At the Movies with Fatwayne

Way back when (14th century) people had some superstitions and beliefs that are hard for us to imagine today. This film opens with a priest who hangs three women who have been accused of being witches and then drowns their dead bodies (just to be sure I suppose). I certainly would not want to go to this bozo for confession! In any event when he hauls the bodies out of the water to recite a prayer over each one, he discovers that one just might be the real thing – or something else entirely!

Now we jump ahead a few years and meet a couple of Crusaders, Behman (Nicholas Cage) and Felson (Ron Perlman) who are slashing and killing their way across the countryside in the name of their God. After several campaigns they, especially Behman, become disturbed by all of the death and suffering of not only the opposing soldiers but of the women and children also. Enough is enough and our sword sporting pals call it quits (desert) and are now on the run. They ultimately become captives and are given a chance to redeem themselves by escorting a young girl to who is purported to be the witch (Claire Foy) who has caused the Black Plague no less! 

Behman and Felson accept the assignment and set off on a journey that proves to be most perilous. They must bring the witch, Anna, to a remote monastery where the monks will decide whether she lives or dies. Nice, real nice!  Although their trek is fraught with chills and spills, it is nothing compared with the fate that awaits them at the conclusion of their journey.

This is a period piece replete with marvelous scenery and the costumes of the day. It is also a buddy movie and our buddies prove to be very likeable to the audience. It will offer you grand battles, spooky encounters and lots of action. Cage and Perlman make for an enjoyable 95 minutes. You could do much worse then watching this movie. I certainly have in the past few weeks!

Rated – PG13 -

Fatwayne’s Rating  -  

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