Director: Christopher Smith
Writer: Dario Paloni
Cast: Sean Bean, Eddie Redmayne, Carice van Houten, Andy NymanSet in the middle ages this historical drama/horror follows a young monk (Redmayne) who travels with a band of unsavory characters in search of a village rumored to be controlled by a necromancer. ย This graphic telling of the ravages of the bubonic plague on Europe is not for the weak of heart. Although peppered with varying degrees of graphic violence and scenes of torture at its core like most movies, Black Death is a love story. Love of God, romantic Love and friendship are all themes which have major roles in this film. ย The monk Osmund embarks on the harrowing journey in search of the object of his affection. His leaving the confines of his monastery in the plague-ravaged village are the direct result of his love for Averil (Kimberly Nixon) and what he considers as a divine intervention as the Marauders enter the monastery at the very point he asks God for a sign. In joining the band of men he sees the friendships forged by these would be heroes and the loyalty that binds the crusaders. The is most evident in a heartbreaking scene where one of the group must kill another in an effort to save him a long drawn out death. ย One of the more tender moments of the film but as with all things in this movie, violence follows.
Though filled with sword fights, horrendous deaths and a tortuous horse scene you have to see to believe, Christopher Smith’s epic is an honest story of faith and heart. It is a dramatic action-packed tome to paranoia and the lengths one will go in the pursuit of peace of mind. If you can stomach the gore go and support this soon to be a cult classic. If you can’t go out an see it anyway, the story is compelling enough to watch half the movie through your fingers and still be enjoyed.
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[New Post] Movie Review: Christopher Smith’s Black Death – http://johnsimondaily.com/2011/03/movie-… #film #trailers
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