Reviews and recommendations on the Compelling Beasts blog are my honest opinion. I purchase the books, comics, and movies that I recommend and review and I do not accept free copies for review.
If you like a blend of historical, fantasy and action with a bit of horror, Solomon Kane has it all. Most important, it has a darkly charismatic antihero.
Solomon Kane (played by the ruggedly handsome James Purefoy) starts out as a cold-hearted villain. He’s a greedy, violent, ruthless warrior with no redeeming qualities. Only when his soul (or what’s left of it) is threatened by eternal damnation does he start to rethink his ways. For the sole purpose of saving himself, he rejects violence, but hell isn’t about to let him off that easily. After refusing to fight bandits who attack him, he is rescued by a Puritan family and develops a bond with them. When his newfound friends are threatened, he realizes that sometimes violence is necessary, even if it means risking his soul.
Solomon Kane is a man with a dark past. Even after starting on the road to redemption, he doesn’t lose his hard edge. Kane is basically a loner. He’s tough and often miserable, yet he has undeniable appeal, especially in his fight scenes. The movie also has some nasty villains and paranormal elements, which is another plus. The family who befriends Kane is pleasant and almost too pure. They are in perfect contrast to the nastier characters in the story, including Kane himself.
The costumes, scenery and special effects are well done and the acting is believable. If you love charismatic antiheroes, I highly recommend Solomon Kane.
For more about Solomon Kane, visit IMDb.