Review of Black Death (2010) by Garrett R — 23 Jun 2011

BLACK DEATH is a beautiful, brooding and brutal medieval horror film. Directed by TRIANGLE's Christopher Smith, his latest directorial offering offers plenty of Dark Ages ambiance, brutal violence and a story that puts you right in the thick of the witch-burning and necromancing during the time of the Bubonic Plague.

"In the year of our lord, 1348..." So begins BLACK DEATH. And so we are introduced to a young monk, Osmund, living an idyllic life inside a castle monestary. Sheltered and well-kept, he feels unease in his soul from his lack of exposure to the outside world. One day, his superiors offer up a volunteer position for a God-given mission: to accompany holy warriors to a village that is rumored to have summoned the dead back to life. Osmund volunteers and is given the position, and then he and the warriors are off. Soon enough, the warriors don't turn out to be so holy...and their characters are not clean-cut in moral terms, only in gray shades...

Osmund and the "holy warriors" partake in a cinematic journey that is reminiscent (while still remaining original) of classic horror films such as THE WICKER MAN (without the puritan undertones) and Michael Bannett's excellent SOLOMON KANE (without the fantasy elements).

Dario Poloni's screenplay calls for brooding realism and dark, under-the-radar motives. Inner and exterior conflict is a major thematic emphasis in BLACK DEATH, as characters think twice before making a choice in a certain action or conversation. Director Christopher Smith is able to convey that sense of brooding realism and draw out complex performances from his diverse main and supporting cast.

Sean Bean headlines and delivers another strong performance as Ulrich, the leader of the "holy" warriors and only family man. While his character here is not as well-conceived (or rootable) as his Ned Stark role in the HBO series GAME OF THRONES, his approach to Ulrich as a conflicted and do-what-must-be-done kind of man works here.

Then there's Eddie Redmayne as the wide-eyed and moralistic young monk Osmund. He perfectly conveys his character as a monk whose inner conflict of what he's learned of God and what he sees and learns around him is put to the test. And Carice Von Hauten of a 2007 Paul Verhoeven film BLACK BOOK and the mediocre REPO MEN (2010) plays Langiva, a role that calls for silent complexity and a quiet approach.

Director Christopher Smith, as mentioned before, delivers plenty of Dark Ages ambience, brutal violence and framing Poloni's story. The story makes you feel as if you're an observer whose right in the thick of things, briskly yet rhoughtfully moving you along for the bumpy journey.

As a precaution, BLACK DEATH isn't a film that flinches in portraying the "strong brutal violence" its R rating details. Plenty of hard-hitting murders and battles take place. And even if you think you're ready for viewing BLACK DEATH for entertainment or perhaps film study, consider this: Christopher Smith's film grips you with an ice-cold dread from the moment the plot jump-starts and truly does not let up...until the bitter end. These words are meant for being honest, not a "don't see this film" statement.

In any case, BLACK DEATH is beautiful, brooding and brutal medieval horror film that evokes the ambiance and essence of the Dark Ages, and features strong performances (which require complex and silently conflicted approaches) from its main and supporting cast, and a story that emphasizes a major thematic focus on inner and exterior conflict, which in turn exudes brooding realism (as does the brutal violence). Be prepared to not be entertained, but immersed.