71
Metascore
11 reviews · Provided by Metacritic.com
- 91Entertainment WeeklyLisa SchwarzbaumEntertainment WeeklyLisa SchwarzbaumWith its propulsive punk-rock soundtrack and beautifully rough cinematography, Dragonslayer makes you care about this scrawny young man, skating to nowhere.
- 80Village VoiceVillage VoiceNothing 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.
- 75San Francisco ChroniclePeter HartlaubSan Francisco ChroniclePeter HartlaubPatterson's verite style is bettered by the work of cinematographer Eric Koretz, who surrounds the bleak characters with beauty and color.
- 70The New York TimesJeannette CatsoulisThe New York TimesJeannette CatsoulisSeamlessly dovetailing style and subject, Dragonslayer, a poetic and affectionate portrait of the professional skateboarder Josh Sandoval.
- A youth culture backdropped by the crumbling edge of California is rendered with punk rock energy and grace.
- 70VarietyRobert KoehlerVarietyRobert KoehlerThe film observes a guy verging on poverty or riches with a bounty of beautiful imagery and fresh angles on skateboarding culture.
- The portrait is dispiriting overall, inspiring little affection from viewers, but feels authentic and fair.
- 12Slant MagazineNick SchagerSlant MagazineNick SchagerIs Josh "Skreech" Sandoval the least deserving documentary subject ever?