Screenplay by Bragi F. Schut (Threshold)
Starring Nicolas Cage, Ron Perlman, Claire Foy (Being Human), Stephen Campbell Moore (The Children), Robert Sheehan, Ulrich Thomsen (The Thing 2011), Stephen Graham (Al Capone in Boardwalk Empire) and Christopher Lee
Season of the Witch tells the story of a pair of knights, Behmen (Nicolas Cage) and Felson (Ron Perlman), who return from the Crusades to find their homeland consumed by the Black Plague. Captured as deserters, Behmen and Felson, are ordered to escort a young girl named Anna - who has confessed to being a witch and causing the plague - to a far away monastery in order to rid the countryside of disease and fear. They are joined by Debelzaq a priest, Eckhardt a knight, Hagamar a swindler and Kay an alter boy. At first believing the young girl to be innocent and insisting she get a fair trial, the small band begins to suspect the worst of Anna as their numbers dwindle along their journey.
There are some movies that you know what you’re going to get when you walk into the theater - good or bad. Season of the Witch is one of those films. The advertising, trailers and casting reveal more than they should about this period piece horror adventure. Contrary to the wise proverb, this book can be judged by its cover and it just isn’t very good. Not that it doesn’t try. However, Season of the Witch doesn’t seem to know exactly what it wants to be, a period piece on the Crusades, a action feature, a horror film or a satire.
Most of the problem lies in the script by Bragi F. Schut who created the TV series Threshold in 2005. The characters are so stereotypical and so shallow there is very little to involve the audience. The catalyst behind Behmen’s (Cage) defection from the church and the crusades is contrived and disingenuous. An understandable decision, for sure (the slaughter of innocent women and children), but why is it only he and his trusted ally and friend Felson (Perlman) are the only ones who realize the horrors they’ve just committed and decide to leave the church. It’s an unnecessary and misused motivation. It would have been just as useful to start off with the two of them as war-worn wanderers; it would have been more mysterious. It only serves to cause confusion and create a weak, inspired lead character. The mystery of Anna suspected of being a witch is thinly veiled undermining any suspense that may have been present otherwise. A good portion of the story is given to the journey to the far away monastery - a dull adventure full of silly challenges and weak character development. The one thing the script got right is the relationship between Behmen and Felson and Cage and Perlman make the most of it when they are able. It’s their friendship, their bond that keeps the movie aloft and enjoyable.
As Behmen, Nicolas Cage makes for a rugged Crusader, but has a hard time coming across as seasoned and imposing as the script would like him to be. While he has the courage and the intelligence the character needs, he’s a bit too soft and emotional to support the cunning and strength character should have. However, it’s a fine Cage performance that could have used a bit more of the actor’s trademark quirky traits. Ron Perlman however is at home as Felson. He provides the character with an imposing charm, a fierce wit and a strength and weight that defines the role. Perlmen is so good as Felson that if the filmmakers were to have switched the roles of Behmen and Felson, the movie would have been better for it. Behmen’s and Felson’s friendship is believable and engaging. What little fun this movie does have is due to these two characters and these two actors as a team.
The rest of the cast are either serviceable or fair poorly at best. Clair Foy plays Anna, the girl who has admitted to being a witch. For most of the film, she is either chained to a dungeon floor or in the cart during the voyage. She is able to play the innocent young girl fair enough, but when the script calls for her to appear the slightest bit devious or mischievous, she falls flat. There are only a few brief moments where she conveys any mystery behind her character - such as when she saves young Kay (the alter boy) from falling off a bridge where she appears simultaneously saintly and sinister. The rest of the cast are little more than chess pieces, serving only a specific purpose for the story and the actors brings very little to propel the characters beyond the script and direction. Stephen Graham who plays Al Capone in HBO’s Boardwalk Empire portrays Hagamar the jailed swindler who ends up as their guide. Even though Graham is English by birth, there are times the New York accent he uses in the HBO show rises to surface here. In a cameo role, horror legend Christopher Lee appears as Cardinal D’Ambroise who sends the group on their journey.
The special effects are somewhere between The Mummy and Van Helsing, heavy on the CGI and light on the imagination. The plagued victims are particularly gruesome, but the CGI wolves and supernatural creatures are clearly CGI. The greenscreen work is very well done however with scenes of vast landscapes and war worn cities and monasteries. Director Dominc Sena makes the most of the effects and, while far better than SyFy features but below par for theatrical films, they suit the films well enough. He also lifts too much from other films. In particular, the Crusades scenes have a heavy 300 influence with slow-motion cuts in the action and with familiar staging of vast armies opposing each other in battle. Later in the film, he brings in a little tinge of Army of Darkness without any of the flair Sam Raimi is known for.
Season of the Witch is a waste of time in the theater, a complete misfire. The script is too confused on what other movie it wants to be - 300, The Mummy, Van Helsing and Army of Darkness. It has no identity of its own and no original story to tell. The direction provides no suspense or frights and the few emotional arcs fail to connect with the characters or the audience. While there are a few fun moments and the final battle is enjoyable, the single shining gem Season of the Witch can claim is the casting of Cage and Perlmen as best buds. They are fun to watch together and make a great pair with most of this due to Perlman’s wit and charm. Recommended only to fans of either Cage or Perlman at best, for most it would be better to wait for cable or Red Box.
2 out of 5
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