The Dungeon Masters (2008)

An evil drow-elf is displaced by Hurricane Katrina. A sanitation worker lures friends into a Sphere of Annihilation. A failed supervillain starts a cable access show involving ninjas, ... See full summary »

Director:

Keven McAlester

Stars:

Aaron Beal, Emanuel Brooks

Cast

Uncredited cast:
Aaron Beal	...	Himself (uncredited)
Emanuel Brooks	...	Larper (uncredited)

Storyline

An evil drow-elf is displaced by Hurricane Katrina. A sanitation worker lures friends into a Sphere of Annihilation. A failed supervillain starts a cable access show involving ninjas, puppets, and a cooking segment. These are the characters, real and imagined, of The Dungeon Masters: Against the backdrop of crumbling middle-class America, two men and one woman devote their lives to Dungeons and Dragons, the storied role-playing game, and its various descendants. As their baroque fantasies clash with mundane real lives, the characters find it increasingly difficult to allay their fear, loneliness, and disappointment with the game's imaginary triumphs. Soon the true heroic act of each character's real life emerges, and the film follows each as he or she summons the courage to face it. Along the way, The Dungeon Masters reimagines the tropes of classic heroic cinema, creating an intimate portrait of minor struggles and triumphs writ large.

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Plot Keywords:

dungeons and dragons | role playing | 

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Taglines:

This is how they roll.

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Genres:

Documentary | Drama

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Certificate:

Not Rated

Details

Official Sites:

Official Facebook Official site

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

12 February 2010 (USA)

Also Known As:

Los maestros del calabozo

Company Credits

Production Co:

Saving Throw Productions,Standard Pictures,Antidote Films (I)

Technical Specs

Runtime:

93 min

Color:

Color

Did You Know?

Connections

Spoofed in Community: Advanced Dungeons & Dragons (2011)

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Soundtracks

Folios
Written by Matt Kadane and Bubba Kadane
Performed by The New Year
Courtesy of Touch and Go Records

User Reviews

Cringe-porn at it's worst/best

I love and hate this documentary. Technically, it's very well shot, edited, and does a good job of telling the story of the three subjects it follows. It is not very objective, though. It's not about Dungeons and Dragons as much as it is about three awkward underachievers who happen to play this game. There is a big number of gamers that aren't making the most of their lives and others who you'd never want to be stuck in an elevator with, but there are also tons of very successful, intelligent, (and physically fit) people whom play these games. This film is like a documentary about Football, but where they only followed the middle-aged guys who peaked in high school and just play on the weekends.

My friends (also D&D nerds) and I watched this film and were entertained by, but it's paints a terrible picture of the people who play D&D.

If you want to see a great example of D&D, the a show on Youtube called "Critical Role." It films D&D played by a bunch of successful voice actors who happen to play, and I feel it paints a better portrait of the game.