Review of Black Death (2010) by Lewis C — 23 May 2011

"Even if you survive, the world out there will change you.".

Black Death is a brutal, dark film set in England during the Middle Ages. A young monk accompanies a group of soldiers in search of a village that has been untouched by the black plague that is ravaging the land. Rumors are that witchcraft and necromancy are at the heart of why the village has been spared.

After a journey through danger and death spawned both from the plague and men, they reach the village. The story proceeds onward from there, and you have a fine 14th century horror/thriller on your hands.

The movie is shot with a realistic style and muted colors, which goes well with the frequent scenes of disease-borne misery and bloody violence. The cast does fine, though I was only familiar with two of the actors previously. Sean Bean, who is always a great choice in anything involving swords (or any movie, period), and Johnny Harris, who you may recall from his memorable role in the recent Disappearance of Alice Creed. And now I'm also familiar with Carice Van Houten and Eddie Redmayne, who play two of the most important parts of the movie and do an absolutely sterling job.

I really liked Black Death. The plot quickly grabs you and takes all sorts of interesting twists and turns before the end, there's enough action to satisfy nearly anyone (though it's not the focus of the film), and the characters are surprisingly three dimensional. Highly recommended.