Black Death [DVD] [2010]

Of course we have no real way of knowing what the fourteenth century was really like but in this film set in the time of the Black Death director Christopher Smith portrays a grim land stalked by plague and an evangelistic Christianity that is entirely believable. Eddie Redmayne plays Osmund; a novice monk, who has already been tempted by the sins of the flesh and is in love with a local girl called Avril whom he sends away into the forest to escape the plague. His own plague is the doubt that he is a good christian and just as he asks God for a sign so arrives the Bishop's envoy played by Sean Bean. Bean is perfectly cast as the soldier tasked by the bishop to investigate reports of a village in the marshes which has escaped the plague by turning away from God and worshipping a necromancer. Edmund is recruited as a guide and joins Bean's crew of mercenary soldiers on their mission. The English countyside is beautifully portrayed in muted colours throughout and the people are rough, unwashed and authentically portrayed. There is no stylised combat in this film, when violence breaks out it is realistic and brutal and very believable. Eventually the group reach the village which is a picture of order, cleanliness and health but hides a dark secret. Want to know more? Then watch it, this is a good medieval adventure and one of Sean Bean's best roles for a while.

It is 1348 and the Black Death is sweeping the English countryside, killing tens of thousands. A young monk, Osmund, has fallen in love with a young girl who has taken refuge in his monastery. His actions lead him to joining a band of the King's men, led by the knight Ulric, on a mission to find a marshland village reputed to be in the grip of witchcraft. Along the way, he hopes to break off and run away with his love. But in the woodlands he finds himself drawn onto a far darker and crueler path.

Black Death is a relatively low-budget movie financed and made in Germany, although the film is in English and has a mostly British cast. It stars Sean Bean as Ulric and Eddie Redmayne - the main character in the recent adaptation of Pillars of the Earth - as Osmund, with veteran actors David Warner (too many roles to list) and Tim McInnery (Blackadder) in support, along with rising star Carice van Houten (noted for recent roles in Black Book, Valkyrie and Repo Men). A bunch of solid supporting actors such as Emun Elliott (soon to be seen in Game of Thrones, along with Bean) and John Lynch (Merlin's father in the BBC series of the same name) line out the relatively small cast.

Given this is a small-budget movie with Sean Bean wearing armour and swinging a sword, the first impression is of a cheesy action flick. Nothing could be further from the truth. Black Death is a surprisingly bleak and dark movie about faith, power and fundamentalism. Sean Bean's Ulric is a far, far cry from his other heroic roles or his out-and-out villains. Instead he's a God-fearing knight who believes absolutely that the Black Death is God's punishment of humanity for its sins. He's a brave and capable warrior, but also utterly unrelenting and ruthless in his quest, capable of killing anyone who gets in his way. Redmayne's Osmund is idealistic and hopeful, shocked by the viciousness of the world and the perchance for violence demonstrated by his new associates.

The film unexpectedly moves into Wicker Man territory when our protagonists reach the supposedly witch-infested town and become engaged in a struggle of faith, reason and power. McInnery is cast against type as the the town headman, with Van Houten as the woman who has brought hope to it. Van Houten is a little too obviously villainous from the off, but her contempt of those who slavishly believe whatever they are told is well-played.

The director, Christopher Smith (best-known for Severance), seems to be aware of the potential for sniggering comparisons to Monty Python and the Holy Grail and with Blackadder, so tackles them head-on. McInnery's casting is possibly one allusion to this, whilst the scene with the monks flagellating themselves as they walk along seems to be a very overt reference to the Grail. Beyond these nods, there is little humour in the film, especially once it moves into its final, dark act.

The film's biggest weakness is that the supposedly wordly wise knights fall a little to easily into a certain and very obvious trap, and whilst the film's focus is commendable in an age of bloated 3D monsters, some side-elements and secondary characters could have done with a bit more fleshing out.

The film's ending is a startling, expectation-destroying sequence. Initially it appears to render the entire film pointless, but on further reflection it raises further questions over corruption and fundamentalism that are surprisingly effective.

Black Death (****) is a dark, bleak and occasionally powerful movie which poses hard questions of its audience. A sometimes uncomfortable watch, this is a far more intelligent and interesting movie than it looks like on first glance. It is available now in the UK (DVD, Blu-Ray) and, on Region 2 import only, USA (DVD, Blu-Ray).

This is a low budget movie, yet it offers so much. To be honest I was expecting a poor film, regardless of Sean Bean's involvement. I'm glad I was wrong. What this movie does is show that you don't need to spend billions on effects etc . . . to put together a memorable story. The acting, from many actors I've never even heard of, was of a very high standard, and at times I could feel the tension and fear they experienced. This film wins the viewer over by being creepy and cruel, without shoving it in your face. The script holds its own and manages to convey a very powerfully eerie tome.

Where this movie excels, in my opinion, is in the tone it sets. There is something truly sinister and dark laced throughout the entirety of it all and, unlike many similar films, it actually works. No need for monsters or CGI phantoms. It just manages to draw out your fear through the masterful way it is put together.

My rating is not in comparison to masterpieces such as Lord of the Rings, but is based on what it actually is: a low budget fantasy-horror. A great one. If you like a good medieval-style horror, then I'm sure this is a film you'll enjoy. It doesn't boast loads of huge stars and massive effects, but it holds its own amongst many films I've seen recently that cost ten times the production costs.

Black Death is a film that will surprise and please . . . and chill to the core.