Product Details

• Actors: Sean Bean, Eddie Redmayne
• Directors: Christopher Smith
• Format: Color, NTSC, Widescreen
• Language: English
• Region: Region 1 (U.S. and Canada only. Read more about DVD formats.)
  
• Aspect Ratio: 1.66:1
• Number of discs: 1
• Rated: R (Restricted)
• Studio: Magnolia Home Entertainment
• DVD Release Date: May 10, 2011
• Run Time: 102 minutes
• Average Customer Review: 3.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (157 customer reviews)
• ASIN: B004P2VQZC
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #19,921 in Movies & TV (See Top 100 in Movies & TV)
• Learn more about "Black Death (+ Digital Copy)" on IMDb

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

A potent combination of medieval combat and religious paranoia, Black Death serves as an outstanding example of how a genre film can smuggle in some surprisingly mature themes without missing a kinetic step. Set during the late 14th century, Dario Poloni's script follows a young monk (Eddie Redmayne) struggling with his faith as the bubonic plague runs rampant through Europe. As he contemplates fleeing England for a forbidden romance, he is tasked with leading a team of bishop-appointed mercenaries (led by Sean Bean) on their search for a rumored necromancer in the wilderness. After the group hacks their way through packs of infected marauders and nonbelievers, their search finally leads them to a pastoral town mysteriously free of the disease. When the town's beautiful leader (Carice van Houten) displays what appears to be mystical healing powers, the monk must decide which side God is truly on. Director Christopher Smith, previously responsible for the commendably bent time-travel saga Triangle, creates a fantastically earthy environment for the film's increasingly supernatural possibilities to take hold. Bolstered by Bean's commanding performance, this is a terrifically grim--and occasionally terribly gory--action film that delivers an unsettling sting in its tail. --Andrew Wright

Product Description

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. There are rumors of a village hidden in marshland that the plague cannot reach. There is talk of a necromancer 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. Joined by a young monk and a small consort of soldiers, the journey ahead will lead them into the heart of darkness where faith is challenged and put to the ultimate test.

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

217 of 234 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars Nice Surprise March 25, 2011

By RG69 VINE™ VOICE

Format:Blu-ray

I honestly had never heard of this film before seeing a preview on Video On Demand. Being a fan of Sean Bean of Lord of the Rings fame, I gave it a try. Set in Europe during the time of the Black Death, this film has Christian knights searching out a village that has not felt the touch of the plague. To guide them they enlist a young monk who has broken his vows and fallen in love with a woman. The story involves their journey and what they find when they reach this village looking for a witch or necromancer. Well acted with great characters. This is a dark story and a wonderfully recreated period piece. This is not a feel good movie, it is gloomy and sticks with you after you have watched. This is a nice find.

83 of 91 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars A Time of Hell on Earth December 1, 2010

By Nicholas Simonds

This movie really stuck with me days after I watched it. I can't imagine what it was like to live in Europe during the Black Death but it must have seemed like Hell on earth. I really enjoyed Eddie Redmayne in this as well as his acting in the excellent The Pillars of the Earth mini series. The cover may fool you into thinking there is a lot of action but the majority is on the story and the characters. However, the action was very brutal and realistic as I think it should be. The pace of the movie was done well and the overall atmosphere is very haunting. Do yourself a favor and watch it.

111 of 125 people found the following review helpful

3.0 out of 5 stars Dark, disturbing and genuinely compelling February 5, 2011

By Janine M. Steiner

On the heels of Season of the Witch (as inaccurate a vision of this era as I have seen), Black Death manages to be everything that its predecessor was not. A group of knights are traveling to a village which has reportedly not been impacted by the plague AT ALL, to determine whether or not it is "protected" by a necromancer. If so, they are to return same to the bishop who commissioned them for judgement and execution. Along the way, they pick up a young monk who knows the area to guide them, discover one of their men shows signs of having contracted the plague, and run afoul of thieves who are obviously robbing any and all travelers for whatever they can get. Ultimately, they reach their destination and discover that the rumors appear to be, in fact, quite true. What is unknown is the identity of the necromancer and how the few soldiers should proceed against so many villagers.

I won't reveal certain twists and I won't give away any more of the plot than I already have. What I will say is that this is one good "tale". The kind The Brothers Grimm would be impressed with; and that any who watch it would do well to remember that a really good tale is neither about leaving, arrival or SPECIAL EFFECTS, it is about the journey. How men are changed by their journeys and about how not all of those changes are honorable or even life-affirming.

The Black Death, The Little Ice Age and The Inquisition were known as the dark ages and there is a reason for that name. This is a movie that is dark, cold, bleak and disturbing... just as it should be.

It is also well shot, well acted, well scripted, costumed and lit. Furthermore, it does not pander to the audience nor assume that we are, or are not, historians. In the end; it's just a well put-together film, one that is well worth seeing.