As magical as Western fantasy can be, it’s still based in the medieval era. Even with all the elves, dwarves, and wizards, life is miserable for most of the population. Taking the magic out of the mix leaves nothing but violence and death.The Elder Scrollsseries presents a world in which anything is possible.Black Knightdepicts a very real world in which almost nothing is.
How would one best describethe tone ofSkyrim? The word “epic” seems to be a popular choice. It’s a classical fantasy narrative in the style of Tolkien or Martin. As mystical as the story is, it does open with the predestined hero being solemnly shuttled to a brutal execution. It takes place in a world destined to be destroyed by a dragon. Maybe the tone isn’t all swashbuckling adventure and “arrow to the knee” jokes.
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What isBlack Deathabout?
The year is 1348. The bubonic plague has reached its peak, killing millions throughout Europe. The Black Death reforged society across the continent. Christianity was revolutionized as the church dubbed illness either the work of the devil or the wrath of a vengeful god. The film follows a monk named Osmund, who shares a torrid secret love affair with a beautiful young lady named Averill. Osmund knows that his romance is forbidden, so he prays to God for a way to escape his monastery. His chance comeswhen a mighty knightnamed Ulric and his band of warriors, Wolfstan, Griff, Dalywag, Mold, Ivo, and Swire, arrive seeking a guide through the forest. They’re traveling to a remote village that is said to be free from the plague. It’s also said to be ruled by a necromancer. Osmund agrees to lead the knights to the village to capture the necromancer and bring her to the church’s justice.
Osmund discovers quickly that the men he has volunteered to guide are brutal agents of the church’s will. When they encountera woman being executedon dubious charges, Ulric frees her from her bonds, then swiftly kills her. Ulric preaches mercy, but his work is grim. Osmund intends to leave the knights behind, but when he travels into the forest to find Averill, he finds only her bloodied clothes. Bandits attack Osmund. Griff and Ivo are killed defending him. Osmund has lost his purpose, but he leads Ulric to the necromancer’s village. The monk and the knights must face impossible challenges, investigate the possibility of the supernatural, and make an impossible choice between their faith and their life.
How isBlack DeathlikeSkyrim?
Imaginea version ofSkyrimwithout non-human creatures, dragons, or monsters. Imagine if all magic within the franchise was either dubious or fake. Imagine if there were no chosen savior, and the end of the world was coming in a much less entertaining way. That world would be the oneBlack Deathtakes place in.Black Deathis one of the most nihilistic action films ever made. The fleeting seconds of happiness are carefully hidden from the church and the plague, both oppressive all-consuming voids of joy. The faithless are vile, vicious monsters who slaughter all who oppose them. The faithful are condemned to short, sad lives in which they must commit a comparable amount of violence. It’s an open surrender to nihilism. A world where death is the only escape. It’s not too far from a magic-freeplaythrough ofSkyriminwhich the player chooses to hack every NPC they don’t care for to death. The story is suffering, and no one gets off scot-free.
How doesBlack Deathend?
Black Deathtakes a long time to get where it’s going. When Osmund and the knights reach the village, theymeet the necromancer Langivaand her second-in-command Hob. Hob welcomes the knights, then drugs them while they drink in town. Osmund watches Langiva perform a ritual with Averill’s body that seems to bring her back from the dead. Osmund and the knights wake up in a pit surrounded by armed guards. Langiva gives them a choice; renounce their fate or die. Hob begins picking victims at random. He selects Dalywag, who refuses to convert and is executed. Swire relents andswears to abandon Christianity, but the villagers swiftly kill him too. Langiva pulls Osmund from the pit, takes him to Averill, and offers him a life with his beloved if he abandons his faith. Osmund finds Averill in a strange state, determines that she’s suffering, and mercifully kills her.
Ulric is the next to die. He’s tied to horses and tortured before his execution. Ulric informs the people of the village that he isinfected with the plagueand that he’s likely passed it to all of them. Ulric is pulled apart, but Osmund uses the distraction to wound Langiva and slip Wolfstan and Mold a knife. The knights escape their bonds and kill several villagers. Hob kills Mold, but Wolfstan captures Hob. Osmund follows Langiva, but she informs him that she’s not a necromancer. She found Averill injured, drugged her, then pretended to resurrect her. Osmund killed her, and there’s nothing anyone can do about it. The monk drops to his knees, letting Langiva escape. The plague sweeps the village. It only survived as long as it did because of its distance from the mainland. Wolfstan returns to the church with Hob, his missionto capture a necromancertechnically accomplished. Osmund, having lost everything he’s ever cared about, takes up the sword in the name of God. He spends the rest of his life hunting Langiva and murdering any woman that reminds him of her.
Black Deathfeels like the life of a minor figure inaGame of Thronesstory. No power, no fun, no joy, no purpose, just violence in the name of something ultimately meaningless. Fans ofSkyrimwho felt that the story would be stronger if every character either died a grisly death or became a monster will loveBlack Death. It’s a cinematic experience comparable to the bubonic plague, but at least the sword fights are cool.
