Review of Centurion (2010) by Stuart K — 05 Sep 2012

Written and directed by Neil Marshall, (Dog Soldiers (2002), The Descent (2005) and Doomsday (2008)), this is a dark, sparse and violent Roman film. It was made around the same time as The Eagle (2011), but this came out first, and is based on legends of what really happened to the Roman Legio IX Hispana (Ninth Legion) that allegedly disappeared in Scotland.

It's gory and violent, but it has a good cast and is well made. In AD 117, Roman Garrisons are struggling against the Picts who inhabit the Scottish Highlands. Trying to win favour back in Rome, British Governor Agricola (Paul Freeman) sends the Ninth Legion, under the rule of General Titus Flavius Virilus (Dominic West) and helped by mute guide Etain (Olga Kurylenko).

They travel from York up into Scotland to fight back against the Picts. But the Ninth Legion ends up being ambushed, betrayed by Etain and as good as wiped out by the Picts, with Virilus being captured and officers Borthos (David Morrissey), Brick (Liam Cunningham) and Thax (JJ Feild) are taken prisoner.

They end up with Centurion Quintus Dias (Michael Fassbender) who was taken prisoner by the Picts and they escape and try to get back to England. It's dark and it looks and feels authentic, with bloody violence and it's down and dirty.

It has a good cast, and it's like the old men on a mission war films of the 1960's, Marshall keeps the mood and atmosphere up, and it's a good chase film too. It was this film that got Marshall the job of directing an episode of Game of Thrones.