Season of the Witch (C or 2/4 stars)
I guess it's a good thing when you walk out of a theater 'not hating' a movie that you figured you would {haha}. 'Season of the Witch' (directed by Dominic Sena) is not nearly as putrid as I'd imagined. There are boring, ridiculous stretches, but I was entertained. As the film begins, Behmen & Felson (Nicolas Cage, Ron Perlman) are 2 of God's most heroic knights in the Crusades (14th century). That is, until they reach a simultaneous epiphany after killing an innocent woman. That epiphany? That killing is bad {doh}. They desert the Crusades & stumble into a decrepit, Black Plague-ridden village where they're commanded by a God-fearing priest, Debelzaq (Stephen Campbell Moore), and the dying Cardinal D'Ambroise (Christopher Lee, hidden under some stunning plague-effect make-up) to join a group of 4 others to transport a suspected witch (Claire Foy, alternately cute & freaky) in a cage to a remote monastery where she can be tried for heresy.
The Cardinal suspects that she is the sole reason for the Black Plague that is ravaging the land, and, with the girl's death, perhaps the Plague will vanquish with her. One of the 4 members of this fellowship is an idyllic youth who wants to become a knight (Robert Sheehan). Behmen, having lost faith in God, tires to dissuade the youth & continue on in his mission to ensure the suspected witch a fair trial at the monastery. The transportation of said witch is harrowing, with a plethora of obstacles popping up to impede them; one being a long, rickety bridge; dangling high above a canyon (great scene). Another obstacle is an attack from a pack of mangy wolves. And once they get to the monastery, the girl's dark secret unfolds, & all Hell breaks loose; culminating in a crazy climactic duel between the remaining protagonists and a demon who was inhabiting the supposed-witch's body.
Okay, right away I was irked (rather than amused) when Nic Cage started talking in faux-Shakespearean-talk (American accented , no less) when there was no effort put forth to alter his tongue for a 14th c. setting. Since no aspect of the movie is filmed as 'parody' - I was annoyed at the distinct lack of effort. Other than that, I was mildly engaged for the first 30 min. or so. I liked the mood & setting (filmed in Hungary & Austria). The sets, costumes & plague-induced make-up felt suitably dingy. The perpetually cloudy skies added to the ominous atmosphere. And I usually enjoy quest movies such as this is. The problem, for me was the mid section (borrring). The opening & closing is silly {duh, look at the title). But at least I was engaged.
Beneath the heavy production design & too-light performances, a smattering of interesting ideas are breached within the narrative; believe it or not. I give the film some credit for having a major character (and a knight, at that) recognize that the Crusades were bullsh*t - that it was a power play btwn. the Church & racists. The idea never expands, because the plot has to get back to Behlen escorting a witch to a monastery. But I'm glad it was in there. The other source of intrigue is: just who the hell IS this girl they're transporting? Is she possessed? Is she (like a woman in the opening scene) an innocent who's mistaken for a witch? Or, if she is a witch, does that necessarily mean that it's devil's play? Intriguing ideas. But none of them fully examined because this is a brainless action movie.
'Season of the Witch' cannot be mistaken for a good film. But it goes down easy. I appreciate the mishmash of history, sci-fi horror & action. The entire end sequence (however preposterous) is satisfactory. And it's leagues better than Cage's usually dismal fare (The Wicker Man, Ghost Rider, Bangkok Dangerous). I'm a sucker for fantasy/adventure road trip films set in a medieval setting, anyway; no matter how standard they are. And this is standard, believe you me. Of course, it would have helped had there been better filmmaking, sturdier action, a sense of humor (amid the absurdity), better developed characters, & more intrigue. But the movie is what it is. And for January-at-the-theaters, I suppose you could do far worse.
The Cardinal suspects that she is the sole reason for the Black Plague that is ravaging the land, and, with the girl's death, perhaps the Plague will vanquish with her. One of the 4 members of this fellowship is an idyllic youth who wants to become a knight (Robert Sheehan). Behmen, having lost faith in God, tires to dissuade the youth & continue on in his mission to ensure the suspected witch a fair trial at the monastery. The transportation of said witch is harrowing, with a plethora of obstacles popping up to impede them; one being a long, rickety bridge; dangling high above a canyon (great scene). Another obstacle is an attack from a pack of mangy wolves. And once they get to the monastery, the girl's dark secret unfolds, & all Hell breaks loose; culminating in a crazy climactic duel between the remaining protagonists and a demon who was inhabiting the supposed-witch's body.
Okay, right away I was irked (rather than amused) when Nic Cage started talking in faux-Shakespearean-talk (American accented , no less) when there was no effort put forth to alter his tongue for a 14th c. setting. Since no aspect of the movie is filmed as 'parody' - I was annoyed at the distinct lack of effort. Other than that, I was mildly engaged for the first 30 min. or so. I liked the mood & setting (filmed in Hungary & Austria). The sets, costumes & plague-induced make-up felt suitably dingy. The perpetually cloudy skies added to the ominous atmosphere. And I usually enjoy quest movies such as this is. The problem, for me was the mid section (borrring). The opening & closing is silly {duh, look at the title). But at least I was engaged.
Beneath the heavy production design & too-light performances, a smattering of interesting ideas are breached within the narrative; believe it or not. I give the film some credit for having a major character (and a knight, at that) recognize that the Crusades were bullsh*t - that it was a power play btwn. the Church & racists. The idea never expands, because the plot has to get back to Behlen escorting a witch to a monastery. But I'm glad it was in there. The other source of intrigue is: just who the hell IS this girl they're transporting? Is she possessed? Is she (like a woman in the opening scene) an innocent who's mistaken for a witch? Or, if she is a witch, does that necessarily mean that it's devil's play? Intriguing ideas. But none of them fully examined because this is a brainless action movie.
'Season of the Witch' cannot be mistaken for a good film. But it goes down easy. I appreciate the mishmash of history, sci-fi horror & action. The entire end sequence (however preposterous) is satisfactory. And it's leagues better than Cage's usually dismal fare (The Wicker Man, Ghost Rider, Bangkok Dangerous). I'm a sucker for fantasy/adventure road trip films set in a medieval setting, anyway; no matter how standard they are. And this is standard, believe you me. Of course, it would have helped had there been better filmmaking, sturdier action, a sense of humor (amid the absurdity), better developed characters, & more intrigue. But the movie is what it is. And for January-at-the-theaters, I suppose you could do far worse.