Dragonslayer (Tristan Patterson, 2011): USA

Reviewed by Jim Burns. Viewed at the AFI Fest 2011.

Dragonslayer is a very honest documentary that follows the life of southern California  skateboarder Josh “Screech” Sandoval. Screech is a unique character that doesn’t usually due anything most people would consider normal, but is always honest and true to himself and those he cares most about. His outer shell is that of your typical, uneducated stoner that appears to be content with going nowhere in life. When in reality, he is exactly where he wants to be, content with getting high and skating abandoned pools. Screech’s main struggles come from the expectation of others.

Being a local skate legend, Screech was discovered by filmmaker Tristan Patterson at a skate park in Fullerton, California. Patterson follows the young skater for eight months of his life looking for compelling real-life moments filled with both naturally unscripted comedy and drama. Screech provides us with both, effortlessly, throughout the telling of his story. In the beginning of this story, Screech finds out he is going to be a father. To say he is unprepared to fill this role is a bit of an understatement. When Screech is not traveling the world with the assistance of his sponsors, he lives in a tent in the back yard of a friends house. The friend, for good reasons, doesn’t allow Screech to sleep in doors.

Patterson is able to capture Screeches undeniable love for skating but he also exposes Screeches talent level to be mediocre at best when competing in contest against other professional skaters. Screeches abuse of alcohol and drugs seems like it may be a hindrance to his performance, but at the same time it may be an integral part of his skateboarding ritual that he can’t do without, like many musicians and artists.

Patterson’s  combining the use of video footage taken by the skater and his friends gives the viewer insight for what Screech lives for on a daily basis. The formal competitions seem to get the best of him but it is obvious that an abandoned pool with no one to impress is where we find Screech skating his best. Beautiful cinematography, along with a very fitting soundtrack, separate this documentary from the usual reality based shows that sometimes give us insight to the youth of today.

Dragonslayer will no doubt scare the hell out of some conservatives, and they will probably have a hard time seeing past the alcohol and drug abuse, but at the same time people can learn a lot from a free spirit that finds happiness on a daily basis by keeping his life very simple and honest. Director Tristan Patterson does an amazing job of not only capturing this story about a truly unique individual but he also manages to capture compelling footage that shows the severe decline of the current American economy.

Patterson has also had success in the past as a screenwriter for Disney, Fox and Warner Bros. and is going to be directing his screenplay Electric Slide starring Ewan McGregor for Killer Films and Myriad Pictures in the near future. Dragonslayer was the Grand Jury Prize winner for  Best Documentary Feature at the 2011 South by Southwest Film Festival.