REVIEW: 14th Century knight’s story isn’t resolved in film
Be prepared for the journey of a lifetime. This is no quest for the holy grail or a time to storm the castle. This is the “Season of the Witch.”
“Season of the Witch” is an adventure/fantasy movie based in the Middle Ages. It put a new spin on the true cause of the Black Death and some of the lives of those who were involved behind the scenes.
Behmen, a crusader who has given and seen more than his share of death, walks away from the Church after killing a young woman “in the name of God.” After a time, he gets recruited to deliver a young woman accused of being a witch and the source of the Black Death to a monastery where she will be tried.
At Behmen’s first introduction to the witch, he remarks that he doesn’t see her as such. However, as he and his companions journey, he discovers that there may be more to her than he initially thought. Mysterious events occur, and perspectives change as the truth reveals itself.
The horror aspects of the film are more psychological than frightening images or blood and guts. How do you know if a person is a witch? Something they say? Something they do? What can a real witch do with all her powers?
The Black Death and the consequences thereof are portrayed accurately in the movie. Disease-ridden bodies are seen throughout the movie, and you can easily see why the plague became known as the Black Death. In his first encounter with the plague, Behmen sees flagellants beating themselves as a way to try to keep the plague away.
The movie has an ominous, dark feeling to it that makes it easier to relate to what the characters feel. Even though there is an ominous setting, the movie did seem to go by a bit fast at some parts, when it could have been drawn out to create more of a connection between the characters and the audience.
Although certain killings happened because of the Church or accidents, some of the main characters take responsibility for the deaths of the innocents they’ve killed and it becomes their personal plague.
Modern elements of language were thrown into the mix of the medieval, which became a distraction at times for me.
I’m not much of a witch-movie lover, because my first experience with witches who didn’t fly around on broomsticks was “The Crucible” and that has made me cautious of witch hunts and movies full of accusations. This definitely made me feel the pain that Behmen went through in his dealings with the church and his empathy for the accused.
I wanted for the young woman to be just that, a smart, strong, young woman, but strange events during the journey show that she really may be a witch, but is that all a facade, or is there more going on than anyone realizes?
Nicolas Cage did a good job as a torn knight who becomes concerned about someone, since he has no real attachment to anyone – no family, no home, and only one close friend. Ron Perlman did well in supporting Cage’s character as a good friend, a strong arm and a sense of humor.
The other characters of the traveling group did well in their respective roles. Note that although Christopher Lee (Star Wars, Lord of the Rings) is listed towards the top of the cast, his role is actually quite minor, which was a bit of a disappointment to me, since I enjoy his deep voice and the confidence he brings to a part.
The soundtrack was well done. The music helped paint the scenes with such style that created a whole new level to the tones of the movie. There were also some great epic elements in the score, especially during the ending credits, which captured the intensity of the action and the depth of the drama.
I gave the movie a C+ because I didn’t enjoy the resolution at the end, which I cannot disclose because that would spoil the movie.
I enjoyed “Season of the Witch” because it delved into the journey of redemption for a knight who became distressed by his actions and the justifications he was told about them. I’d recommend seeing this movie when it goes to the discount theater, or for renting it when it is released on DVD and Blu-ray.
– spencer.palmer@aggiemail.usu.edu