Black Death Review & Premiere

I love seeing films in advance of the general public as limited exposure to marketing hype and word of mouth allows me to experience the film first hand and with no expectations. Such was the case with Black Death.

Plague-ridden medieval England: Bodies lie scattered in their hundreds, the country is in turmoil. One hope remains, rumours of a village that is unaffected by the deadly disease. As Gods ambassador, young monk Osmund (Eddie Redmayne) is tasked in leading the fearsome knight Ulrich (Sean Bean) and his group of mercenaries to the remote village. Their quest is to hunt down a necromancer - someone able to bring the dead back to life.

Their journey is treacherous and filled with danger; encountering deadly bandits and vicious witch-burnings that will put their faith to the ultimate test. Though its upon entering the village that their true horror begins...

From Christopher Smith, director of cult hits Creep, Severance and Triangle, comes a brutal and terrifying epic that guarantees to chill the blood and stir the soul.

Black Death is the film you wanted to see when you first heard about Inglourious Basterds (before Tarantino wryly pulled the carpet out from under us) - with the exception that it is set in the much darker and dangerous bubonic Plague ridden Middle Ages. This men on an intense mission doesn't let you forget the complex fundamental religious issues at its core whilst by no means being a "message movie".

Much bigger and broader than Creep and Triangle live wire Christopher Smith's direction is top notch and really allows the cast to flourish. Black Death is the return to form of the Great British Darkness.

The UK Premiere of Black Death was hosted by FrightFest at The Coronet Cinema in Notting Hill. Director Chris Smith and cast members; Andy Nyman, Kimberley Nixon, Johnny Harris & Jamie Ballard were in attendance and did a short QA after the screening. Also spotted at the Premiere were Actress & Author Axelle Carolyn & Director Neil Marshall.

Queue gathering outside the Coronet Cinema for the Black Death Premiere.
It went all the way around the block - Coronet Cinema, Notting Hill

Black Death Premiere - Coronet Cinema, Notting Hill, originally uploaded by Craig Grobler.

FrightFest organisers Alan Jones, Paul McEvoy & Greg Day with
Actress & Author Axelle Carolyn & Director Neil Marshall

Black Death Premiere - Coronet Cinema, Notting Hill, originally uploaded by Craig Grobler.

FrightFest organiser Alan Jones introducing Black Death Director Christopher Smith

Black Death Premiere - Coronet Cinema, Notting Hill, originally uploaded by Craig Grobler.

Black Death Director Christopher Smith hanging with FrightFest organisers
Paul McEvoy & Ian Rattray during the introduction

Black Death Premiere - Coronet Cinema, Notting Hill, originally uploaded by Craig Grobler.

FrightFest organiser Alan Jones introducing Black Death Director Christopher Smith

Black Death Premiere - Coronet Cinema, Notting Hill, originally uploaded by Craig Grobler.

Black Death Director Christopher Smith introducing Black Death and cast members;
Andy Nyman, Kimberley Nixon, Johnny Harris & Jamie Ballard

Black Death Premiere - Coronet Cinema, Notting Hill, originally uploaded by Craig Grobler.

Black Death Director Christopher Smith introducing Black Death and cast members; Andy Nyman, Kimberley Nixon, Johnny Harris & Jamie Ballard

Black Death Premiere - Coronet Cinema, Notting Hill, originally uploaded by Craig Grobler.

Catching up with Black Death Director Christopher Smith after the Premiere.
Sorry the pics so blurry but I prefer the moment captured in this one over the the non blurry pics.
Super talented Christopher Smith is one of those dynamos that kinetic energy seeps from

Black Death Premiere - Coronet Cinema, Notting Hill, originally uploaded by Craig Grobler.

Director: Christopher Smith
Starring: Sean Bean, Carice van Houten, Eddie Redmayne, David Warner, Kimberley Nixon, Andy Nyman, John Lynch, Tim McInnerny, Johnny Harris

UK / Germany, 2010, 101 mins, French with English subtitles

Black Death Review & Premiere

More info:
Over at the Black Death website