Movie Review - Black Death

Black Death (2011)

Starring Sean Bean, Eddie Redmayne, and Carice van Houten

Directed by Christopher Smith

***An early review...of sorts***

For some reason or another, I can't seem to find a theatrical release date for the period horror flick Black Death.  Part of me understands why this won't hit US theaters...the film has no stars, it's not as if films set in the 1300s are hot commodities, and this isn't exactly a movie that screams "art house" which is where it would have certainly been screened.  Still, it's a bit of a shame because Black Death, while not a great film by any means, is an enjoyable diversion that's certainly worth the inevitable Netflix streaming that will be in its future and is probably worthy of even a most limited theatrical run.

I know Sean Bean's been in a lot of other movies, but he always seems like the go-to guy when casting directors need some moderately buff warrior-type for a flick that takes place ages ago (see Troy, the Lord of the Rings trilogy, Percy Jackson and the Olympians where he played Zeus).  I'm not faulting the man -- he's good in that strong leadership-type of role and here it's not an exception.  Bean is Ulric, a knight who, after the deaths of his wife and child, lives only for the Church, eradicating non-believers.  1348 is a very difficult time in England with the bubonic plague rearing its ugly head, and Ulric has heard of a small community that has not been affected by the disease.  Believing that the only logical explanation for their lack of sickness is that the town has been taken over by wily witchcraft, Ulric persuades the Church to allow him to go on a crusade (of sorts) to bring back the heretics in the community.  He brings along a young monk, Osmund (Eddie Redmayne), who is having a difficult time giving himself over to God completely (for, you see, he is in love with the beautiful Averill which is obviously something that is not permitted). Together, Ulric and Osmund along with a small group of soldiers head out to find the nonbelievers.

Looking back on the film, it's all rather silly, but I must say that after a shaky, slow, and plodding opening act, the film picked up its pace considerably and had a general aire of eeriness on display.  It's a "horror" film in the loosest sense of the word, but any time you throw cults into the mix in movies, your flick is gonna fall onto the "horror" side of things.  Still, there are no moments that will make you jump (although there are a few moments of medieval torture that may make you cringe a bit) and it's not as if the blood flows profusely.  

The acting is perhaps a step above what one would expect in a film like this and director Christopher Smith does an admirable job keeping things on edge in the film's final two-thirds.  That said, I can certainly see why this film isn't getting a big push on the US cinema front (it's already been released overseas). Black Death is not nearly as bad as the stigma that a lack of theatrical release would make you think.

The RyMickey Rating:  C+