{{short description|1984 film by Charles Band and Ted Nicolaou}} {{other uses of|Dungeon Master}} {{more citations needed|date=March 2016}} {{Use mdy dates|date=February 2026}} {{Use American English|date=January 2025}} {{Infobox film | name = The Dungeonmaster | image = Dungeonmaster.jpg | alt = | caption = Theatrical release poster | director = {{Plainlist| * Dave Allen * Charles Band * John Carl Buechler * Steve Stafford{{efn|Brother of star Jeffrey Byron. Credited as Steve Ford in tribute to their godfather John Ford.}} * Peter Manoogian * Ted Nicolaou * Rosemarie Turko }} | producer = Charles Band | writer = {{Plainlist| * Allen Actor * Dave Allen * Charles Band * John Carl Buechler * Jeffrey Byron * Peter Manoogian * Ted Nicolaou * Rosemarie Turko }} | starring = {{Plainlist| * Jeffrey Byron * Richard Moll * Leslie Wing * Phil Fondacaro * Anthony T. Genova III * Lonnie Hashimoto * Chris Holmes * Michael Steve Jones * Peter Kent * Blackie Lawless * Paul Pape * Randy Piper * Randy Popplewell * Tony Richards * Felix Silla }} | music = {{Plainlist| * Richard Band * Shirley Walker }} | cinematography = Mac Ahlberg | editing = | distributor = Empire Pictures | released = {{Film date|1984|08|24|U.S.}} <ref>{{cite web|url = https://templeofschlock.blogspot.com/search?q=dungeonmaster|title = ''Digital Knights (1984) a.k.a The Dungeonmaster (1985)''}}</ref> | runtime = 78 minutes | language = English | country = United States | studio = Charles Band production }} '''''The Dungeonmaster''''' (originally '''''Ragewar: The Challenges of Excalibrate''''' and '''''Digital Knights''''') is a 1984 American anthology science fantasy horror film produced by Charles Band, and is split up into seven distinct story segments, each written and directed by a different person: Dave Allen, Band, John Carl Buechler, Steve Ford, Peter Manoogian, Ted Nicolaou and Rosemarie Turko.<ref name=BluRay>{{cite web|url=https://bloody-disgusting.com/reviews/3379383/blu-ray-review-dungeonmaster-eliminators-look-glory-days-empire-pictures/|title=[Blu-ray Review] 'The Dungeonmaster' and 'Eliminators' – A Look at the Glory Days of Empire Pictures|last=Coffel|first=Chris|work=Bloody Disgusting|date=2016-02-11|accessdate=2020-09-21}}</ref> The film's theme was influenced by the popularity of Disney's 1982 film ''Tron'' and the roleplaying game ''Dungeons & Dragons''.
Principal photography began in 1983 but the film was not completed until 1984. The film features an appearance by the heavy metal band W.A.S.P. The film is known for the line of dialogue "I reject your reality and I substitute my own".<ref>{{citation|url=https://www.metrotimes.com/the-scene/archives/2015/03/24/on-using-meetup-to-play-dandd-with-a-group-of-strangers|title=On using Meetup to play D&D with a group of strangers|author=Nicholas Bitonti|date=March 24, 2015|work=Detroit Metro Times|accessdate=July 31, 2019|archive-date=March 8, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210308152121/https://www.metrotimes.com/the-scene/archives/2015/03/24/on-using-meetup-to-play-dandd-with-a-group-of-strangers|url-status=dead}}</ref> A sequel to the movie was shot and edited in 1988, which was going to belong to another anthology called Pulse Pounders, but never completed.<ref>{{citation|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190104174104/http://fullmoonstreaming.com/movie/the-evil-clergyman-movie|archive-date=January 4, 2019|url=http://fullmoonstreaming.com/movie/the-evil-clergyman-movie|title=The Evil Clergyman|publisher=Full Moon Streaming|accessdate=July 31, 2019}}</ref>
==Plot== Paul Bradford (Jeffrey Byron) is a skilled computer programmer who lives with his girlfriend, Gwen (Leslie Wing), and "X-CaliBR8", a quasi-sentient personal computer that Paul programmed and which he interacts with via a neural interface. Gwen is jealous of Paul's unusually close relationship with X-CaliBR8, to whom Paul has given a female voice, and fears that their relationship will be destroyed by Paul's reliance on X-CaliBR8 for his various day-to-day activities.
One night, Paul and Gwen are both transported to a Hellish realm presided over by Mestema (Richard Moll), an ancient, demonic sorcerer who has spent millennia seeking a worthy opponent with whom to do battle. Having long defeated his enemies with magic, Mestema has become intrigued with technology, and wishes to pit his skills against Paul's, with the winner claiming Gwen. Arming Paul with a portable version of X-CaliBR8 (which takes the form of a computerized wrist band), Mestema begins transporting Paul into a variety of scenarios in which he must defeat various opponents. Most of the challenges involve Paul using his X-CaliBR8 wristband to shoot people, monsters and objects with laser beams.
After Paul completes Mestema's various challenges, the two engage in a final battle, which takes the form of a fist fight in which Paul kills Mestema by throwing him into a pit of lava. After Mestema dies, Paul and Gwen are transported back to their house, where Gwen expresses her acceptance of X-CaliBR8 and suggests that she and Paul marry.
==Cast== * Jeffrey Byron as Paul Bradford, a skilled computer programmer who invented X-Cal-BR8. * Richard Moll as Mestema * Leslie Wing as Gwen Rogers, Paul's Girlfriend * Gina Calabrese as Girl In Dream * Danial Dion as Monster In Dream * Bill Bestolarides as Monster In Dream * Scott Campbell as Monster In Dream * Ed Dorini as Monster In Dream * R. J. Miller as Mr. Cahane * Don Moss as Don * Alanna Roth as Flower Girl * Kim Connell as Dancer * Janet Welsh as Dancer * Carol Solomon as Dancer * Jackie Gross as Dancer * Barbara Mueller as Dancer * Nina Baker as Dancer * Paul Pape as Police Officer (uncredited)
===Ice Gallery=== * Cleve Hall as Jack The Ripper * Kenneth J. Hall as Wolfman * Jack Reed as Mummy * Guy Simmons as African * Jeff Rayburn as Handman * Lonnie Hashimoto as Samurai * Knowen as Einstein
===Demons of the Dead=== * David Karp as Paul Branford's Corpse * E. Lee Nation as Zombie * Beverly Miko as Zombie * James Di Mino as Zombie * Curtis Lee Garrick as Zombie * James Chestnut as Zombie * Peter Kent as Zombie * John Carl Buechler as Ratspit (credited as Ratspit)
===Heavy Metal=== * Blackie Lawless as W.A.S.P. Singer * Chris Holmes as W.A.S.P. Guitarist * Randy Piper as W.A.S.P. Guitarist * Tony Richards as W.A.S.P. Drummer
===Stone Canyon Giant=== * Sal Fondacaro as Stone Canyon Person * Phil Fondacaro as Stone Canyon Person
===Slasher=== * Eddie Zammit as Policeman #1 * Mack Ademia as Policeman #2 * Danny Dick as Slasher * Kurt Braun as Audition Dancer * Suzanne Lelong as Audition Dancer * Marika Zoll as Audition Dancer * Brian R. Carson as Paul Branford's Double
===Cave Beast=== * Jerri Pinthus as Cave Beast * Diane Carter as Angel
=== Desert Pursuit=== * Michael Steve Jones as Desert Soldier * Randy Popplewell as Desert Soldier * Anthony T. Genova III as Desert Soldier * De Ette Adams as Gwen's Double * Felix Silla as Desert Bandit (credited as Felix Cilla)
==Segments== * "Ice Gallery" ** Written and directed by Rosemarie Turko * "Demons of the Dead" ** Written and directed by John Carl Buechler (credited as John Buechler) * "Heavy Metal" ** Written and directed by Charles Band * "Stone Canyon Giant" ** Written and directed by David W. Allen (credited as David Allen) * "Slasher" ** Written by Jeffrey Byron ** Directed by Steve Ford * "Cave Beast" ** Written and directed by Peter Manoogian * "Desert Pursuit" ** Written and directed by Ted Nicolaou
==Release== Scream Factory released the film on DVD for the first time in October 2013, along with ''Contamination 7'', ''Catacombs'' and ''Cellar Dweller'' as part of the second volume of their ''Scream Factory All-Night Horror Marathon'' series.
Shout! Factory released ''The Dungeonmaster'' on a double feature Blu-ray along with ''Eliminators'' in December 2015.<ref name=BluRay/>
==In pop culture== In ''MythBusters'', Adam Savage quotes this movie.<ref>Archived at [https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211205/2WFFhicVeXI Ghostarchive]{{cbignore}} and the [https://web.archive.org/web/20210204155720/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2WFFhicVeXI Wayback Machine]{{cbignore}}: {{cite web| url = https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2WFFhicVeXI| title = Ask Adam Savage: Origin of "I Reject Your Reality ..." | website=YouTube}}{{cbignore}}</ref>
==Notes== {{Notelist}}
==References== {{Reflist}}
==External links== * {{IMDb title|id=0089060}} * {{rotten-tomatoes|the_dungeonmaster}}
{{Charles Band}} {{John Carl Buechler}} {{Ted Nicolaou}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Dungeonmaster, The}} Category:1984 films Category:1984 fantasy films Category:1984 independent films Category:1984 science fiction films Category:American fantasy films Category:American independent films Category:American science fiction horror films Category:Empire International Pictures films Category:Films about computing Category:Films about video games Category:Films about virtual reality Category:Films directed by David W. Allen Category:Films directed by Charles Band Category:Films directed by John Carl Buechler Category:Films directed by Steven Ford Category:Films directed by Peter Manoogian Category:Films directed by Ted Nicolaou Category:Films directed by Rosemarie Turko Category:Films scored by Shirley Walker Category:Films scored by Richard Band Category:Films using stop-motion animation Category:American horror anthology films Category:Fantasy anthology films Category:American exploitation films Category:American science fiction adventure films Category:American fantasy adventure films Category:American science fantasy films Category:1984 English-language films Category:1984 American films Category:English-language science fantasy films Category:English-language independent films