The action scenes have a good amount of tension and intensity, but the shaky camera effect can be dizzying. The rest of the cast, who have their own special look and quirk, do a laudable job and work together well. To the film's credit, Sean Bean gets to stretch a bit as Ulric is not completely two-dimensional and we do get to know more on how he became the type of character that he is. I would love to see him someday play a real calm, jovial, intellectual character. Again, he plays that proud, brash character who we know will do somethingÂ…brash. As for Sean Bean, one can't help but feel he is reprising his role as Boromir from Lord of the Rings. As the film progresses, one can appreciate his good range of emotions and acting ability. His performance feels genuine and he acts as I would imagine a monk would act and talk, and he is emotionally relatable. I felt Eddie Redmayne's performance as Osmund really made this film work. There are no characters here that are fully saintly. Osmund, the monk, on the other hand, believes that in order to love God, one must serve through mercy and love. He believes he is serving God through the use of his sword against suspected necromancers. Ulric is a zealous warrior driven by hatred. The film takes place around the time of the Inquisition when there was much distrust from the Catholic church and the government toward pagans. While the film is considered a historical horror film, it is also a bit of an action flick, as it has some energetic, gritty swordplay, with some blood and limbs flying off. Some of the makeup and soundtrack may seem a tad modern, but they are not distracting. The misty landscapes, the costumes, the filthy details, and the sets are impressive.
Even with the film's low budget, it is impressive to look at. Despite its grim mood and subject matter, this film is an entertaining and generally a thought-provoking, medieval horror/thriller. Their journey leads them into various obstacles and darker moments as secrets are unveiled. While Osmund sees this as a mercy mission, Ulric believes necromancy is involved and is determined to bring this necromancer to justice. Set in 1348, during the time of the first outbreak of the bubonic plague in England, Osmund (Eddie Redmayne), a young monk, is tasked to accompany a determined knight named Ulric (Sean Bean) and a group of mercenary soldiers in learning the truth about reports of people being brought back to life in a small village, where the plague has not reached.