Dominic Sena (Kalifornia) directs a wooden Nicolas Cage and an uncomfortable Ron Perlman as jaded Crusade knights whose desertion lands them in hot holy water with the Church. Dying from the Plague, a Roman bishop (a Christopher Lee cameo!) orders them to escort an accused witch (Claire Foy) to a distant abbey, where an obscure sect of monks can perform a ritual to purge the witch of evil and the land of pestilence. A priest, an altar boy, and a swindler tag along. Poor plot twists and CGI-heavy action further muddle what might have been an intriguing story of fanaticism and superstition. The Eastern European locations are sumptuous and the costumes authentic, but the dialogue is anachronistic and the climax mindless — though the lame film homages (The Seventh Seal! The Exorcist! The Wicker Man!) might make for a fun drinking game.
