Black Death with Sean Bean

Written by Jonathan Jacobs

Ostensibly, all of England is afflicted with a mysterious and incurable disease. Death is knocking at the doorstep of everyone regardless of social status, occupation or character. The rich and poor alike, the moral and those indulging in turpitude, even clergymen are being slaughtered by this ungodly pestilence. Worst of all, no amount of prayer or devotion to god keeps a man safe from certain death. How will Englishmen respond to an uncertain future? Will they become desperate to seek alternative truths or become more devoted to a higher power?

Monk Osmund (Eddie Redmayne) has betrayed his brotherhood. In lieu of remaining chaste to God, Osmund has fornicated with the ravishing Averill (Kimberly Nixon). When the bubonic plague decimates the ranks of his small village, he is determined to secure her safety. Averill is equipped to live in the surrounding forest to prevent anyone from finding her, bringing her to harm, and most essentially, she will be insulated from the plague.

In this atmosphere all sorts of amoral and satanic cults ascend to power. Once Osmund has sent his lover away (presumably to the safety and seclusion of the forest), a small band of the King's hands of justice gallop into town. Led by Ulrich (Sean Bean), these men are tasked with bringing a man of God to a nearby village that is not only allegedly free of sickness, a necromancer resides there keeping victims of the plague alive unnaturally. Osmund volunteers to join these men in search of the cure or to put an end to the unnatural practice of raising the dead. Throughout the film the action that unfolds is narrated by Ulrich's top lieutenant Wolfstan (John Lynch). Lynch is no Morgan Freeman but he narrates admirably.

After a lengthy journey through the perfidious forest, Ulrich, Osmund and the remaining ambassadors arrive in the village deemed to be disease free. They find what appears to be a peaceful village led by a blond bewitcher Langiva (Carice Van Houten). Everything is calm and the plague is nowhere in sight. There is something sinister about the village. Things are too stoic and it seems that every movement is designed to lure the King's journeymen into a horrible trap.

The downfall of the Ulrich's battalion happens quickly and at dinner of all places. Lured into a false sense of security by an abundance of seductresses, the men eat and drink with reckless abandon. For their troubles, everyone other than the monk is drugged. The men are imprisoned and in their defenselessness they come to understand the high priestess's purpose. Langiva resurrects the dead and has cajoled the entire village into following her sorcery. According to Langiva, the village has never known the plague because of her powers. She defends them against all evil, but this can only be accomplished through abandoning Christianity and through worshipping her.

The variable throughout the story is Osmund. He is profoundly conflicted. On one hand he has sinned beyond reckoning by violating his oath. On the other, he is madly on love with Averill and would do almost anything to ensure her survival. Langiva shows Osmund Averill's carcass and promises to restore her vitality if only he will renounce his religion. She offers a similar deal to the prisoners. Moviegoers, who will break first. Will Langiva kill everyone to prove her dominance or will Osmund surrender to her vile offer and leave Christianity behind to preserve the life of his beloved?

Black Death is not particularly original or interesting. Eddie Redmayne and Sean Bean make a story of it, but ultimately we have been here before and seen this story too many times to become invested in it in any serious way. I will watch anything with Bean as the star. I regret that he chose the role of a Stark instead of a Lannister in "Game of Thrones", but Bean has done himself no favors by reducing himself to the token battle warrior in anything that resembles a middle ages picture. Granted he is the man on horseback and has a certain moxie that few others possess, but he needs to be more discriminate in choosing roles. As Boromir he became a legend. As Ned Star a superstar. As Ulrich he is largely forgettable. Black Death is slightly entertaining but this movie season I recommend something more uplifting and engaging.