list of all the 80's Sword & Sorcery movies. I am grateful for this books existence because now I can track down all the movies I have missed and watch and enjoy.
However, I was disappointed in this book only giving a plot summary of each movie with only tiny snippets of information about the production and filming. I'm not interested in an outline of the plot, eventually I will watch the darn movie. What I would have liked to have read was a deep analysis of the genre with more details on the trends that influenced Sword & sorcery cinema. Why did they go for that certain look? What was the critics reactions? What was the fan base like? Who watched these movies? This book didn't even attempt to answer the big question that has mystified me for decades. Why is everyone wearing fur undies and fur boots in these movies?
November 23, 2020
Very Good Guidebook
A good intro and overview to the sub genre. Mostly a series of plot synopses with a little behind-the-scenes info but the author has some fun turns of phrases and provides lengthy and well-researched introduction and conclusion that really layout the film subgenre’s literary and comic book and previous film influences. I used this book as a good excuse to watch a good batch of these movies and had a blast watching some of them and reading along.
A good intro and overview to the sub genre. Mostly a series of plot synopses with a little behind-the-scenes info but the author has some fun turns of phrases and provides lengthy and well-researched introduction and conclusion that really layout the film subgenre’s literary and comic book and previous film influences. I used this book as a good excuse to watch a good batch of these movies and had a blast watching some of them and reading along.
November 23, 2022
Thorndyke's passion for the genre is evident and I applaud anyone who trawls through so many bad movies in search of something halfway decent. I just wish there was more of a take on the films, or the production, or anything beyond a detailed synopsis on each movie. I'd like a bit more personality and opinion from the writer instead of facts I can find on letterboxd.
October 15, 2021
Barbarian Superheroes!
Interesting but a little light weight look at sword and sorcery movies from the 80s. Has some good background info on the development of the sword and sorcery genre but once you get to the reviews section there is too much of just recapping the plot.
Interesting but a little light weight look at sword and sorcery movies from the 80s. Has some good background info on the development of the sword and sorcery genre but once you get to the reviews section there is too much of just recapping the plot.
January 21, 2023
A FANTASTIC LOOK BACK....
At the movies that filled the shelves of our video stores in the glorious yesteryears. A Really entertaining read!Great stuff!
At the movies that filled the shelves of our video stores in the glorious yesteryears. A Really entertaining read!Great stuff!
April 11, 2025
This book leaned too heavily into synopsizing for me. Most of the text is devoted to describing the plots of films I've already seen. But the author's heart was in the right place.
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews