Season of the Witch

In 14th century Europe, the devastating effects of the Black Plague are still being felt. The once-thriving towns and villages lie in ruins, and panic and fear grip the hearts of those who remain. It is in this dire landscape that a group of knights, tasked with the unenviable duty of transporting a suspected witch to a remote abbey, journey through the war-torn countryside. The film's story centers around Behmen (Neal McDonough), a battle-hardened Crusader who has just returned from the Holy Land with his comrade, Felson (Michael Hogan). As they ride through the desolate landscape, the weight of their past experiences and the reality of their current situation slowly begin to sink in. The Black Plague, which has claimed the lives of millions, has left a country in shambles. The Church, desperate for a solution, has deemed Behmen and Felson the perfect candidates to undertake a perilous mission: to transport a witch, the daughter of a heretic, to a remote abbey, where monks will perform an exorcism in the hopes of ending the disease-ridden cycle. The witch, named Nicole (Claire Foy), is a young and beautiful woman who is accused of consorting with the devil himself. As Behmen and Felson set out on their journey, they are met with suspicion and hostility from the local villagers, who are quick to label anyone deemed different as a witch. The atmosphere is tense, with everyone seemingly waiting for the next shoe to drop. The presence of Behmen, a decorated warrior with a reputation to uphold, is seen as an opportunity to exact revenge on the supposed witch. As the trio journeys through the countryside, they encounter various obstacles and dangers. From swarms of locusts to ferocious bandits, the roads are fraught with peril. The tension builds as Behmen and Felson realize that their mission is far from a straightforward task. Nicole, who is seemingly oblivious to the danger surrounding her, displays a unique set of skills that suggest she might be more than just an ordinary witch. Meanwhile, Felson, a seasoned veteran, begins to question the purpose of their mission. He harbors a growing distrust of the Church, suspecting that the real intention behind the ritual is to maintain the power structure and keep the masses in line. These feelings are echoed by his conversations with Behmen, who is equally troubled by the moral implications of their actions. When they finally reach the remote abbey, the trio is met with a mixture of curiosity and hostility. The monks, led by the zealous Father Debel (Ron Perlman), are determined to see the ritual through, regardless of the danger it poses to Nicole. As tensions escalate, the line between reality and the unknown begins to blur. Behmen, driven by a sense of duty and honor, feels increasingly torn between his obligation to complete the mission and his growing conviction that the ritual is nothing more than a sham. As the journey reaches its climax, Behmen begins to question everything he once held dear. His faith is shaken, and the notion that the Church is the sole custodian of truth no longer holds sway. His interactions with Nicole, who seems to possess an otherworldly understanding of the world, serve only to further erode his faith in the established order. In a final, desperate attempt to uncover the truth, Behmen and Nicole embark on a hidden journey that takes them deep into the heart of the abbey. What they discover challenges the very foundation of their understanding of the world and forces them to confront the truth – that the real enemy is not the devil, but the societal norms that perpetuate fear and oppression. Ultimately, the film presents a searing critique of a society that has lost its way. The characters' struggles to navigate the treacherous landscape of fear and superstition, while grappling with their own faith and loyalty, serve as a powerful reminder that, even in the darkest of times, it is the capacity for compassion and understanding that holds the key to true survival and redemption.