Season of the Witch poster & wallpaper
Get movie widget Recommend it Add to Favorites

Nicolas Cage, Ron Perlman, Stephen Campbell Moore, Stephen Graham, Ulrich Thomsen ... see more see more... , Claire Foy , Robbie Sheehan , Christopher Lee , Kevin Rees , Andrew Hefler , Fernanda Dorogi , Rebekah Kennedy , Matt Devere , Róbert Bánlaki , Barna Illyés , Kevin Killebrew , Simone Kirby , Elen Rhys , Nick Sidi , Rory McCann , Nicola Sloane , Brian F. O'Byrne , Ada Michelle Loridans , Lisa Marie Dupree , Gergely Horpácsi , László Imre , Norbert Kovács , Zsolt Magyari

Oscar (R) winner Nicolas Cage (National Treasure, Ghost Rider) and Ron Perlman (Hellboy, Hellboy II) star in this supernatural action adventure about a heroic Crusader and his fellow soldier who must ... read more read more...transport a woman accused of being a witch to a remote monastery. The arduous journey across perilous terrain tests their strength and courage as they discover the girl's secret and find themselves battling a terrifyingly powerful force that will determine the fate of the world. -- (C) Relativity Media

Flixster Users

32% liked it

75,057 ratings

Critics

10% liked it

112 critics

PG-13, 1 hr. 32 min.

Directed by: Dominic Sena

Release Date: January 7, 2011

Invite friends to see

DVD Release Date: June 28, 2011

Get It:

Stats: 5,232 reviews

report incorrect info

Photos

Season of the Witch Season of the Witch official film still Season of the Witch Season of the Witch Season of the Witch official film still Season of the Witch Season of the Witch (Currently associated) Season of the Witch Season of the Witch (Currently associated) Season of the Witch movie poster Season of the Witch Season of the Witch Season of the Witch Season of the Witch Season of the Witch Season of the Witch
Upload a Photo | View All Season of the Witch Photos

Your Rating


clear rating

Flixster Reviews (5,232)

  • EightThirty
    January 8, 2012
    EightThirty
    08/01/2012 (Netflix, PS3)
  • lewiskendell
    November 18, 2011
    lewiskendell
    For some people, just having Nicholas Cage and his absurd deadpan delivery and ridiculous expressions in a historical movie is inherently entertaining. I'm one of those people, especially when it's a movie that takes itself as seriously as Season of the Witch.

    Cage and Ron Perl... read moreman star as two heroic Crusaders turned deserters who are captured and tasked with either escorting an imprisoned, supposed plague-causing witch to her trial, or dying for abandoning the war. Just because the young woman is in a cage doesn't make her any less dangerous, though, and the closer they get to their destination, the greater the peril becomes for them and their companions.

    Season of the Witch actually turned out to be a better supernatural medieval flick than I expected. Sure, it's often unintentionally goofy and the action scenes are filmed and edited in a way where it can be tough to see what's even going on, but it wasn't boring and some parts were even fairly exciting. The ending seemed a little rushed, but surprisingly, I still find myself recommending this to anyone who's interested. It's not a masterpiece, but I enjoyed it for what it was.
  • FiLmCrAzY
    November 15, 2011
    FiLmCrAzY
    Again it would seem to be the year for mediocre movies that are entertaining enough but maybe not one you'd watch again.
    Yes its action packed, yes its well acted, yes storyline is okay and keeps you guessing, however it just isnt a movie that wows you.
    Its worth a watch for the ... read moreaction and Cage's and Periman's onscreen humour but not a fantastic movie.
  • mrbungle7821
    October 20, 2011
    mrbungle7821
    No actor has amassed a higher output of spotty choices than the reigning king of the paycheck film, Nicolas Cage. The man has a habit of appearing in mediocre trash, only notable because a star of Cage's stature is participating. He's in late Marlon Brando territory and Cage hasn... read more't even hit 50 (or blown up to 300 pounds). Every now and then he'll make a movie that reaffirms how talented an actor he can be, like Adaptation or Bad Lieutenant: Port of Call New Orleans. But mostly what we associate with Cage nowadays is tic-filled performances, exuberant weirdness, funny hair, and bad movies, two of which are so bad they're skipping theatrical releases this year (Trespass and Seeking Justice). Season of the Witch will do nothing to change this association.

    During the 14th century Crusades, warriors Behmen (Nicolas Cage) and Felson (Ron Perlman) are the best killing machines the Church could hope for. They desert their positions after becoming disillusioned with the Crusades. The duo ventures into a city where a girl (Claire Foy) has been chained in a dungeon. In an airtight piece of impenetrable logic, she's being blamed for bringing the plague. Behmen and Felson, along with a former knight, a priest, and a young upstart, are tasked with bringing the girl to a monastery where she can be properly dealt with. This secluded monastery is the only place left with a copy of a rare manuscript that contains a spell that will end the pestilence. They put the girl in a cage with wheels and get rolling to that monastery, though not everyone is convinced that the girl is a witch.

    For the first ten minutes, you swear you're watching a buddy comedy transported to the era of the Crusades. Cage and Perlman are in the front lines of "God's army" but they're trading competitive quips like, "You take the 300 on the right. I'll take the 300 on the left," and then they preposterously debate who is going to buy post-battle drinks while in the heat of battle. They're literally slaying enemy soldiers and would rather be arguing over who buys. It's like they have no attachment to anything happening. This opening Crusade sequence takes us through 12 freaking years of battle locations, but it's only at the final battle that Cage and Perlman come to the realization that women and children might also be getting slaughtered as they siege city after city. It's at this point that they get on their moral high horses and stick it to the Catholic leaders: "I serve God, not you. This is not God's work." Why did it take them 12 years of fighting to figure out that innocent people may die when you lay waste to cities? Naturally this epiphany only happens after they kill off a European looking innocent. The opening sequence is meant to introduce us to these characters, but it jars the viewer in mere minutes. These guys don't feel a part of their place or time, and it only gets worse from there. Their nonchalant anachronistic behavior makes the movie seem like a Hope and Crosby vehicle.

    This is one thunderously boring movie, putting me to sleep three separate times. I had to rewind what I had missed, and each time I came to the conclusion that I really had missed nothing at all. The problem with the plot is that it makes a mystery pretty obvious. The group is carting around a teen girl in a cage. You'd think this would be something of a conversation starter, perhaps even an opening for a critical analysis of the Inquisition and religious fanaticism at this perilous time. Nope. The whole of the Bubonic Plague is being blamed on a teen girl and nobody seems to bat an eye at this. Sure there's a few passing references to how killing is wrong (again, remember this took at least 12 years of slaughter to sink in), but the movie's central storyline seems to shift to a "Is she really a witch?" query. Judging from what kind of film this is, you'd probably be safe betting on "yes" and, well, you'd be partly right. The reason this is no spoiler is because it's revealed at like halfway through the movie. The girl's chief defenders suddenly jump on the "burn her" bandwagon. Strange things are following the troupe, so it's pretty obvious who is at play. However, the girl is no witch but is inhabited by a demon, which seems like splitting hairs. When the super cheesy CGI demon/gargoyle shows its face, the creature actually speaks English but in a really speedy and comical voice that makes it hard to be taken seriously. An earlier cut of the movie did not involve this dumb CGI demon but the girl herself. At least that route would have saved the producers some money and unintentional laughter.

    The movie should be far more entertaining, even in a dubious fashion, than it finally is. Season of the Witch flirts with some messages (religion can exploit, women were unfairly persecuted) and silly genre elements amidst a Medieval setting (witches, demons, plague). That sounds like the makings for a campy treat but that treat never materializes. The boring plot lumbers, with the company encountering some setback that picks off their numbers one by one. It's hard not to feel the drowsy effects of the dull repetition. They encounter killer wolf creatures. Then they encounter a rickety rope bridge, and you better believe that there are rotting boards and fraying ropes. Who keeps building these rope bridges that appear in so many movies, and why do they keep getting hired after continually doing substandard work? Do the regulators get fat payoffs from the rope bridge lobby?

    The road to the monastery is a long trek and the movie's momentum seems to lag with every step. There should be more internal conflict rather than this superficial "killing is wrong" moral that every warrior seems tormented with. The premise should be a ripe opening for a discussion on the perversion of religion for political and personal gain, for the abuses of power, for the archaic view of women as subhuman beings who will seduce men to destruction. There's even a priest along the way to provide a counterpoint. But alas, Season of the Witch goes hog wild for the cheesy supernatural spooks and even at that it fails miserably.

    As of late, the saving grace in a Nicolas Cage paycheck movie is a gonzo performance and some wacky hairdo. We don't even get that much with Season of the Witch. Cage is oddly subdued throughout the whole movie despite all the swords and witchery. Even his hair is subdued. Without Cage's typical nutty antics, the movie loses any chance of entertainment it might have ever hoped to have. The shame is that Cage and Perlman both have an easygoing chemistry. You like the two of them together; you just wish they had a better reason to trade insults and one-liners.

    Far from bewitching, this movie is ponderously dull. It misses camp by a mile and just lands on mediocrity. There's nothing about this movie that will stand the test of time, good or bad. This is the definition of a paycheck movie. It flirts with going darker before it settles on a messy monster-heavy ending. The special effects are cheesy, the scares are cheap, the plot is repetitious, the characters feel wrongly transplanted from a modern movie, and Cage sleepwalks through his role. I can't say I blame him. Season of the Witch put me to sleep and I only had to put up with it for 90 minutes.

    Nate's Grade: D+
  • itsjustme2004
    October 11, 2011
    itsjustme2004
    The first few minutes were pretty good, and basically any scene with the "black witch" was pretty cool. Other than that, however, this movie was just average. No...less than average. Nicolas Cage really needs to take a step back, and look at his career lately....
  • LWOODS04
    September 16, 2011
    LWOODS04
    Cast: Nicolas Cage, Ron Perlman, Claire Foy, Stephen Campbell Moore, Stephen Graham, Ulrich Thomsen, Robert Sheehan, Christopher Lee

    Director: Dominic Sena

    Summary: In 14th-century Europe, a courageous knight (Nicolas Cage) leads a group of weary warriors across impossibl... read morey treacherous terrain in order to transport a suspected witch (Claire Foy) believed to be responsible for spreading the devastating Black Plague.

    My Thoughts: "The movie isn't great, but it's not all bad either. The ending was..well.. I didn't care for it. *SPOILER* I personally thought that the killing of the demon looked like something you would see in a video game. Just really fake looking. *END OF SPOILER* I thought bits of the film was quite creepy. It also had some humor in the movie which helped it. There are plenty of fight/battle scenes and some gore. I liked Nicolas Cage and Ron Perlman together in this and I wouldn't mind seeing them team up to do another film. The movie is definitely not as bad as other's have been claiming. It's worth a rental. Films are meant to entertain you and this film succeeded that for me."
  • deano
    September 6, 2011
    deano
    This just in: Nicolas Cage's output has been not always consistent. But, seriously, anyone not already operating with the understanding that Oscar-winning Cage is a loose cannon, unable to be relied upon as a barometer of quality, stands to be somewhat staggered by his latest DOA... read more stiff.
    Cage as a 14th Century "knight of God" sounds like it could go either way, like Cage as an ancient wizard (The Sorcerer's Apprentice) or Cage as Harvey Keitel redux (The Bad Lieutenant: Port of Call - New Orleans). With a fresh-flowing mane and Hellboy as his sidekick, Cage in Season of the Witch requires us to buy into a chain-mail clanger about disillusioned crusaders escorting a chick to be a kangaroo-courted for her alleged dark artistry.
    Just as Ron Perlman's dry asides plummet to earth like a heathen's lopped head, so too does Cage's latest shot at playing dress-ups for our entertainment.
    Cage's Gone in 60 Seconds director Dominic Sena must have donated "fun" and "sense of humour" elsewhere, because his soulless medieval road movie doesn't attempt to appease our disinterest by cracking a smirk at the sullen service of Behman (Cage) and Felson (Perlman).
    Digs at religious intolerance escape detection as a routine trek to a judgmental monastery only offers Cage and Perlman the chance to ride horses, wave swords and combat a creaky bridge. Such non-events trudge on, until Sena achieves new heights of time-wasting by sincerely serving up a finale of hysterical desperation.
    Tacky demons, charred monks and nonsensical conflict between mere mortals and needlessly cautious spirits collapse into a great pile of embarrassment for all concerned. In his favour, Cage doesn't go full-tilt incoherent but, like Apprentice, playing it straight-ish only enhances how the medicore material actually requires him to go postal.
    In light of this average Season, Ghost Rider 2 is almost welcome.
  • ceWEBrity
    August 29, 2011
    ceWEBrity
    Can we please stop encouraging Nicolas Cage, everyone? His gimmick is not funny anymore. It barely ever was, short of Bad Lieutenant: Port of Call New Orleans and the few so-bad-it's-awful portions of The Wicker Man. For anyone with even a remote grasp of Cage's career, the joke ... read morehas long worn out its welcome, leaving us with an actor so clearly bored of his career that he'll star in any old piece of shit to pay off his multi-million dollar burial pyramids. I mean, honestly, what is there in this script that could command the attention of a name of his caliber? Surely he must understand that, despite the waning quality of his output, the "Nicolas Cage" brand still sells pretty strongly. He could actually attach himself to a project of some merit while still pulling a decent paycheck, a balance which he himself has complained is difficult to find in the past.

    Perhaps he's simply neutered his career past the point of no return. Next, The Wicker Man, Knowing, Bangkok Dangerous, and now this...awful role after awful role with barely anything else in sight. Does a one-time Oscar winner mean anything to anyone anymore, other than oddfellows like Herzog who are willing to fit him into a warped auteurial brainchild? Or is he simply doomed to boring, brainless, ugly, sub-blockbuster January offal like this for the rest of his life? Frankly, I'm past the point of caring about him, but if anyone sees any potential left, let me know.
  • skactopus
    August 13, 2011
    skactopus
    Dominic Sena's Season of the Witch shows a few spurts of entertainment, but ultimately everything falls flat.

    The film's first few minutes are quite good and it makes it seem like the story will actually be an amusing one. Unfortunately it isn't meant to be, granted thi

    ... read mores picture just barely reaches the 90 minute mark. The concept of the story isn't a bad one; it's the way the story unfolds where it loses its entertainment value.

    The action is mediocre at best. The story has its openings for these segments, but really fails to take advantage of them. Visually, the CG is lacking as well. On the other hand, the makeup is practical.

    Most of the characters are the throw away type, but there are a small few that are a bit better than that. Nicolas Cage and Ron Perlman make the most of their characters, which isn't much. Claire Foy is the highlight as she is quite convincing as a witch.

    In short, Season of the Witch does lack enthusiasm and this leads to a picture to pass on.
  • cosmo313
    August 9, 2011
    cosmo313
    The general concept of this film isn't bad, but the way it is treated here just really doesn't work. It is sorta watchable, and it has some okay moments, but overall, this one's a mess. I like Nicolas Cage. I really do. I haven't given up hope on him yet, and try to defend him wh... read moreen I can. His performance here isn't great, but it (and he) just aren't right for this project.

    Cage and Perlman played disillusioned Teutonic Knights who abandon the Crusades and find themselves tasked with taking a suposed witch to a monastary to be dealt with. The film is a mixture of Hammer horror films, buddy flicks, epic action period films, and a touch (albeit a bad one) of 'history'.

    A major problem here is that Dominic Sena the director and Cage paly it serious while it seems erlamn is going for something more light at times. It doesn't blend well, and the film is all over the place tonally in general. The prologue is actually pretty good, and had me thinking this might actually be decent. Then it spiraled into an overlong series of battle after battle and some banter between Cage and Perlman before the plot kicked in. Once it did get going, it seemed to be over far too quickly. I think they should have trimmed the battle stuff and simplified it. Then, once things got going, spend a bit more time letting things develop.

    I will say that, besides the prologue, I liked the sets, the costumes, and think that the final battle is okay (it has it's moments, and in the hands of Sam Raimi, would have been awesome). The movie is watchable, though you might really need to be desperate to want to watch it. It had some real potential, but Sena just does't really do muich with it. It's too bad too, becuase the film had an interesting premise and toyed with some potentially awesome concepts. If you wanna see this type of thing, or something similar to it, but, you know, done right, then go watch Black Death. That's a far better movie.

View All Season of the Witch Reviews

Critic Reviews

Wesley Morris
November 24, 2011
Wesley Morris, Boston Globe

After a while, the movie tires of the witch business and trots out a plot twist that permits the effects department to spend money. Full Review

Rafer Guzman
April 4, 2011
Rafer Guzman, Newsday

Director Dominic Sena sets a quick pace; the dull moments are brightened by the unexpectedly likable team of Cage and Perlman. Full Review

James Berardinelli
January 12, 2011
James Berardinelli, ReelViews

Cage is effective as a falling down drunk in Las Vegas or a treasure hunter navigating goofy road trips but not as a disillusioned champion of the Church going one-on-one with a demon. Steven Seagal w... Full Review

Andrea Gronvall
January 7, 2011
Andrea Gronvall, Chicago Reader

Cage alternates between leaden line readings and thunderous outbursts, making his accomplished costars Ulrich Thomsen and Stephen Campbell Moore look even better. But the movie's worst aspect is the C... Full Review

Gary Dowell
January 7, 2011
Gary Dowell, Dallas Morning News

Even the most dedicated of Nicolas Cage's fans will find little to enjoy about the historical-fantasy-action romp Season of the Witch. Full Review

Rick Groen
January 7, 2011
Rick Groen, Globe and Mail

Another movie is turned into a turkey. Full Review

Peter Rainer
January 7, 2011
Peter Rainer, Christian Science Monitor

The film is not altogether dreadful, although it's far from good. And that's not good. Classic stinkeroos are rarer than masterpieces, and we all need a laugh now and then, even if the laughs are inad... Full Review

Peter Travers
January 7, 2011
Peter Travers, Rolling Stone

Season of the Witch is as bloodless as a starved vampire. Instead of a review, it deserves a stake in the heart. Full Review

Kyle Smith
January 7, 2011
Kyle Smith, New York Post

Audiences considering "Season of the Witch" should heed the timeless advice of its ancestor "Holy Grail" -- run away! Full Review

Joe Neumaier
January 7, 2011
Joe Neumaier, New York Daily News

Rather than elevating this wanna-be Hammer horror flick, Cage somehow lowers its quality. Full Review

Critic ratings and reviews powered by RottenTomatoes.com

Fresh (60% or more critics rated the movie positively)

Rotten (59% or fewer critics rated the movie positively)

Cast

More Like This

Click a thumb to vote on that suggestion, or add your own suggestions.

  • Beowulf
    Beowulf (93%)
  • The Eagle
    The Eagle (95%)
  • National Treasure: Book of Secrets
    National Treasure: Book of Secrets (96%)
  • The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring
    The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the ... (43%)

More Movies like Season of the Witch

Facts

Submit a Fact | View All
    • Behmen: Grant me courage, oh Lord, as I am thy servant.
    • Debelzaq: We're going to need more holy water.
    • The Girl: We believe what we want to believe.
    • Kaylan: Honor is not a thing to be dismissed or forgotten.
  • Not All Souls Can Be Saved.
Submit a Fact | View All

Season of the Wit... : Watch Free on TV

Season of the Witch Trivia

  • The story of which "Halloween" movie had virtually nothing to do with its infamous movie monster, Michael Myers?   Answer »
  • name the only movie in the halloween series without michael meyers?  Answer »
  • Which Halloween movie had ABSOLUTELY NOTHING to do with Michael Myers???  Answer »
  • Name the Halloween movie that doesn't have Michael Myers in it?   Answer »
More Season of the Witch Trivia

Movie Quizzes

No quizzes for Season of the Witch. Want to create one?

Video Clips

Upload a Video |

All Season of the Witch Videos

Meet Other Fans

Add Season of the Witch to favorites

Recent News

Submit a Story |

View Season of the Witch News

Recent Lists

Make a List |

View All Lists

Most Popular Skin

No skins yet. Interested in creating one?