Black Death (2010)

Black Death (2010) (Blu-Ray) (*)

~~$35.99~~ $32.98

Language Selections:
English ( Dolby Digital 5.1 )
English ( Dolby Digital Stereo )
English ( Dolby DTS-HD Master Audio )
English ( Subtitles )

Product Origin/Format:
United Kingdom ( Blu-Ray/Region B )

Running Time:
101 min

Aspect Ratio:
Widescreen (2.35:1)

Special Features:
Behind the scenes
Cast/Crew Interview(s)
Commentary
Deleted Scenes
Featurette
Interactive Menu
Photo Gallery
Scene Access
Trailer(s)

Movie filmed in 2010 and produced in:
Germany ( Germany, Central Europe )
United Kingdom ( Great Britain, Ireland )

Directed By:
Christopher Smith

Written By:
Dario Poloni

Actors:
Sean Bean ..... Ulric
Eddie Redmayne ..... Osmund
Carice van Houten ..... Langiva
David Warner ..... The Abbot
David Masterson ..... Man in village
Kimberley Nixon ..... Averill
John Lynch ..... Wolfstan
Johnny Harris ..... Mold
Andy Nyman ..... Dalywag
Tim McInnerny ..... Hob
Emun Elliott ..... Swire
Marianne Graffam ..... Suspected Witch
Tygo Gernandt ..... Ivo
Martin Hentschel ..... Bailiff Villager Man
Nike Martens ..... Elena

Synopsis:

Slowly emerging as one of Britain's most interesting directors, Christopher Smith follows up his successes with Severance and Triangle by heading back to medieval England. Thus, in Black Death, we meet Sean Bean's Ulric, a knight who, in conjunction with a monk by the name of Osmund, is off on a mission. That quest? To find a necromancer. However, as you might expect, things don't go to plan at all. While the setting may be a change for Smith, his skill behind the camera matures further with Black Death. He's stretching a low budget here, but you'd be hard pushed to spot that for long periods of the film, as he evokes a dark, unpleasant period of history, and uses it as the basis for a very gritty film. Refusing to hide away from the violence and horrors of the time, it's engrossing, but not for the faint of heart. Smith's cast serve him well, too, with Sean Bean reliable in the lead role. He's joined by an ensemble that includes Black Book star Carice van Houten, Tim McInnerny and David Warner amongst others, and the ensemble pulls together terrifically well. The end result is a film that comfortably punches above its budgetary weight, and continues an interesting streak of films from its director. Yet whether you're familiar with his previous work or not, Black Death is very easy to recommend.

In 1348, England is devastated by the Bubonic plague which spreads death across the lands and villages. The young monk, Osmund, asks his beloved Averill to travel with him to a remote village near the Dentwich Forest where the Black Death has not reached yet. She says that she will wait for him in the forest, but Osmund tells her that he will stay at the Staveley Monastery as he is a man of God. However, the emissary of the bishop Ulric arrives at the monastery recruiting a religious man to guide his soldiers and him through the forest and the swamp to the village. They believe that there is a necromancer resurrecting people and protecting the village from the plague. Along their journey, they fight against forest thieves and Osmund finds Averill's clothes dirty and bloody. When they reach the village, they find happy and healthy villagers that have renounced God but are living in peace, and they are welcomed by the leaders Hob and the alchemist Langiva.

In medieval England fallen under the shadow of the Black Death, the young monk, Osmund is charged with leading a fearsome knight, Ulric (Sean Bean) to a remote marsh. Their quest is to hunt down a necromancer - someone able to bring the dead back to life. Torn between his love of God and the love of a young woman, Osmund discovers the necromancer, a mysterious beauty called Langiva. After Langiva reveals her Satanic identity and offers Osmund his heart's desire, the horror of his real journey begins.

This product was added to our catalog on Thursday 25 November, 2010.