MOVIE REVIEW: Season of the Witch (2011)

Sometimes, quality films get a terrible reputation on its initial release. The reasons for this can vary””a film might have been made ahead of its time, or sometimes a film may simply need distance to be properly appreciated. One such film is the 2011 version of Season of the Witch, a historical horror/fantasy adventure film starring Nicolas Cage and Ron Perlman. The movie was also notable for reuniting Cage with Gone in 60 Seconds director Dominic Sena and being the first major theatrical debut of Claire Foy, who won a Golden Globe for her role in The Crown. This was a film with no shortage of proven talent, and it raises the question of why this movie was so poorly received at release. Even at the time, this movie“s rejection seemed inexplicable to me, and it is worth looking back at Season of the Witch to see if it was deserved.

In many ways, Season of the Witch is a movie more appropriate for 2020 than it does for the time it initially aired. The story centers around two Crusader Knights, Behmen (played by Cage) and Felson (played by Ron Perlman), who desert after realizing the Church had ordered them to commit atrocities in the name of God. On the way back to Europe, the knights reach a city overrun by a mysterious plague which is believed to be caused by witchcraft. In exchange for their desertion to be forgiven by the Church, the knights agree to escort an accused witch (played by Claire Foy) to an abbey to be tried by the monks there. Such a story is far more relevant in current times, where the fear of plague, false accusations of criminal acts, and the possibility of a looming apocalypse seem like much more real and visceral fears. This is also a story that attempts to reconcile faith against rationality, sin against redemption, and the challenging of old ideas. Moreover, it“s also a film where several of the supporting players have become more famous in later years; in addition to Claire Foy, Rory McCann (otherwise known as Gregor “The Hound”“ Clagane from Game of Thrones) also puts in a brief appearance. The movie has aged nicely in the past nine years, and in some ways, it“s become a more important film over time.

One point that gets lost about the storytelling is how deeply psychological it is, and how well that comes across on screen. Nicolas Cage has, for better or worse, been defined as an actor known for his over-the-top performances, but he“s remarkably restrained with the character of Behmen von Bleibruk. Cage only hits his emotional highs once in the film, which is justified by the fact that he“d just suffered the loss of a couple of traveling companions. Mostly, Cage is very restrained in this, but that makes sense for this character; Behmen is a responsible leader, a soldier scarred by guilt and the horrors of war. The supernatural events play on that guilt and the deep damage he suffers, and his arc is about reclaiming his role as a soldier of God after justifiable disillusionment and remorse. He is the straight man, in contrast to the rowdy and bloodthirsty Felson, who accepts his sins and plows forward through life. We also see psychological horror as various characters are gradually killed one by one, playing on their emotional weaknesses as they succumb to the monster of the film. The knight Eckhart (played by Ulrich Thomsen) is a well-played example, as he“s a man torn apart by the loss of his daughter, a fact that leads him to his eventual death. Through the journey to the abbey, we learn about each of the party members in the expedition, and eventually their human weaknesses are exploited later in the film. This is a movie where the horror elements play on character foibles, rather than on the usual jump scares or extravagant effects, though there is some effects work later in the film. When the final twist hits, it has impact and it makes sense with the earlier half of the film, with everything thoroughly explained and resolved.

Although the acting received some criticism early on, I don“t believe those initial impressions are justified. Cage“s understated performance as Behmen, for instance, is a welcome contrast to Cage“s crazier performances and it shows that he can do good, dramatic acting in the right film. Ron Perlman easily steals the film as Felson, and he is quite easily the standout actor and character in this movie. Felson is more of a fun character, a bloody brawler with a sinful past who accepts who he is and doesn“t question himself. Perlman embodies that character extremely well, giving the right amount of fun, ruggedness and toughness that makes him entertaining to watch. Moreover, the friendship between Behmen and Felson feels real and natural in their exchanges, and it would be easy to believe that Cage and Perlman share that kind of deep friendship. Claire Foy plays the witch, though she is functionally two characters, and Foy makes each of them noticeably different in her approach. At times, there are moments where she shows glimmers of her future as an actress, playing the innocent victim and the monster in equal measure. The supporting cast is generally strong as well, with some credible performances by Thomsen, Robert Sheehan, and Stephen Campbell Moore. Christopher Lee is credited for his role as the Cardinal, though he“s seen for a brief amount of time and in heavy makeup. Still, there“s no question that Lee is under the makeup, and his powerful voice and natural charisma always make him a great actor to watch.

While I believe many of the criticisms leveled at this movie are excessive, that isn“t to say this is a flawless film. Perhaps the worst aspect of this movie comes towards the end, where the true monster of the film is revealed. Though the monster is handled well on the writing level, I can“t help but wonder if there were budgetary problems, because the execution of the monster on film is disappointing. The result is a drab and gray CGI monster that visually underwhelms, and is less interesting than the Claire Foy version of the monster. It’s quite possible that the film would have been better served by practical effects and makeup on a real actor. Moreover, the voice actor for the creature doesn“t capture the deep menace that it should present, nor does it show the complexity of Foy“s version. I“m also a bit skeptical of the way the plot is resolved, as I“m not convinced that the survivor of the battle would even have been able to read Latin during the time of the Crusades; this was traditionally the role of priests in the Middle Ages. Still, the good points of the film outweigh the bad ones, and the result is a complex horror/fantasy film.

For anyone looking for a good Halloween flick that offers hope in the time of plague, Season of the Witch is a good choice. It“s a movie with enough horror elements to make it interesting, though it doesn“t overwhelm on those. It also works as a fantasy adventure film with some solid characterization by a group of good, professional actors. Don“t go in expecting a typical Nicolas Cage film, though it does show what Cage is capable of when delivering a serious performance. In the end, Season of the Witch is an entertaining, spooky tale that delivers on what it needs to, and sometimes that“s good enough.

Score: 4/5

Director: Dominic Sena

Cast: Nicolas Cage, Ron Perlman, Claire Foy, Stephen Campbell Moore, Robert Sheehan, Stephen Graham, Ulrich Thomsen, and Christopher Lee

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Steve Sellers

Steve Sellers had been a fan of superheroes ever since Superman: The Movie. But it took the JSA, the Legion of Super-Heroes, Dragonlance, Lord of the Rings, Twilight Zone, and Chris Claremont's legendary run on the X-Men to make him a writer and a longtime fan of comics, fantasy, and science fiction. Steve is the co-creator of WHITE DRUID & MICHAEL NERO and GUARDIANS OF ELAYIM for Omen Comics, and he is also the creator of BLITZ and SHOCKWAVE for Revelation Comics (an imprint of Omen Comics).