The story follows the Osmund (Eddie Redmayne), a monk in England during the
plague of 1348. He is in love with a girl, Averill, and fears for her.
He sends her away in hopes of saving her from the spreading plague.
However, she promises to wait for him on the edge of the forest for the
next week. He prays for God to give him a sign. The next day, Ulrich
(Sean Bean) arrives. He needs a priest who can guide him into the marsh
beyond the forest. Osmund volunteers with plans of reuniting with
Averill. He soon discovers that Ulrich is an inquisitor out to capture a
necromancer and his men are a nasty band, hardened by strife and not
particularly friendly.
The village they seek has been untouched by the plague. Another inquisitor had been sent but no word of him returned. The journey is not without its troubles. Osmund finds Averill's horse and one of her garments, stained with blood. Brigands attack the band. So it is that a heart-broken Osmund and a diminished band of inquisitors come to the village where Ulrich is certain they will find a heretic.
The village is idyllic. Along the way, they had come across mass graves and piles of burning bodies but this place is untouched. They are greeted warmly and offered food and shelter. Ulrich is more suspicious than ever, especially when he recovers the seal of the previous inquisitor around the neck of an innocent-looking girl. The only church in town is clearly abandoned. The leader of the town appears to be Hob, a genial man. Langiva (Carice van Houten), the town healer, has amazing skill. In fact, she raises Averill from the dead while Osmund watches!
This is the story of Osmund. He is a young man who is torn between love of a woman and devotion to God. His encounter with Ulrich, Langiva, and the village untouched by plague determine his path thereafter.
With a title like Black Death, one can expect a dark, bleak tale, and this movie certainly delivers. There is perhaps too much plot and character development and not enough hacking with swords. When the swords slash, the battles are good fun but they are too few.
One of the many, many films in which Sean Bean dies. It is usually a surprise if he is still alive at the end, kind of like Kenny in South Park. This was made before Redmayne made it big and before Carice van Houten got her role as Melisandre in Game of Thrones.
The village they seek has been untouched by the plague. Another inquisitor had been sent but no word of him returned. The journey is not without its troubles. Osmund finds Averill's horse and one of her garments, stained with blood. Brigands attack the band. So it is that a heart-broken Osmund and a diminished band of inquisitors come to the village where Ulrich is certain they will find a heretic.
The village is idyllic. Along the way, they had come across mass graves and piles of burning bodies but this place is untouched. They are greeted warmly and offered food and shelter. Ulrich is more suspicious than ever, especially when he recovers the seal of the previous inquisitor around the neck of an innocent-looking girl. The only church in town is clearly abandoned. The leader of the town appears to be Hob, a genial man. Langiva (Carice van Houten), the town healer, has amazing skill. In fact, she raises Averill from the dead while Osmund watches!
This is the story of Osmund. He is a young man who is torn between love of a woman and devotion to God. His encounter with Ulrich, Langiva, and the village untouched by plague determine his path thereafter.
With a title like Black Death, one can expect a dark, bleak tale, and this movie certainly delivers. There is perhaps too much plot and character development and not enough hacking with swords. When the swords slash, the battles are good fun but they are too few.
One of the many, many films in which Sean Bean dies. It is usually a surprise if he is still alive at the end, kind of like Kenny in South Park. This was made before Redmayne made it big and before Carice van Houten got her role as Melisandre in Game of Thrones.
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