Dragonslayer

Name: Dragonslayer
Genre: Documentary
Released: November 4, 2011
Duration: 108 min
Rating: 71

2011

METASCORE

Generally favorable reviews based on 11 Critic Reviews

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USER SCORE

Mixed or average reviews based on 6 Ratings

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5.2

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5.2	User Score Mixed or average reviews based on 6 Ratings

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Dragonslayer

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Movie Details & Credits

Drag City | Release Date: November 4, 2011 | Not Rated

Summary: Dragonslayer documents the transgressions of a lost skate punk falling in love in the stagnant suburbs of Fullerton, California in the aftermath of Americaʼs economic collapse. Taking the viewer through a golden SoCal haze of broken homes, abandoned swimming pools and stray glimpses of unusual beauty, Dragonslayer captures the life andDragonslayer documents the transgressions of a lost skate punk falling in love in the stagnant suburbs of Fullerton, California in the aftermath of Americaʼs economic collapse. Taking the viewer through a golden SoCal haze of broken homes, abandoned swimming pools and stray glimpses of unusual beauty, Dragonslayer captures the life and times of Josh “Skreech” Sandoval, a local skate legend and new father, as his endless summer finally collides with the future. Set to the alternately roaring and dreamy soundtrack of bands from the indie labels Mexican Summer and Kemado Records—-including Best Coast, Bipolar Bear, Children, Dungen, Eddy Current and the Suppression Ring, Golden Triangle, Jacuzzi Boys, Little Girls, Real Estate, The Soft Pack, Saviours, as well as DEATH and Thee Oh Sees-—Dragonslayer is a punkrock manifesto to youth, love and learning to survive after the decline of western civilization. (Drag City)… Expand

Director: Tristan Patterson

Genre(s): Documentary

Rating: Not Rated

Runtime: 108 min

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Critic Reviews

Lisa Schwarzbaum

Nov 2, 2011

With its propulsive punk-rock soundtrack and beautifully rough cinematography, Dragonslayer makes you care about this scrawny young man, skating to nowhere. Read full review

IndieWire Eric Kohn

Nov 1, 2011

The measured vérité style of Frederick Wiseman meets the visual polish of Terrence Malick in Dragonslayer, a fascinating slice of crude Americana from first-time director Tristan Patterson. However, it stands alone with an infectious hard rock attitude. Read full review

Karina Longworth

Nov 1, 2011

Nothing like a traditional social-issue doc, Patterson's one-of-a-kind hybrid captures a socio-historical moment with the kind of charged authenticity that only comes from a willingness to embrace contradictions: It's discursive and hypnotic, laconic and urgent. Read full review

Jeannette Catsoulis

Nov 4, 2011

Seamlessly dovetailing style and subject, Dragonslayer, a poetic and affectionate portrait of the professional skateboarder Josh Sandoval. Read full review

Staff (Not credited)

Nov 12, 2011

A youth culture backdropped by the crumbling edge of California is rendered with punk rock energy and grace. Read full review

Robert Koehler

Nov 12, 2011

The film observes a guy verging on poverty or riches with a bounty of beautiful imagery and fresh angles on skateboarding culture. Read full review

Nick Schager

Nov 7, 2011

Is Josh "Skreech" Sandoval the least deserving documentary subject ever? Read full review

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User Reviews

StevenF

Jun 8, 2013

This documentary can be viewed in a variety of ways, a skateboarding tutorial of how not to, a parenting class of also, well, how not to or what I believe the film is trying to accomplish, a chronicle of Josh "Skreech" Sandoval, an skateboarder who, in a nutshell, has thrown his life awayThis documentary can be viewed in a variety of ways, a skateboarding tutorial of how not to, a parenting class of also, well, how not to or what I believe the film is trying to accomplish, a chronicle of Josh "Skreech" Sandoval, an skateboarder who, in a nutshell, has thrown his life away and is attempting to rebuild it. But unfortunately the film fails to make a likeable character out of Skreech, from one disastrous life choice to the next.
So Skreech is a dad to a little baby called Sid, someone who is seen very little throughout the film, at first glance I though the film was being told out of order, but no, he is seen talking to his child and then taking off to Copenhagen to compete in a skating contest, and after that he has a girlfriend, not the mother of his child, but someone he met continuously over a few years. He spends his time with a band of misfit skateboarders who quite frankly are more interesting than he is.
A particular case of his reckless behaviour is himself and his girlfriend driving along a highway, smoking a bong, he truly is painted as someone who has very little regard for anyone but himself.
While the documentary in essence is very well presented, the material is just not concerning enough to care. The cinematography is amateur but this is done purposely to capture a more lifelike and POV of Skreech and is happenings, along with a very punk-rock attitude of a soundtrack, as a style of filmmaking this is top notch and entertaining, from the chaptered moments of Skreech and his foibles to the fast paced cuts in the film.
The most difficult thing when watching this documentary is trying to figure out what we are supposed to take away from it, if anything. This person does seem to live his life how he sees fit, with no repercussions to his existing girlfriend or even his child, who he has only taken out alone once. While is girlfriend seems to grow increasingly sorry for her boyfriend, well, at least someone does.
Certainly a unique style of filming, but the material doesn't do this style any justice, and its hard to feel any emotions towards someone who seems to be irresponsible of every action he takes. With little to take away from the film, it could be a forgettable affair indeed.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

Pahn

May 23, 2012

A movie about a homeless skateboarder who smokes and drinks way too much all while contributing nothing to society or the story. I love indie movies, but find nothing artistic here...no real story to be told. Loser wannabe skateboarder has a son he barely sees. He has a very cuteA movie about a homeless skateboarder who smokes and drinks way too much all while contributing nothing to society or the story. I love indie movies, but find nothing artistic here...no real story to be told. Loser wannabe skateboarder has a son he barely sees. He has a very cute girlfriend he drags down with him. The majority of the time he stoned and hammered drunk, barely functioning. He scrounges up money from garage sales so he can travel to the next low rent skateboarding competition where he wins $90...then decides to travel the country with his gf. That doesn't work out, so they end up in a crappy apartment with some old stoner while the main character gets a mainstream minimum wage job. What a story.… Expand

0 of 1 users found this helpful01

IamMensa

May 28, 2012

Being a skateboarder I wish I could like this movie. Over an hour worth of footage for the court to make a great judgment call of him not being fit to interact with a child. The skating was beyond sub-par. Definitely laughed out loud. Aside from this review in hopes to save someone the 70Being a skateboarder I wish I could like this movie. Over an hour worth of footage for the court to make a great judgment call of him not being fit to interact with a child. The skating was beyond sub-par. Definitely laughed out loud. Aside from this review in hopes to save someone the 70 minutes of their life I will pretend I have never seen this film. No offense Screech. Just get a clue homie.… Expand

0 of 1 users found this helpful01

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