Sean Bean’s time on Middle Earth apparently paid some dividends.
The actor, who portrayed Boromir in the “Lord of the Rings” trilogy, got to wield the coolest weapons in the new medieval horror movie “Black Death,” out this weekend in select cities and via Video on Demand services.
According to WWTW’s press contact at Magnolia Pictures, the film’s director, Christopher Smith, had his actors pick their weapons based on their IMDb Star-Meter rating. That meant Bean’s sword was the biggest and baddest of them all, while the lesser known co-stars made do with much smaller knives.
The German production used mostly British actors to tell a horror story with an atypical setting. The horrors take place during the 14th century and involve the Black Death, the pestilence which killed millions across Europe.
Beats seeing another shocker on Elm Street, right?
The story follows a knight (Bean) charged by the Church to investigate rumors of a warlock who can bring the dead back to life. Aided by a conflicted monk named Osmund (Eddie Redmayne), the knight charges forward only to find even more gruesome discoveries.
The most intriguing name attached to the project isn’t Bean – it’s Smith. The British director’s labor horror movie “Severance” showed flashes of great promise, and his 2009 shocker “Triangle” proved a satisfyingly complex horror puzzle.
(Photo: Sean Bean and Johnny Harris star in “Black Death,” a Magnet Release. Photo courtesy of Magnet Releasing.)
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{ 5 comments… read them below or add one }
“Triangle” was an under-rated gem. I can’t wait to see this one. I hope Smith has a long and fruitful career.
I saw “Black Death” a couple of weeks ago on HD Net Movies and found it rather disappointing despite the always welcome presence of Sean Bean. Get ready for more Christianity bashing.
Dang, but thanks for the heads-up, Paula. Been a fan of Bean’s since Patriot Games and bummer about more Christianity bashing, which never gets my money or time if I can help it.
I wish this would come out in my area.
I saw this, and loved it. Stylish, tight, fun, cool if you liked the Wicker Man.