The Sword and the Sorcerer(1982)
1982 · Albert Pyun · 100 min
A mercenary with a three-bladed sword rediscovers his royal heritage when he is recruited to help a princess foil a brutal tyrant and a powerful sorcerer's plans to conquer the land.
Action · Adventure · Fantasy · Horror
5.5145 votes
TMDB score
1/5
Intensity
2/5
Gore
1/5
Stays with you
How The Sword and the Sorcerer scares
Watching this feels more like a swashbuckling adventure romp than an actual scare fest, with horror elements tossed in as seasoning rather than the main course. There's a sorcerer, some dark magic, and a few gruesome touches, but the mood stays pulpy and fun rather than dreadful. Pacing is quick and action-driven, jumping between sword fights and campy set pieces instead of building tension. This is for people who want a cheesy fantasy-adventure with a horror flavor, not something meant to actually frighten you.
On The Horror Database's 0–5 scare profile, The Sword and the Sorcerer rates psychological 1/5, visceral 3/5, gore 2/5, lingering effect 1/5, and overall intensity 1/5.
- Psychological: 1 of 5
- Visceral: 3 of 5
- Gore: 2 of 5
- Lingering: 1 of 5
- Intensity: 1 of 5
Slow burn vs Jump scares: 30 of 100 — leans Slow burn
Supernatural vs Real-world: 25 of 100 — leans Supernatural
Fun-scary vs Disturbing: 10 of 100 — leans Fun-scary
Intensity over runtime
Shape only — no eventsReveal pacing shapeHide pacing shapeHidden by default — shows where the tension peaks and lets up.
A swashbuckling, up-and-down romp that keeps stirring up action and tension without ever fully settling down, building to a bigger clash at the end.
Intensity across the runtime, 0 to 100: 2, 3, 2, 3, 2, 3, 3, 2, 3, 3, 4, 4.
How scary is The Sword and the Sorcerer?
On The Horror Database's 0–5 intensity scale, The Sword and the Sorcerer rates 1/5 — gentle by horror standards, building its fear through slow-burn dread rather than shocks. It attacks the body more than the mind — physical, in-your-face horror. Expect it to be moderately gory and fun-first. The dread fades once the credits roll.
Watched it? Sign in to confirm whether this profile fits.
