We are meant to see all that is negative with the perspective of the Medieval Christian. The film starts with this attitude for a reason. For example, the novice Osmund is wrongly called both ‘monk’ and ‘friar’ as if medieval people would not understand the distinction, as your average modern Englishman would not.
It starts quite typically, then, emphasising the terror of the times, a portrayal of that era that is clearly inaccurate, more a projection of the modern perspective than anything real. Its initial attitude projects the modern myths of the Middle Ages, a world where violence, disease, and superstition ruled all, arranged to suit the power-mad Church at its cultural centre. Instead, they place their hopes at the feet of Langiva, a pharmacologist of some skill, her scientific knowledge contrasting with the roughness of Christian mercenary-soldiers.Įssentially, the film portrays the conflict of two worldviews: the medieval and the modern. The people dedicate their time to godless hedonism, believing that their merriment and time free from God has spared them from suffering. But as the evening’s hospitalities progress, the village turns out to have a distinctly modern atmosphere. We assume that something terrible must have happened to them. Ulric finds one of the village girls wearing an amulet that shows that the men who had been sent to investigate the village had been there. However, the church is clearly unused, and it is a lady, the beautiful Langiva (Carice van Houten) that seems to be in charge. It seems closer to paradise to the scarred men, with its order and abundance of females. This makes their arrival in the pacific marsh village all the more strange. The journey to the village does not bode well: the barbarism of the times is in full display more flagellants, ruthless bandits and the stake burnings of young ladies are all in evidence. The young novice, Osmund (Eddie Redbayne), claims to be from the area, but his real motivations lie in the direction of a young woman he has half-promised to meet there. To get to the village in the marshes, they need a guide, so they arrive at the nearest monastery looking for help. However, you can open your eyes and release your grip on your partner’s shoulder what we have instead is a very reflective piece about the nature of evil and violence and how it affects the way people live.Ī rag tag group of mercenaries (lead by Sean Bean’s moody Ulric) are sent by the bishop to investigate a mysterious village which supposedly has not been touched by the plague due to a demonic pact. It is a great, terror-filled setting for a horror movie, and given director Christopher Smith’s credentials ( Severance, Creep), that is what one would expect from this film. Bodies are piling high in mass graves, and religious fervour is at an all time high. It is 1348, and England is being ravaged by the Plague. Well, they weren’t the called the Dark Ages for nothing.
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