damned

       Can a person who has sinned truly be redeemed, and if so, how can he do it?That question is at the heart of "Solomon Kane," a grimy, rainy story focused on a man who has done horrible things, and now desperately tries to redeem himself. But despite a lack of real setting, Michael J. Bassett's dark fantasy is a strangely compelling, haunting one, and James Purefoy's lean, desperate performance fits his character beautifully.For many years, mercenary Solomon Kane (Purefoy) killed and stole without regard for anyone. But in one raid in Africa, he found the Devil's reaper waiting for him -- and only barely escaped. Terrified by the prospect of hell, Solomon devotes himself to peace and God at a monastery. And after the abbot sends him out into the world, Solomon befriends a family of Puritans, particularly the pure-hearted Meredith (Rachel Hurd-Wood).But when the family is slaughtered and Meredith is kidnapped, Solomon throws aside his vow of...Read more

The hero, Solomon Kane, is an early 16th century Puritan who roams the earth fighting evil. The character was introduced in 1928 by Robert E. Howard, the creator of Conan.This movie is a wonderful sword and sorcery story. It's not quite true to the Solomon Kane stories as written by Howard, but it's a very exciting and entertaining origin story for the Kane character. Purists may complain that it's not verbatim Howard, but it is well written. Presumably now that he has been given a back story, he can go forth in sequels vanquishing evil in true Howard fashion.The film introduces Solomon Kane as a murderous privateer who one day discovers that his wicked past has caught up with him and the devil is ready to claim his soul. A near escape from the devil's own reaper is enough to set Kane on the path to righteousness. He forsakes his violent past to become a man of peace but, as they will do, circumstances conspire against him.James Purefoy is...Read more

I first saw "Solomon Kane" at the Alamo Draft House screening in Austin in October of 2009. SK is a terrifically entertaining tale of a 17th Century soldier of fortune who turns his sword against dark and demonic forces threatening Elizabethan England. It was a real thrill to see a high adventure film with strains of horror and fantasy. These days movies like "Solomon Kane" are far and few between. I can't think of a Sword and Sorcery genre film since the first Conan film that has taken this serious, respectful approach to the genre. In fact, the film is based on a character created by the legendary Robert E. Howard, inventor and master of the Sword and Sorcery story. The film follows an origin tale that Howard never wrote, but in the opinion of this long time REH reader it is Howard's vengeful Puritan up there on the screen by the film's closing credits.Michael J. Bassett's direction is classic in style, employing plenty of stylish tracking shots and thankfully very...Read more