Critic Reviews

• Stephen Cole, Globe and Mail

  Like many good documentary filmmakers, Tristan Patterson is a talented eavesdropper who lets characters articulate overriding themes.

• Peter Hartlaub, San Francisco Chronicle

  In following this scattered character around, "Dragonslayer" director Tristan Patterson makes a very purposeful documentary about the pessimistic worldview of the nation's youth, and what that means for the future.

• , Los Angeles Times

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

• John DeFore, Hollywood Reporter

  The portrait is dispiriting overall, inspiring little affection from viewers, but feels authentic and fair.

• Robert Koehler, Variety

  Despite a slew of skateboarding films in recent years, each one quite distinct, Patterson's pic arguably comes closest to channeling the culture's punk vibe and youthful abandon, albeit filtered through an outsider's aesthetic.

• Karina Longworth, Village Voice

  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.

• Sarah Boslaugh, Playback:stl

  ... another award-winner that leaves me scratching my head. To me it's a well-executed but minor subculture film, yet it won the grand jury and cinematography prizes at South by Southwest ...

• Liz Braun, Jam! Movies

  Dragonslayer is an amazing window into a particular part of the culture and how we live now.

• Liz Braun, Toronto Sun

  Dragonslayer is an amazing window into a particular part of the culture and how we live now. You'll think about Skreech -- his father's day gift for his son, his new job at a bowling alley -- for a long time after you leave the theatre.

• Cindy Widner, Austin Chronicle

  There are parts of Dragonslayer that look like Laguna Beach and others that look like Gummo. Either way, it's a looker.

• Christopher Campbell, Cinematical

  Gorgeous ... see this one on the big screen if you get a chance.

• Nick Schager, Slant Magazine

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

• Eric Kohn, indieWIRE

  Departing from the conventions of documentary portraiture, "Dragonslayer" delivers the cinematic equivalent punk rock candy.

• Shaun Munro, What Culture

  Dragonslayer - which incredulously picked up the Best Documentary award at SXSW - is probably the first ever hagiography made about someone who is, without doubt, completely unremarkable. But at least at 74-minutes, it won't keep you for too long.

Read all 14 critic reviews