Review of Solomon Kane (2009) by Craig H — 17 Aug 2010

I should warn you - don't go to see this if you want to see something that's 'fluffy' and 'nice'. Solomon Kane is an incredibly dark, brutally violent and bleak slice of old-school Swords and Sorcery - and I think that it's all the better for it.

The Movie (Based on Robert E Howard's books & comics - the same guy who created 'Conan the Barbarian') chronicles the events that turn Solomon, a cold-hearted murdering 'pirate' of sorts, from evil ways to that of a pacifist after his soul is condemned to hell - so after being kicked out of a safe haven (after they realise that he has a tendancy to attract the attention of all things evil) he wanders the lands aimlessly until he is given something worth fighting for again.

James Purefoy is absolutely brilliant as Solomon - west-county accent and all. You really get a feel for the reason he has turned to the path of redemption and there are a couple of fantastic moments where he begins to doubt himself and the reasons he began fighting again. All the supporting cast are great too.

Despite the modest budget, Solomon Kane is a great looking film too. Unlike most of the tripe that pumps out of Hollywood, there is not an over-reliance on CGI, with only a few - but brilliantly done - scenes where it is used to great effect. The rest of the time it's very dark, grimy and certainly not 'pretty' in the normal sense.

Overall, it's a thoroughly enjoyable flick which feels fresh and original. It's also nice to note that it doesn't suffer from the 'British movie with an American hero' curse, with all the leading actors & actresses sporting ye olde English accents. The only slight complaint is that the plot is a little on the thin side of things but the characters and Solomon's crusade make up for it.