Black Death

Name: Black Death
Genre: Adventure, Drama, Mystery, Horror
Released: March 11, 2011
Duration: 102 min
Rating: 71
Cast: Carice van Houten, Eddie Redmayne, Kimberley Nixon, Sean Bean

2011

METASCORE

Generally favorable reviews based on 10 Critic Reviews

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USER SCORE

Generally favorable reviews based on 72 Ratings

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6.6

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6.6	User Score Generally favorable reviews based on 72 Ratings

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Black Death

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Movie Details & Credits

Magnet Releasing | Release Date: March 11, 2011 | R

Starring: Carice van Houten, Eddie Redmayne, Kimberley Nixon, Sean Bean

Summary: 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 necromancerThe 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 necromancer who leads the village and is able to bring the dead back to life. Ulric, a fearsome knight, is charged by the church to investigate these rumors. He enlists the guidance of a novice monk, Osmund to lead him and his band of mercenary soldiers to the marshland, but Osmund has other motives for leaving his monastery. 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. (Magnet Releasing)… Expand

Director: Christopher Smith

Genre(s): Adventure, Drama, Mystery, Horror

Rating: R

Runtime: 102 min

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Critic Reviews

Jeannette Catsoulis

Mar 10, 2011

Here, excessive piety and rampant paganism are equally malevolent forces, the film's baleful view of human nature mirrored in Sebastian Edschmid's swampy photography. As is emphasized in a nicely consistent coda, the Lord's side and the right side are not necessarily one and the same. Read full review

IndieWire Eric Kohn

Mar 10, 2011

Black Death embraces its horror roots with ample bloodshed, at which point the silly costumes and anachronistic dialogue no longer seem so absurd. Read full review

Noel Murray

Mar 10, 2011

Black Death bears some similarities to a zombie movie in the way the plague inevitably overtakes the populace, and it also has one foot in the "creepy community" genre, alongside films like "The Wicker Man" and "Two Thousand Maniacs!" Read full review

Leslie Felperin

Mar 7, 2011

While managing to deliver enough suspense and bloodletting to appease gore fans, steadily improving helmer Christopher Smith ("Severance") and screenwriter Dario Poloni smuggle in a merciless critique of religious delusion. Read full review

Lou Lumenick

Mar 11, 2011

Though deadly serious, Christopher Smith's European-made bubonic- plague melodrama provides good value with lots of blood and guts, as well as a solid cast. Read full review

Joshua Rothkopf

Mar 8, 2011

With unexpected supernatural restraint, the movie approaches a religious parable; am I being unfair in wishing it had a touch more apocalyptic hysteria to it? Read full review

Empire Dan Jolin

Mar 7, 2011

An encouraging set-up soon descends into a grubby muddle, leaving you wishing you were just rewatching "The Name Of The Rose" instead. Read full review

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User Reviews

pulkmees

Jun 26, 2011

So what can I say about this movie in general - it has gore, faith, death, love.In that order.
I wouldn't say it's a horror movie, it takes more from movies like The Wickerman rather than typical horror flicks, though the amount of gore it has makes me think it was also influenced by The SawSo what can I say about this movie in general - it has gore, faith, death, love.In that order.
I wouldn't say it's a horror movie, it takes more from movies like The Wickerman rather than typical horror flicks, though the amount of gore it has makes me think it was also influenced by The Saw movies. The Good - plot was.....fun to watch unravel, it's thrilling, I wouldn't say the ending was predictable(coming from a guy, who likes movies with a twist), it was however logical.That much death, violence and deceit can seriously damage a human's mental state.The characters were believable, non-stereotypical(imo). The Bad - maybe too much gore, though it was important to show the violence.After all the medieval times weren't a picnic, but more like a gritty day-to-day fight for survival.… Expand

6 of 8 users found this helpful62

Weyland-Yutani

Mar 18, 2014

Excellent movie. Absolutely loved it. Sean Bean is a master of the craft. Story kept me guessing. I highly recommend this one. Not sure how it got a 6.2, but thats an atrocity. Script is magic. Unfortunately, because of simpletons that score this movie low, the likelihood of another thinkingExcellent movie. Absolutely loved it. Sean Bean is a master of the craft. Story kept me guessing. I highly recommend this one. Not sure how it got a 6.2, but thats an atrocity. Script is magic. Unfortunately, because of simpletons that score this movie low, the likelihood of another thinking man's/women's movie getting made becomes more slim by the day. Make room for Transformer 18.… Expand

3 of 4 users found this helpful31

TheQuietGamer

Oct 28, 2014

Not your traditional horror movie. There aren't any monsters or ghosts, and nothing is jumping out at you. Instead the horror is derived from the cruelty of people. It's dark, cruel, and encourages standing strong in one's faith.

Fantastic performances all around. Don't ask me what it is,Not your traditional horror movie. There aren't any monsters or ghosts, and nothing is jumping out at you. Instead the horror is derived from the cruelty of people. It's dark, cruel, and encourages standing strong in one's faith.

Fantastic performances all around. Don't ask me what it is, but whenever you give Sean Bean a sword and some armor you're in for a treat. The plot may seem slow-paced to some, but I found it to move excellently. The characters are all well written and have believable dialog.

"Black Death" uses the bubonic-plague era to form a compelling tale. One that shows just how dangerous people can be when they're scared of death. Mixing it in with aspects of religion may drive some away, but I think the movie uses those aspects to good effect. It shows what dark places people can go to for their faith. OVerall I find it to be an excellent movie. One that does something different for the horror genre. My total score for it is a 9.7/10.… Expand

3 of 4 users found this helpful31

MattBrady99

Jun 20, 2019

A brutal and grim medieval drama.

Not a great movie with issues in the story narrative, but I was entertained enough to stay with it.

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

Schweinehund

Mar 11, 2011

The movie takes place in a plague-ridden medieval England. Our protagonist is a sensitive young monk, struggling to balance his sexual cravings for his secret lover and his religious purity. That was actually quite annoying. So you got this remote village, that somehow was unaffected by theThe movie takes place in a plague-ridden medieval England. Our protagonist is a sensitive young monk, struggling to balance his sexual cravings for his secret lover and his religious purity. That was actually quite annoying. So you got this remote village, that somehow was unaffected by the plague, and this buncha guys set out on a quest to find the cure. Oh, and the young monk tags along with them. I enjoyed the first half of the movie, it had that gritty "dark age" atmosphere you are probably looking for when you watch a movie with the title of Black Death. There is a sword fight in the woods with some bandits, which I enjoyed. The latter half of the movie, when our guys get in the touch with the locals, is too slow and quite boring actually. I don't want to spoil it, but there you have this witch that has taken control of the village and she doesn't like strangers very much.… Expand

1 of 4 users found this helpful13

in2themusic

Mar 22, 2011

BORING with a capital Oring Although the acting was good the story had no meaning, was totally predictable and no real ending...I kept feeling like there would be a twist or revelation that hadnt already been figured out but it never came

1 of 7 users found this helpful16

MegWhiteley

Mar 13, 2012

Very boring film, When I'm watch this movie I believe that I found a great horror title, but sorprise, I'm sleep with this film. Black Death is a very awful film.

0 of 11 users found this helpful011

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