Starring – Michael S. Rodriguez (Realm of Shadows, Prey By Night), Manuel Ramirez, and Ronald Valenzuela
Release Date – 2026
Rating – 3/5
I’ve reviewed a lot of film from director Michael S. Rodriguez over the years. He’s a very versatile filmmaker and his career spans several genres from sci-fi, to horror, and even some crime thrillers. He’s a fan of cinema but his eye for horror has always impressed me.
Anyway, a few weeks back he sent me the short Slaying Dragons to check and review. This crime thriller was made by his sons if I’m not mistaken and actually stars Rodriguez himself. It looked fun and I agreed to check it out. However, I do want to apologize for taking so long to check it out.
*Spoiler Alert** The film follows a hit man who informs another in the same profession that he was accepting one more job before retiring from that line of work. However, once he arrives at the home of his next job he learns that they were all murdered and his friend was tasked with taking him out before he was able to leave that life behind. **Spoiler Alert**
I went into this one completely blind and found myself really enjoying it. It is extremely short and predictable but it was still a fun watch. It’s not horror but it is a well put together crime thriller that scratched an itch I didn’t know I had.
The acting in this one is solid all around. I’ve seen Rodriguez in front of the camera before but I don’t recall him being front and center through the entire project like he was here. He does a great job and really impressed me. The supporting cast is solid as well. We have some great performances but the dialogue delivery is a bit flat in a few of the scenes. It stands out but doesn’t slow the film down.
The story for this one is a bit predictable but it’s fun for what it is. A hitman doing one last job only to learn that he was turned on can be seen a mile away but still delivers in this short format. The characters are very well written and the short is extremely smooth from start to finish.
Finally, we get some blood and light make-up effects but that is the extent of it. Those wanting a high body count and memorable deaths will be very disappointed here. Overall, Slaying Dragons is a solid crime thriller short with a solid cast. It’s not the most memorable film but it’s entertaining which is all you can ask for from a film. Check it out.
