Set in sixth-century England, an ill-tempered, fire-breathing creature—ominously known as Vermithrax Pejorative—terrorizes its citizens until a young sorcerer’s apprentice named Galen (Peter MacNicol) is reluctantly tasked with confronting the beast. For Galen to succeed, it will take more than magic to defeat the dragon.

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Video Quality

Paramount presents Dragonslayer with a tremendous 2160p transfer in its original 2.35:1 aspect ratio sourced from a 4K restoration and graded in 4K HDR/Dolby Vision. One of the most striking aspects of the disc is the application of Dolby Vision for increased color output that takes this visually striking film and harnesses every ounce of pigment-perfect nuance out of it. The new restoration features some colors in the settings such as the foliage of the forest that pop off the screen with a vibrant intensity, while some of the dour gray and brown present with as much nuance as possible . This disc handles every environmental change from the interiors of the castle to the rocky layer of Vermithrax Pejorative with ease. The black levels are outstanding with nothing in the way of crush popping up, and highlights are solid as a rock with no evidence of blooming. Nearly every single moment offers a wow factor for purists.

The level of detail and clarity is stunning with the nearly perfect amount of natural film grain intact outside of some management during some of the special effects sequences. The grain resolves well outside of these fluctuations. The textures on display in the costumes and within the setting are quite impressive. Even the makeup effects blend naturally which allows for something pretty believable when it comes to the dragon. This transfer does not register anything in the way of print damage. This presentation is true to the original look of the film with the added resolution making elements seem more natural. There does not appear to be any jarring digital anomalies such as compression artifacts, banding or any other such nuisances. This presentation is a knockout effort from the crew at Paramount.

Audio Quality

This 4K UHD Blu-Ray comes with a Dolby Atmos audio track that makes the film truly immersive. Dragonslayer has a lot of great atmospheric effects that engage the surround speakers including the gusts of wind as the dragon flies by or the screams of villagers. The height channels rarely carry the full weight of any sequence, but they allow the world to feel three dimensional with the complementary effects. Dialogue comes through crystal clear in the front channel without being overwhelmed by any sound effects or score.

The track has an excellent sense of directionality with sounds always emanating from the appropriate channels. The movie is filled with some thrilling moments of action, which puts the low end to work when things kick into gear. The music from Alex North provides the unique atmosphere for this fantastical story which fills the speakers well. There are no issues with fidelity or damage to the track. This audio presentation is nearly flawless, but the inclusion of the original audio as an option would have put this over the top. There are optional English, English SDH and French subtitles provided.

Special Features

Audio Commentary: Director Matthew Robbins and Filmmaker Guillermo Del Toro provide a very engaging and entertaining commentary track in which Del Toro asks all of the questions fans would want to know which leads to stories of his collaboration with composer Alex North, his writing process with co-writer Hal Barwood, the inspiration of J.R.R. Tolkien, being friends with George Lucas at the beginning of ILM, the themes of the film, the performances in the film, shooting away from the eyes of Disney, the film’s legacy and more. This is an especially valuable track as you get personal details that help put things into perspective.

The Slayer Of All Dragons: A nearly 64-minute five-part featurette which takes an expansive look at the making of the film.

- Welcome To Cragganmore: An 11-minute look at the genesis of the movie, the influences that helped shape it, the advancements in technology that helped bring it to life, the casting process, the nuances in the performances and more.

- A Long Way To Urland: A nearly ten-minute look at the journey of the characters, the production design, the process of shooting the film, the lighting, the costumes and more.

- Vermithrax Pejorative: A nearly 18-minute deep-dive into the dragon from the initial design to the final version we see in the film and all of the departments that had a hand in making it a reality.

- Into The Lake Of Fire: A 14-minute look at the development of the set, the props in the film, the unexpected insects that made it into frame, the dragon parts that interacted with the performers and more.

- The Final Battle: A 14-minute exploration of the climactic battle and the ways in which it pushed the limits of special effects.

Original Theatrical Trailer: The two-minute trailer is provided here.

Screen Tests: A 16-minute collection of screen tests are provided here including Peter MacNicol and Caitlin Clarke.

Final Thoughts

Dragonslayer is rarely held up as one of the shining examples of fantasy filmmaking by the mainstream for some reason, a notion which is baffling considering how well executed it is. The story has a classic structure, but this particular version stands apart for the grounded approach it takes in tone and character. It truly feels like these characters go on a journey with tangible stakes and believable danger. The more villainous characters actually have an understandable motivation for their actions, and the “heroes” of the story have enough flaws and room for improvement to make their journey compelling. Top this off with a terrifying dragon brought to life with sumptuous practical effects, and you have a truly joyous viewing experience. Paramount Home Entertainment has released a 4K UHD Blu-Ray featuring an A+ audio/visual presentation and an impressive array of special features that aid in your appreciation for the film. If you want great fantasy filmmaking, add this to your collection. Highly Recommended

Dragonslayer is currently available to purchase on 4K UHD Blu-Ray and Blu-Ray.

Note: Images presented in this review are not reflective of the image quality of the 4K UHD Blu-Ray.

Disclaimer: Paramount Home Entertainment has supplied a copy of this set free of charge for review purposes. All opinions in this review are the honest reactions of the author.