Synopsis:
The 2014 fantasy action film, Seventh Son, directed by Sergei Bodrov, is a loose adaptation of Joseph Delaney’s novel The Spook’s Apprentice, the first book in The Wardstone Chronicles series. The film takes the audience to a mythical world populated with witches, monsters, and ancient prophecies, where the two opposing forces of good and evil engage in an epic struggle.
The narrative features Thomas Ward, played by Ben Barnes, a humble and simple young farmer who comes to the realization he is meant for a greater purpose. The rare lineage of being the seventh son of a seventh son and the claim of being marked as a potential ‘Spook’ — a supernatural and dark forces combat trained warrior, bestows unique abilities upon him. After being sold by his family to the cold and mysterious Spook, Master Gregory, played by Jeff Bridges, Tom is then immersed into a dangerous new world.
Master Gregory, the last of the Falcon Knights, bears the wounds of a life spent battling dark forces. A witch hunter, Gregory has dedicated his life to hunting dark creatures. He once defeated the wicked witch queen Mother Malkin (Julianne Moore) but she has since escaped and is swearing to unleash chaos on the world. Malkin aims to conquer the world of men, and the impending blood moon only bolsters her magic.
Desperate to undo his past failures, Gregory reluctantly takes on Tom as an apprentice to help him fight Malkin. But Tom is untrained and inexperienced – and, just as bad, unsure of his purpose in the grand scheme of things. Together, they must now navigate treacherous landscapes inhabited by vengeful witches, deadly creatures, and mystical forces.
During his journey, he encounters Alice (Alicia Vikander), a woman straddling the moral divide. She is a half-witch, the niece of Mother Malkin. Though Alice is warm-hearted, her Malkin ties make her Tom’s foe and Gregory’s distrustful ally. Still, a romantic bond between Alice and Tom grows, deepening emotional turmoil in the evolving war.
Tom must forge a new path, battling his darkest fears and finally embracing his fate. In the decisive clash of the story, Gregory and Tom take on Mother Malkin and her minions of darkness in a climactic clash of magic, bravery, and destiny. Light wins, but only after great costs are endured and some harsh sacrifices made.
Cast & Crew:
Ben Barnes as Thomas Ward
Barnes portrays the film’s lead character, a simple farm boy navigating a fantastical new world. While his character is deeply entrenched in conventional fantasy archetypes, Barnes transforms the role with authenticity and depth.
Jeff Bridges as Master Gregory
Bridges is arguably the film’s most colorful character as he delivers an eccentric performance with gravel in his voice. The blend of gravitas and charm that Bridges brings to Gregory is enhanced by a thick accent and dramatic mannerisms that were met with mixed reception from critics and audiences.
Julianne Moore as Mother Malkin
The villainous witch queen is played with regal menace and theatrical flair by Moore. Malkin is a formidable antagonist due to Moore’s commanding presence and sultry voice, though many cited the character as a missed opportunity due to the lack of depth.
Alicia Vikander as Alice Deane
Vikander brings to life a character that is torn between a lilting loyalty to her aunt and infatuation to Tom, adding depth and fragility. The performance blended warmth and mystery, humanizing an otherwise fantastical plot.
Kit Harington as Billy Bradley
Harington makes a brief appearance as Gregory’s former apprentice. His Malkin-induced death raises the stakes and creates an opportunity for Tom to step into the role.
Djimon Hounsou as Radu and Olivia Williams, Antje Traue, and Jason Scott Lee as Warlords Under Malkin. These supporting villains, each with unique magical abilities, plung into the action-heavy scenes of the film and add to the flurry of dark witches and warlords who serve under Malkin.
Director:
Sergei Bodrov, one of the most historically grounded directors, Mongol, brings his trademark a visually distinct style of direction to his new film, Seventh Son, which suffers from a wide range of pacing issues. From a polish perspective, the film took certain steps to ensure that the world is visually enticing, resulting in intricate and exotic mythological creatures, magnificent castles, and towering dark forests. Despite these efforts, the pacing consistent struggles among numerous scenes, resulting in a film that prioritizes character action over the thought-provoking set-piece.
Production & Visuals:
Due to studio changes, Seventh Son was set to be released in 2013, however, the film was never released due to an extensive set of delays. By far the most important aspect of the film was the extensive siding with CGI creatures, magical powers, and other battles due to a lack of practical effects. This ultimately backfired, as the created visuals from the film were viewed as overly ambitious, attempting to reach a digital “high” while fully ignoring the practical approach. Nonetheless, some sequences were visually appealing, as framed battles set atop towers and witches transforming in fiery displays.
Costume and set design bear high standards, as they ensure that the audience is fully immersed in the exotic world. This is most prominent in the medieval-fantasy styling, as the aesthetic immediately brings otherworldly elements to the film. Seventh Son also offers an atmospheric Marco Beltrami composed which elicits a feeling of “epic” through its musical themes.
Critical Reception and IMDb Ratings:
With a score of 5.5 out of 10, Seventh Son’s IMDb rating shows that it didn’t really resonate with viewers. It is common to find mixed reviews on a film, and this is no different. it features a brilliantly casted and fantastical story, but the plot used is very stale, the characters poorly written, and CGI runs rampant.
One of the key factors to this film’s negative reception was the film’s failure to capture the essence of the source material. Fans of the series voiced that the darker themes and subtleties of the original story were all but erased. Add to that the tropes of a poorly written fantasy film that lacks originality and this film’s screenplay is to blame.
Moreover, while the film is targeted to the younger audience, many viewers on a general spectrum appreciated the film for the sheer pleasure of it. Stated to be the highlights of the film, Bridges and Moore’s performances, while lacking depth of the role’s they were portraying, were very engaging and captivating.
Topics and Examination:
Destiny and Coming of Age:
The essence of Seventh Son reveals that it is a typical coming of age story. Tom’s evolution from a farm boy into some sort of monster-slaying warrior is accompanied by self-doubt, moral conflict, and a lot of personal development. This arc showcases the theme of coming to terms with one’s destiny, especially when it is the last thing one expects.
Good vs. Evil:
The film does not innovate and simplifies to this age-old fantasy theme into a literal warfare of witches versus knights. Nonetheless, adaptors and readers alike are familiar with characters like Alice, and perhaps, the greater point is that the battle of good vs. evil does not need to be dichotomous.
Mentorship and Legacy:
The relationship between Gregory and Tom is arguably transformative. Tom represents hope and a potential savior to Gregory, who is burdened by failures and waning career. Their mentor-student dynamic is more than a mentor-learner relationship and reminds us of the master-apprentice dynamics found in other fantasy sagas.
Love and Loyalty:
For the most part, Tom’s feelings for Alice are in sharp contrast with loyalty to Gregory’s teachings. Although love and loyalty is addressed in the film, it primarily exists to thicken the plot, which is otherwise centered on the central conflict.
Conclusion:
Seventh Son is a captivating fantasy epic that is visually striking yet the storyline is incomplete. While the film features a strong cast and a beautifully developed world, it is held back by an overdependence on fantasy clichés and inconsistent genre filmmaking. Regardless, the film does provide eye-catching action and spells enough to please fans of sword-and-sorcery adventures.
Seventh Son’s strongest characteristic is creating a new fantasy saga while attempting to break into the full fantasy genre. Though the film did not succeed in starting a well-recognized franchise, it does, however, have remnants of untouched narrative that are blended with captivating visuals and heroic symbols. Such remnants can appeal to those that are in search of a powerful mythical adventure.
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