Black Death (DVD, 2011)

The year is 1348. Europe has fallen under the shadow of the Black Death. As the plague decimates all in its path, fear and superstition are rife. In this apocalyptic environment, the church is losing its grip on the people. There are rumors of a village, hidden in marshland that the plague cannot reach.

There is even talk of a wizard who leads the village and is able to bring the dead back to life. Ulric (Sean Bean), a fearsome knight, is charged by the church to investigate these rumors. He enlists the guidance of a novice monk, Osmund (Eddie Redmayne) to lead him and his band of mercenary soldiers to the marshland, but Osmund has other motives for leaving his monastery. He has been smitten by a woman who was brought to the monastery. She is suspected to be a witch and the source of the plague. She escapes the monastery and Osmund agrees to meet her at a prearranged place. When the opportunity to lead the mercenaries arises, he volunteers to lead them.

Their journey to the village and events that unfold take them into the heart of darkness and to horrors that will put Osmund's faith in himself and his love for God to the ultimate test. When they arrive at this remote village, they find that there is no plague, ample food, and high spirits. The village is overseen by a matriarch named Langiva (Candice van Houten) reveals that survival does not come without sacrifice. They are all taken into custody accused of being the reason for the plague.

Grim, realistic film about the Middle Ages.

This was marketed as a horror movie, but it's really a historical film about the Black Plague. It doesn't fit into the horror genre, unless simply living in the Middle Ages qualifies as horror --- which, in a way, it does. The film accurately shows how brutal, superstitious, and fanatically religious most medieval people were, by modern standards. There is a lot of torture and killing, mostly of people unfairly accused of witchcraft. This film would appeal to someone who wants to see the grim reality of the era.

I struggled with this review.....3star movie Average at best

It was very hard for me to rate this movie. I actually looked at my wife and said wow this 1 will be hard. In most movies theirs alot of good and bad. THis movie was no different. I found myself being able to slam it with a 2star, or give it possibly a 4star, although I don't think it really qualifies for it. Maybe 3.5stars at best. ITs a lower budget film, but its story stays intack most of the movie. I don't think the story falls apart at the end like another reviewer previously stated though. It might not be the ending anyone wanted lol, but its was more kinda a un-clear ending. Well...that all being said, its not a action packed movie. And its more of a thinking, that tried to have action in it. The actors did a good job, but I found myself wanting to slap the lead actor with some of his over the top looks on his face. I guess it fit the moment, but idk. My wife says, its a solid 3. Kinda confusing, although to her it was kinda like a religious movie. For me, its a decent movie, average at best. If your into movies that try to add story to history, and spice things up a bit, you wont hate this 1. If you think its an action packed, lets hunt down and kill everything type movie.....well you'll be very disappointed.

Don't bother.

It's only good if you don't watch the end. They did a really good job in the beginning, but it seems like they ran out of story line, and just ended it however, to get the movie done. I give this movie a resounding "meh." Don't buy. Don't rent it on the new movie rack. Wait until it hits the 49 cent special.

Gory,bloody-a great movie

Gory,bloody-a great movie. The story line sounds believable given the lack of education and the overcrowded, filthy living conditions in the larger cities.