Trivia / Deathstalker II: Duel of the Titans

• Colbert Bump: After being featured in a Best of the Worst episode (and getting high praises from the whole group), the film got its second run as a Cult Classic.
• Directed by Cast Member: John LaZar, Jarek's actor, was both a trained stage actor and a martial arts and fencing expert, and so he choreographed the movie's swordfights.
• He Also Did: Screenwriter Howard Cohen also wrote fairly extensively for Rainbow Brite (including the script for Rainbow Brite and the Star Stealer) and Care Bears (1980s)
• Executive Meddling:
  • On the commentary track on the DVD, Director Jim Wynorski points out several pieces of Stock Footage from other fantasy movies which were edited into the final cut of the movie without his permission. Chief among these were scenes from the original Deathstalker which were used to pad out the two tavern scenes.
  • As was footage of a topless belly dancer in the first tavern scene. The dancer is clearly not on the same set as the rest of the actors.
• The Other Darrin: John Terlesky takes over the role of Deathstalker from Rick Hill.
• No Budget: While the actual sum was never disclosed, the film was made for less than 400 thousand dollars. The budget restraints were so severe, the production couldn't even afford proper dissolve effects or using things like door knobs (the "crystal ball") or non-disguised practice swords as props, while the entirety of the soundtrack is just a single suite.
• Word of God:
  • Director Jim Wynorski did a commentary track on the DVD, where he explained that a lot of the problems with the movie - and ultimately the decision to shoot the movie as a comedy - were due to a poor script and the set looking like a landfill.
  • They also had to shoot most of the exterior scenes at night, due to the noise generated by a nearby airport and freeway during the day.

---