Seanson of the Witch
Studio: Atlas Entertainment
Director: Dominic Sena
Writer: Bragi F. Schut
Release date: January 7th 2011
Staring: Nicolas Cage, Ron Perlman,
Stephen Graham, Stephen Campbell
Moore, Ulrich Thomsen, Claire Foy
Running Time: 95min
Rated: PG-13
Director: Dominic Sena
Writer: Bragi F. Schut
Release date: January 7th 2011
Staring: Nicolas Cage, Ron Perlman,
Stephen Graham, Stephen Campbell
Moore, Ulrich Thomsen, Claire Foy
Running Time: 95min
Rated: PG-13
Back of the box:
In 14th-century Europe, a courageous knight (Nicolas Cage) leads a group
of weary warriors across impossibly treacherous terrain in order to
transport a suspected witch (Claire Foy) believed to be responsible for
spreading the devastating Black Plague. Filmed on location in Austria,
director Dominic Sena's supernatural adventure also stars Ron Perlman,
Stephen Graham, Ulrich Thomsen and Stephen Campbell Moore.
In 14th-century Europe, a courageous knight (Nicolas Cage) leads a group
of weary warriors across impossibly treacherous terrain in order to
transport a suspected witch (Claire Foy) believed to be responsible for
spreading the devastating Black Plague. Filmed on location in Austria,
director Dominic Sena's supernatural adventure also stars Ron Perlman,
Stephen Graham, Ulrich Thomsen and Stephen Campbell Moore.
The Bloody Truth:
Season of the Witch deserves a chance.
Nicolas Cage’s Horror / Fantasy / action vehicle Season of the Witch
unceremoniously hit theaters with the expected malaise of poor critical
reviews. With Nick Cage on the marquee, one tends to think of silly action
films and directors who sacrifice tight stories and well drawn characters for
a big name. Many serious horror fans surely did not even make note of
the films’ release date, and so Season of the Witch would seem destined
to fail.
The Bloody Truth is, Season of the Witch is a fun flick. It brings to mind
the tough as nails Buddy movies that we enjoyed so much in the 90s, but
with a Medieval Knight twist of course. The story and characters are done
just smartly enough to lead you from one action sequence to another all,
tied together with Nick Cage and Ron Perlman’s gruff charm. At moments
you almost expect Perlamn to turn to Cage and utter “I’m too old for this
shit” and that would be ok.
If you suspend your need for modern, ultra realism and sit back to enjoy
what amounts to a horror action flick you should enjoy this film. Just
prepare for a movie that is just this side of ‘campy’ and Season of the
Witch will deliver.
Season of the Witch deserves a chance.
Nicolas Cage’s Horror / Fantasy / action vehicle Season of the Witch
unceremoniously hit theaters with the expected malaise of poor critical
reviews. With Nick Cage on the marquee, one tends to think of silly action
films and directors who sacrifice tight stories and well drawn characters for
a big name. Many serious horror fans surely did not even make note of
the films’ release date, and so Season of the Witch would seem destined
to fail.
The Bloody Truth is, Season of the Witch is a fun flick. It brings to mind
the tough as nails Buddy movies that we enjoyed so much in the 90s, but
with a Medieval Knight twist of course. The story and characters are done
just smartly enough to lead you from one action sequence to another all,
tied together with Nick Cage and Ron Perlman’s gruff charm. At moments
you almost expect Perlamn to turn to Cage and utter “I’m too old for this
shit” and that would be ok.
If you suspend your need for modern, ultra realism and sit back to enjoy
what amounts to a horror action flick you should enjoy this film. Just
prepare for a movie that is just this side of ‘campy’ and Season of the
Witch will deliver.
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4
5
6
5
1
And the rest..... 1 - 5
Acting - 3 Cinematography - 3
Sound - 3 Music - 3
Story - 3 Reality - 3
Acting - 3 Cinematography - 3
Sound - 3 Music - 3
Story - 3 Reality - 3
I've got to explain the irony of how we came to watch this little gem of a movie before actually reviewing this year's early horror movie: Season
of the Witch. My wife has worked for a catholic hospital for at least 10 years and she recieved free movie tickets for a Christmas gift this last
year. Since other reviews of this movie called Season of the Witch "catholic propoganda", I felt this movie made a great gift and we headed for
the theater.
Nick Cage and Ron Perlman play 14th century knights that fight for their God and Church and kill thousands of "enemies of God" in the first 30
minutes of the film. It's when "Behman" (Cage) kills an innocent woman that he realizes he does not want to fight for the church and both
Behman and Felson (Perlman) become "deserters." They soon run into the plague and are asked to travel to a monastery with a girl who has
been pronounced by the church "a witch." Although it is difficult to make out Christopher Lee's character as the plague ridden Cardinal
D'Ambroise, those fans of LOTR and old Hammer films will not mistake his voice. Soon a group of misfits are assembled that could resemble
the "A team" and they are on their way. Many problems make themselves known along the way, coming from this world and the "supernatural."
But, in the end you can be left scratching your head as the story unfolds both trying to explain the "twist" ending and showing a rather thick CGI
climactic ending.
I found both Cage and Perlman's character personalities bounced off each other well and made it easy to believe they have been friends for
many years...ever since signing up together as fighters for the church. All of the other characters paled in comparison including the girl playing
the possible "witch." As I eluded to a minute ago, the effects were a little generic and seemed "lazily" done by todays standards but I'm still one
to believe the old school effects without computers would have shifted this movie from my good category to great!
Don't get me wrong, I thoroughly enjoyed myself and thought the ending was enough to say: "The Catholic church saved the day" but still left
me wanting a bit more out of the storyline. Beautiful countrysides were barely used in place of set pieces but the ambiance of the period was
captured quite well. This one reminded me of the recent "Wolfman" film....great setting, decent storyline and weak effects.
In the end I walked away thinking it was a great story that showed religion in a good light instead of making something out of nothing and
saying it was "Catholic propaganda” - simply NOT the case here. I mean come on... it's a horror movie with Ghost Rider and Hellboy in it for
Christ's sake.
Review by, 'The Dude'
of the Witch. My wife has worked for a catholic hospital for at least 10 years and she recieved free movie tickets for a Christmas gift this last
year. Since other reviews of this movie called Season of the Witch "catholic propoganda", I felt this movie made a great gift and we headed for
the theater.
Nick Cage and Ron Perlman play 14th century knights that fight for their God and Church and kill thousands of "enemies of God" in the first 30
minutes of the film. It's when "Behman" (Cage) kills an innocent woman that he realizes he does not want to fight for the church and both
Behman and Felson (Perlman) become "deserters." They soon run into the plague and are asked to travel to a monastery with a girl who has
been pronounced by the church "a witch." Although it is difficult to make out Christopher Lee's character as the plague ridden Cardinal
D'Ambroise, those fans of LOTR and old Hammer films will not mistake his voice. Soon a group of misfits are assembled that could resemble
the "A team" and they are on their way. Many problems make themselves known along the way, coming from this world and the "supernatural."
But, in the end you can be left scratching your head as the story unfolds both trying to explain the "twist" ending and showing a rather thick CGI
climactic ending.
I found both Cage and Perlman's character personalities bounced off each other well and made it easy to believe they have been friends for
many years...ever since signing up together as fighters for the church. All of the other characters paled in comparison including the girl playing
the possible "witch." As I eluded to a minute ago, the effects were a little generic and seemed "lazily" done by todays standards but I'm still one
to believe the old school effects without computers would have shifted this movie from my good category to great!
Don't get me wrong, I thoroughly enjoyed myself and thought the ending was enough to say: "The Catholic church saved the day" but still left
me wanting a bit more out of the storyline. Beautiful countrysides were barely used in place of set pieces but the ambiance of the period was
captured quite well. This one reminded me of the recent "Wolfman" film....great setting, decent storyline and weak effects.
In the end I walked away thinking it was a great story that showed religion in a good light instead of making something out of nothing and
saying it was "Catholic propaganda” - simply NOT the case here. I mean come on... it's a horror movie with Ghost Rider and Hellboy in it for
Christ's sake.
Review by, 'The Dude'