Evengyny Thanks for the memories!

Stoutor It's not great by any means, but it's a pretty good movie that didn't leave me filled with regret for investing time in it.

Nayan Gough A great movie, one of the best of this year. There was a bit of confusion at one point in the plot, but nothing serious.

Billy Ollie Through painfully honest and emotional moments, the movie becomes irresistibly relatable

Veronica65 ...that Pico and the gang fall victim to a vampire. I like hippies! I root for hippies to win the day! The first part seems less like a horror film (aside from the opening scenes) and more like a 'hippies- find-their-spiritual-path' movie...call me a sentimental old fool if you will, I was rooting for Pico and the gang to find a more satisfying outlook on life. Quarry is masterful, of course, even in Manson drag... and I really liked Bill Ewing as Pico. It's also always a treat to find a movie with John Fiedler. Main criticism: Pico SHOULD have used his Kung Fu against Barbado, he would have come off better. It was almost like the filmmakers forgot that Pico had that particular training in the second half. I love this movie! Music and all.

Scarecrow-88 Enigmatic vampire, who arrived oddly on the shore of a beach in his casket, whose arrival is introduced by his enforcer/guardian, Barbado(LaSesne Hilton)playing a flute, masquerades as a philosophical leader, whose language regarding life and love casts a spell among the aimless hippie youth in a quiet little town. Only young Pico(Bill Ewing), who resists his power of influence, can stop vampire Count Khorda(Robert Quarry)who plans to sacrifice his girlfriend Rona(Brenda Dickson)in a Satanic ceremony. Pico will have to rely on the only help he can depend on, an aging hippie, Pop(character actor, John Fiedler, who is one of the most recognizable faces in Television history and the voice of Piglet in Winnie the Pooh)to help defeat Khorda who has turned all their friends into vampires.Rarely seen Quarry vampire picture that, according to the great actor, was purchased by Sam Arkoff and buried into obscurity. Thankfully, Fred Olen Ray's DVD company Retromedia was able to get the rights and, not only that, but have audio commentary for DEATHMASTER with Quarry, which is quite a rewarding experience for fans of the horror icon. The print is fantastic and the director of the film, Ray Danton, has a very distinctive style where the camera follows the action, but in a very sophisticated way. The film is definitely of it's time, quite dated, but a fascinating curio for Quarry fans who are very familiar with his Yorga character, but not Khorda(..this film was sandwiched between the Yorga films according to Quarry)who is dressed in elaborate robes, jewelry, and long hair carrying the appearance of some guru or oddball prophet..Quarry admits in the audio commentary that his look is fashioned after Charles Manson and that the film itself regarding the hippie youth was modeled after his followers. Not incredibly violent, with Khorda's neck attacks shot in a non-offensive way, and DEATHMASTER still follows the basic vampire principles established in filmdom(..the cross effects them as does a stake through the heart)that we're accustomed to. By and large, this film benefits almost entirely from Quarry's charismatic presence alone, even if what he has to say to the hippie kids is basic mumbo jumbo(..Quarry admits that he ad-libbed much of this dialogue)often used at that point and time while these youth were stoned or spaced out on acid. Quarry even gets to pay homage to Lugosi with the close-up of his sinister eyes multiple times as Khorda uses his power to hypnotize victims. Barbado is about as imposing as his master, a bulky statuesque type of security who towers over everyone he comes in contact with. His face never changes, always distant and cold. Ewing is a very unlikely hero, a kid out of his league against a far superior foe..but the film allows him to become a worthy adversary, because of the very fact that he's not particularly your prototypical knight-in-shining-armour. The beach is a stunning location as is the cool tunnel underneath the hippie commune house where Khorda keeps his resting place(..it also leads to the beach and has a submarine door!). Only real beef I have(..despite the now silly hippie-speak)is the title..this kind of vampire movie needs a more credible title.

Katatonia I wasn't sure if I would like The Deathmaster or not, since I really didn't personally care much for the Count Yorga movie. I liked some of Robert Quarry's other work in films though, so I figured I would give this one a shot.I must say that I liked it more than I thought was possible. It has a distinct and unmistakable 1970's cheesy "vibe" running rampant throughout the movie. That actually works in favor of the movie, it gives it an authentic flair of the era. The story is nothing too fabulous or original, but it was the visuals that intrigued me. The cinematography work on The Deathmaster was well above average.So, it's a pretty good vampire flick of the early 1970's. Definitely worth a look for both Quarry fans, and also for Vampire aficionados.

BaronBl00d Robert Quarry only did a handful of horror films unfortunately, but each showcases a fine performance of subtlety mixed with genuine menace. The Deathmaster is no exception. The film chronicles the activities of a vampire named Khorda that becomes the guru of a hippie commune in California. Quarry gives the vampiric guru charm and aloofness as he spouts hippie doctrines to eager high listeners, waiting for some kind of direction in their lives. The film itself is nothing monumental, yet I found it to be thoroughly entertaining. It is a period piece in a way, because it shows just how prevalent the hippie culture was and shows us the costume of the day so to speak. Quarry gives a fine performance, as do the bulk of the cast. There are some splendid scenes in the film, most notably the opening one of a man on a beach performing some ritual and playing his flute. Moments later we see a coffin wash up on the shore. A jogger comes across it, opens it, and attempts to flee. Just as he turns, the flute player throttles him and he falls to the sun-dried sand. This is the best scene in the film, but the rest is pretty entertaining overall.