From the very beginning this is a very dark, very heavy movie. Set in Medieval England, at the start of the Bubonic plague, death is a theme from the very beginning. This story follows the journey of young Osmond (Eddie Redmayne), a novice monk having a crisis of faith. In love
with a young woman and torn between his duty to God and his love for Averill (Kimberly Nixon), Osmond jumps on the chance to escort Ulrich (Sean Bean) and his band to a village in the marshes near where Averill has gone to escape the plague.
As the film progresses it becomes more and more obvious that this movie is less about anything supernatural and more about the effect religious conflicts had on the people of those times. It shows human desperation and morality at its limit. Even when there is a 'witch' she turns out to be little more than a con artist providing the people with false miracles to gain their loyalty.
While this movie has its fair share of violence, the gore is kept to as little as possible. There are almost no special effects in this film, since there is nothing supernatural. To be pulled in to this movie, the acting had to be first rate. And was it ever! All the actors did a magnificent job making this movie what it was supposed to be: something to put a chill in your spine.
In the end I would recommend this to anyone! Though, if you need something where everything ends up sunshine and unicorn farts, save this for later. This is a very serious, very thought-provoking movie.
Overall I give this movie: 8.5 out of 10. I was on the edge of my seat and then I was chilled to the bone. Another amazing piece of work from one of my favorite actors.
Happy Haunting!
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