Neil Marshall is a name you should be very familiar with. He’s the director behind movies such as The Descent, Dog Soldiers, and Tales of Halloween. He’s back with a new film, The Reckoning.
Set in England in the late 17th century, the Great Plague is raging as the witch trials cause hysteria, people begin to fear their friends, neighbors, and family, may be witches. During this time in history in real life, over 1,000 innocent people were imprisoned, tortured, and killed with ninety percent of the victims being women. All it took was a whisper for these people to be condemned. This is a key element in The Reckoning.
In the opening scene, we see Grace (Charlotte Kirk), an exhausted mother kiss her baby before retrieving a sword from a chest. Struggling, she drags the Scottish Claymore through the mud as she stumbles across her yard. That’s when we see him, her dear husband hanging from a tree. Clawing at the dirt in the rain she buries him. This scene sets the tone for the film, a dark, heartbreaking tale of courage, strength, and love.
Soon after losing her husband the Squire (Steven Waddington) pays her a visit reminding her that the rent is due and what will happen if she doesn’t pay it. He returns a few days later. He wants he more, he wants her body. When he tries to force himself on her, she fights back and vows revenge. Arriving at the local tavern he reminds residents that he can evict them and soon they all begin to chant “witch.” From there, things go from bad to worse for the young widow.
The film reminds us that women who are assaulted are often seen as the evil ones, the ones who asked for it. Often, the ones who retaliate find themselves in a worse position. I don’t believe that Marshall meant any offense by this, instead, I think he was shining a light on it, making a statement on how insane this is. It is something we all need to be talking about, changing.
Grace is faced with so much horror, pain, and suffering, but suffering is not the main theme of the movie, it’s strength. The strength of a woman and the honor of refusing to confess to a lie. It’s about a mother’s love. A fight for survival. And in the end, it’s about justice.
The Reckoning is powerful and moving in so many ways. I felt a gambit of emotions from sadness, to anger, to relief, and it made me proud to be a woman, as strange as that sounds. I’ve known about the witch trials for a long time, but when it plays out before you like it did in this film, it serves as a reminder that society can be so ignorant and that hysteria spreads so easily. The mob mentality is a very dangerous thing.
Charlette Kirk is absolutely incredible as Grace! She made Grace’s struggle and pain feel so real that for a moment I forgot I was watching a movie. If she doesn’t rack up awards for her portrayal I’ll be upset.
Sean Pertwee who starred as the Witch Finder Moorcroft was also fantastic. He was very convincing in his role as Grace’s torturer. You really buy that this sanctimonious man believes he’s fulfilling god’s will and protecting the innocent, even if in reality he’s just another mistaken man killing innocent people.
About the cinematography, it’s fantastic. We see the events of the film unfold in harsh, ugly locations, but somehow cinematographer Luke Bryant still captures the beauty of it all. This film is a stunning example of period horror done right.
By god, the devil looks amazing. It’s not exactly the fallen angel we’ve seen before, he’s pale, grotesque, and terrifying. The special effects team did a killer job on him and all of the other effects which appear to be mostly practical.
Written by Marshall, Charlotte Kirk, and Edward Evers-Swindell, the story is from Antony Jones and Nico Evers-Swindell and it is well-written with great pacing and execution.
In the end, this film reminds you of the strength of women and the power of conviction. It’s about empowerment. It also pays homage to all those who lost their lives during the witch hunts that occurred from the 15th to 18th century without it coming across as insulting as some historical fiction films do. It’s also entertaining, often leaving you on the edge of your seat and cheering for Grace. And that ending, wow! It couldn’t have been better in my opinion.
If you want to watch something dark, gripping, and emotional, The Reckoning is for you. It opens in theaters and arrives On Demand and Digital on February 5, 2021, from RLJE Films. I highly recommend it.
