After watching the fantasy adventure film Dragonslayer last night I have some considerations about its rather minimalist (supposedly "historical") world. Even though the story doesn't meander much or attempt to explain the background of the places or characters we see on the screen there are several things shown which imply a curious setting.
- Latin is the language of sorcery: Oft in the film magic is cast chanting phrases in Church Latin which suggests a Roman Empire (of sorts) with its language becoming a vehicle for esoteric knowledge and spell-craft. It is also the naming tongue of the main antagonistic force: Vermithrax Pejorative and Urland's king: Cassiodorus.
- Dragons are wizardly creations: Ulrich the Sorcerer gives us a bit of insight on the origin of dragonkind at the beginning of the movie: No. In fact, if it weren't for sorcerers, there wouldn't be any dragons. Once, the skies were dotted with them. Magnificent horned backs, leathern wings... soaring... and their hot-breathed wind. This fact could explain the next line: When a dragon gets this old, it knows nothing but pain, constant pain. It grows decrepit... crippled... pitiful. Spiteful! I conjecture that due to dragons being unnatural creatures as they grow old they wither violently causing them distress.
- The new coming faith: Father Jacopus is seen proselytizing among the commonfolk and one other character expresses curiosity about his coming at such a dire time in the kingdom. This would imply these people are pagan however the film doesn't bother too much in giving much insight into their current beliefs.
- The lives of dragons and magic-users are somehow intertwined: Both in a symbolic and factual way dragons seem to be a reminder of a grander past, a time where wizards, warlocks, and the like were commonplace. To some characters, the late passing of either witch or beast is interpreted as a sign of those days being over at last.
The film had a tie-in novelization written by the late Wayland Drew (who also penned the movie Willow's novel adaptation). At a quick glance online, most reviews deem this book a worthy read. There might be more to these considerations hidden in those pages.
