The Slave and the Sorcerer is Hex Studios’ tribute to the sword-and-sorcery films of the 1980s – you know, the Beastmasters, Conan the Barbarians, Deathstalkers, and The Sword and the Sorcerers of the world – with some Evil Dead and Lovecraftian influences sprinkled in for good measure. That means viewers can look forward to dangerous quests, monsters, boobs, moobs, and muscular warriors covered in baby oil. What’s not to love?
And yes – there are plenty of swords, and a fair bit of sorcery as well.
Directed by Lawrie Brewster from a screenplay he wrote with Sarah Daly, The Slave and the Sorcerer follows the hunky slave Tyrol (Chris Black) as he leads an expedition to save a princess, Meyra (Briony Monroe), from the evil wizard Arakis’ (Jonathan Hansler) lair. What’s more, the muscle-bound warrior must slay dragons and other horrific creatures to stop Arakis from plunging the world into darkness. No pressure, eh?
Oh — and did we mention that Brewster appears as a tantalising torturer named Arlo? The sex appeal in this film is truly off the charts.
Fortunately for our hero, there are some misfits who are willing to follow him on his quest. Miss Amicus herself, Megan Tremethick, plays the enchanting sorceress Nemain, Stephen Kerr portrays the sneaky thief Ryhn Grey, and Chris Capaldi is the brooding Laram. All the ingredients needed for a bona fide sword-and-sorcery epic are present and accounted for, but where can you watch the film?
The Slave and the Sorcerer Is Available on Physical and Digital Formats
If you’re looking to watch The Slave and the Sorcerer, there are a couple of ways to go about it. A special digital version of the film is available to purchase on the British Horror Studio’s Patreon page. This includes an HD copy of the film and a VHS-style edition with old-school visuals that are reminiscent of the glory days of sword-and-sorcery fare.
That’s not all, as the digital edition is packed with features, including interviews with the cast and crew and a behind-the-scenes documentary. If you want to find out what motivated Hex Studios to make an unabashedly sleazy sword-and-sorcery movie in an era where prestige fantasy is the norm, then look no further.
Fear not, though, physical media purists, as you can still purchase the film on Blu-ray and VHS here. The Blu-ray is stacked with over five hours of special features, including artwork and the film’s soundtrack. The VHS, meanwhile, comes with a plastic case boasting retro-flavoured artwork, and is available in PAL or NTSC formats. Regardless of how you watch The Slave and the Sorcerer, now is the perfect time to do it, as there’s a sequel on the way.
The Slave and the General Will Pit Our Heroes Against a Dangerous Warlord
It’d be a shame to create an imaginative world of full of magic, creatures, and sexy warriors only to abandon it after one film. The good news for sword-and-swordery purists, however, is that Lawrie Brewster, Sarah Daly, and the gang have plans to revisit their wacky and wonderful universe in the upcoming The Slave and the General, which will see Tyrol, Meyra, Nemain, and their fellow mercenaries defend a biseiged fortress from a dastarldy warlord.
Not only that, but the film will bring more Lovecraftian elements into the mix in the form of warrior fishmen with big swords (and even bigger tentacles). That said, if The Slave and the Sorcerer is anything to go by, viewers can also look forward to an array of nightmarish creatures making an appearance, which is always a nice counterbalance to the sexier side of sword-and-sorcery fare (we’re looking at you, Arlo the Torturer).
We will share more updates about The Slave and the General on Amicus Horror as we get them. In the meantime, grab a sword, douse yourself in baby oil, and spend an evening with The Slave and the Sorcerer if you haven’t already.