Line #81 Film/SolomonKane


1	[[quoteright:350:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/solomon-kane-01.jpg]]
2	[[caption-width-right:350:He's reformed, honest.]]
3
4	->''"If I kill you, I am bound for hell. It is a price I shall gladly pay."''
5	-->-- '''Solomon Kane'''
6
7	Released early 2010, ''Solomon Kane'' is based loosely on author Creator/RobertEHoward's puritan wanderer [[Franchise/SolomonKane of the same name]]. The film begins with Solomon Kane, an English mercenary, sacking a Spanish-occupied fortress in 17th-century North Africa. After easily dispatching any guards unfortunate enough to stand in his way, Solomon's men are set upon by demons and only Kane himself reaches the throne room. The treasures within is vast, but much to his horror, Solomon finds he is not alone.
8
9	Confronted by none other than the Devil's Reaper, he is informed his soul is damned to hell and Satan has come to collect. Kane narrowly escapes, vowing to renounce his violent and sinful ways forever. Thus begins Kane's path to redeeming his wicked deeds and the lesson that "redemption is not always found through peace".
10
11	Inevitably, his quest to avoid confrontation is hampered at every turn, and sure enough, this reformed-sinner-turned-Puritan must now put his violent skills to good use once again. Otherwise, the audience might actually be forced to watch a man live out a peaceful life in a monastery. And no-one wants that in an action movie.
12
13	The film itself is unashamedly over-the-top with some gritty realism thrown in-between the demons and witches being slain. Its dark atmosphere and Creator/JamesPurefoy's lead performance has gotten a decent amount of praise, while on the other hand, the straight forward plot and out-of-place finale have been seen as a weakness.
14
15	Well worth taking a look at the original inspiration, ''Literature/SolomonKane'', along with his creator, author Creator/RobertEHoward.
16
17	----
18	!!''Solomon Kane'' provides examples of:
19
20	* AllAccordingToPlan: According to Malachi, everything Solomon did was meant to bring him back to his family home for the final confrontation where the Devil would claim his soul.
21	-->'''Solomon''': Where are you, Malachi?! [[DirtyCoward Hiding in the shadows?!]]
22	-->'''Malachi''': Why should I hide from you? I ''want'' you here. Every step you took led you to here. Every pain you suffered was punishment for your sins. My master ''will'' have your soul!
23	* AlwaysSaveTheGirl: Solomon sees Meredith as the key to his salvation. Could be taken as a ShipTease, depending on the viewer's interpretation.
24	-->'''Malachi:''' Why do you care for her? You came here to save your soul.\
25	'''Solomon:''' She ''is'' my soul.
26	* AndYourLittleDogToo: The protagonist has been foolishly [[RefusalOfTheCall refusing the call]] up to this point, so it's time for the villains to [[spoiler:kill young Samuel in front of his eyes]].
27	* AntiHero: Solomon Kane.
28	* ArtisticLicenseMilitary: While there wasn't so much of an English army per se in the early 1600s, there would have been badly trained (and drunk) local militias available. That Queen Elizabeth the First is doing nothing while half of the West Country is burnt to the ground by a murderous warlord with Satanic overtones is rather farfetched. (Especially since her mother was reputedly a witch...)
29	* ArtisticLicenseReligion: Solomon, a Puritan Protestant, prays before a decorated crucifix at the ruined church. This might be HandWaved as desperation on his part: admittedly, if you are being chased by the Devil and you need to pray to God, a worship place of the wrong Christian denomination is the least of your problems.
30	* AttemptedRape: Marcus is confronted by Solomon before he can take things further.
31	* BadassBoast: The moment Kane lets the enemy mooks know the gloves are finally off.
32	-->'''Solomon:''' If I kill you, I am bound for hell. It is a price I shall gladly pay.
33	* BigBad: Malachi. [[spoiler:There is a case for [[{{Satan}} the devil himself]] being the true threat.]]
34	* BloodKnight: When talking of the hardships of war, Solomon confesses this to William Crowthorn.
35	-->'''Solomon:''' I was never more at home than I was at battle.
36	* BoomHeadshot: How Solomon kills [[spoiler:Malachi]], followed by the latter being DraggedOffToHell.
37	* BullyingADragon: A group of thugs harass and taunt Solomon, who is doing his damn best to never kill again. One is smart enough to notice he's "got murder in his eyes" and has likely killed before. But they ''still'' beat him down for fun. They meet again. He isn't [[CurbStompBattle forgiving]].
38	* BurnTheWitch: Inverted. [[spoiler:Solomon and the Crowthorns encounter the bodies of villagers who were burning a suspected witch. The problem arose when she actually turned out to be genuine and the fire was utterly useless. She then turned the flames on her capturers and burned the eyes out of all those who came to watch. All while laughing.]]
39	* TheCallKnowsWhereYouLive: Despite his best efforts to become a man of peace, the call plagues him until Solomon finally answers. The call [[spoiler:banishes him from the safety of the monastery, kills most of the family that took him in, kidnaps their daughter and ''then'' he finds out Malachi is now residing in his family's castle]].
40	* CameBackWrong: [[spoiler:Marcus Kane, who is nothing more than Malachi's slave.]]
41	-->'''Solomon''': I swear Father, [[spoiler: I did not mean for Marcus to fall. [[IDidntMeanToKillHim I did not mean for him to die]].]]
42	-->'''Josiah''': [[spoiler: He did not die.]]
43	-->'''Solomon''': [[spoiler: He did not? Then, thank God he is alive!]]
44	-->'''Josiah''': [[spoiler: But [[DealWithTheDevil it was not by God's will]] that he lived]].
45	* ChildrenAreInnocent: Subverted. [[spoiler:Turns out that girl who survived the witch attack was the witch in disguise after all. Solomon wasn't fooled, however.]]
46	* ChristianityIsCatholic: Zig-zagged. Catholicism should have been well stamped out in southern England by the time Solomon Kane is set, but the film still shows Kane living in a monastery and kneeling in front of an ornate crucifix. Both Kane and the Crowthorns are Puritans, but this fact receives very little screentime.
47	* CrucifiedHeroShot: Solomon is literally crucified, though he escapes, as the nails through his hands are not headed nails, but cylindric spikes he can slide his wounds out of.
48	* DamselInDistress: Meredith Crowthorn.
49	* DamselOutOfDistress: With Malachi holding her [[HostageSituation during the final battle]], Meredith shoves him away at the last second, giving Solomon a clear shot at him.
50	* DarkAndTroubledPast: Solomon, of course.
51	* DarkestHour: [[spoiler:Solomon suffers this when he believes he has failed Meredith and by extension lost his chance for salvation. Then ends up letting himself be crucified]]. He recovers though when [[spoiler:he finds out she's still alive]].
52	* DealWithTheDevil: Malachi's power is literally a result of dealing with Satan. And then [[spoiler:Josiah Kane in turn makes a deal with Malachi, offering up his power, lands and (it's implied) his younger son's soul to heal his eldest son.]]
53	* DeathOfAChild: [[spoiler:The Crowthorns' youngest family member, Samuel, is the first to die by the hands of Malachi's mooks.]]
54	* {{Determinator}}: Solomon displays this trait on several occasions, even during his darkest hour. [[spoiler:He refuses to be taken to hell quietly, pulls himself off a cross after being crucified and tracks down Meredith against all the odds to save her]].
55	* TheDragon: The Masked Rider is this to Malachi.
56	* DualWielding: Be it dual swords, a pair of muskets, or [[SwordAndGun one of each]], Kane is fond of a weapon in each hand.
57	* TheDulcineaEffect: Solomon for Meredith. Justified because she is his promise of redemption.
58	* EatingTheEyeCandy: Meredith not-very-subtly hides behind a tree in order to check out Solomon when he's [[ShirtlessScene bathing in the river]].
59	* EvilFeelsGood: The bandits who decided to join Malachi. "It is good!"
60	* EvilOverlord: Malachi.
61	* EvilPlan: Malachi informs Solomon that [[spoiler:everything that transpired was meant to bring him here. Essentially so his master could send another minion to try and get him. It fails at every level]].
62	* EvilSorcerer: Malachi, a SorcerousOverlord.
63	* TheFaceless: The Masked Rider. Until TheReveal that is.
64	* FailedASpotCheck: Happens to Solomon multiple times throughout the film. Makes you wonder how he survived as a soldier all those years. Good thing we have MookChivalry to compensate...
65	* FantasyKitchenSink: Demons and demonic magic exist in this film, so God also presumably does, but also does Pagan magic.
66	* FateWorseThanDeath: Any one "infected" with the evil of Malachi is pretty much a slave to his will and eventually they become demons.
67	* FlamingSword: The weapon of choice for the Devil's Reaper. And a {{BFS}} at that.
68	* FlashBack: Several major moments in Solomon's youth are explored through flashbacks.
69	* GrimReaper: The Devil's Reaper. Complete with fiery sword.
70	* HeroicBSOD: When Solomon is led to believe that Meredith is dead, he gives in to drink and despair.
71	* HeroicSacrifice: [[spoiler:In the end Solomon's willingness to sacrifice his soul to save Meredith ''even if it means his own damnation'', is [[ArtisticLicenseReligion exactly what redeems him]]]].
72	* HighDiveEscape: Kane escapes from the Devil's Reaper by diving through a stained glass window into the ocean below.
73	* HijackedByJesus: The original novels were about a Puritan Christian struggling to understand a world where creatures and forces of various non-Christian belief-systems roam freely, yet the Christian God makes no overt signs of His existence, whereas the movie is all about the struggle between the Judeo-Christian {{God}} and {{Satan}} [[CosmicChessGame via human proxies]] (though having some non-Christian supernatural elements as well).
74	* HoldingOutForAHero: The local fighters don't fight back until Kane leads them.
75	* HumanNotepad
76	** Solomon is covered in religiously-themed tattoos and scars, apparently intended to ward off evil. [[{{Fanservice}} And we get to see quite a lot of them.]]
77	** Malachi also has neatly scrolled text written across one side of his face.
78	* IDidntMeanToKillHim: Played straight and subverted. [[spoiler:Solomon spends years feeling guilty after accidentally killing his brother, even though he didn't like him, but in the end it turns out Marcus never died from the fall]]. Ironically if [[spoiler: Marcus ''had'' died]] things might have turned out for the ''better''.
79	* IGaveMyWord: Why Solomon is so determined; he gave a vow to save Meredith, and he'll fulfil it come hell or high water.
80	-->'''Malachi''': Why would you risk everything, even your soul, to save ''her''?
81	-->'''Solomon''': I made a promise. I must keep it!
82	* IKnowYoureInThereSomewhereFight: Subverted. [[spoiler:It turns out Marcus isn't in there after all, or if he is, can't fight his master's will. Solomon is forced to put him out of his misery]].
83	* InfernalRetaliation: [[TheDragon The Masked Rider]] is put on fire by Solomon during their duel. ''He doesn't stop fighting.''
84	* IWillFightNoMoreForever: Solomon swears off violence forever. It doesn't last.
85	* IWillFindYou: Meredith ''will'' be rescued if it's the last thing he does.
86	* {{Jerkass}}
87	** Marcus Kane comes across as a bully toward young Solomon.
88	** Solomon himself is very much one during the intro.
89	* KnightErrant: Solomon Kane is this trope. [[spoiler: The film is essentially how he becomes the Knight Errant, hunting evil across the world]].
90	* LargeHam: Creator/JasonFlemyng's turn as Malachi.
91	* LukeIAmYourFather: [[spoiler:The Masked Rider is Solomon's brother.]]
92	* MadeOfIron: Solomon: in the final fight [[spoiler:he gets a sword run straight through his shoulder, but is up and swinging in mere moments]].
93	* ManBehindTheMan: Malachi serves the Devil.
94	* ManOnFire: Solomon's duel with the Masked Rider ends up with the latter being set aflame by being stabbed with a torch. [[ImplacableMan Not that it stops him]].
95	* MercyKill: Solomon shoots his father dead at his own urging. His killing of [[spoiler: Marcus]] has overtures of this.
96	-->'''Solomon''': Rest in peace, [[spoiler: brother]].
97	* MookLieutenant: The Masked Rider doubles as the commander of Malachi's army of possessed fighters as well as his champion.
98	* MrFanservice: None other than the title character, given that he's played by the very handsome Creator/JamesPurefoy. As mentioned in the EatingTheEyeCandy entry, he even gets a ShirtlessScene.
99	* TheMusketeer: Solomon is proficient with both swords and flintlock guns.
100	* OhCrap: Meredith and Solomon's reaction when the Masked Rider [[InTheBack stabs him from behind]].
101	** Also Solomon's reaction to seeing the [[EvilIsBurningHot fire]] [[BigRedDevil demon]] Malachi has summoned to kill him.
102	-->'''Malachi''': See what the Devil has sent to claim you! ''[reveals a mirror portal containing the demon]'' This beast will not fail to [[DraggedOffToHell drag you back to Hell!]] Your soul is damned!
103	-->'''Solomon''': [[BigOMG Oh dear God...!]]
104	* NameOfCain: Solomon Kane is the antihero variety.
105	* NeckLift: The Masked Rider likes to crush {{Red Shirt}}s' necks, and he does this to Solomon during their final battle.
106	* Signs: Solomon's Puritan hat, naturally, given the source material.
107	* OffWithHisHead: Solomon ultimately defeats the Masked Rider by decapitating him.
108	** He also did this to a random mook earlier in the movie, hacking the mook's neck repeatedly with a short dagger and throwing it aside.
109	* OurGhoulsAreCreepier: The villagers-turned-demons locked under the church are your typical cannibalistic undead.
110	* PayEvilUntoEvil: Essentially Solomon's ''modus operandi''.
111	* PlagueDoctor: A couple of them are briefly seen.
112	* PunctuatedPounding: Head vs. ground.
113	-->'''Kane:''' ''"Don't! You! Lie! To! Me!"''
114	* RealityIsUnrealistic: For those who have never heard Purefoy's native accent, the West Country voice can take getting used too.
115	* RedemptionEarnsLife: [[spoiler:Solomon's willingness to sacrifice his soul is exactly what saves it.]]
116	* RedHerring: The mark [[spoiler:the witch leaves on Meredith's palm at first indicates she may be special or have some say in the final battle. In the end it was simply to let Malachi and co. know she was bait for Solomon]].
117	* SelfMadeOrphan: Unusual in that [[spoiler:the father ''asked'' his son to do the deed.]]
118	* SequelHook: The film is after all a blatant origin story. Apparently a trilogy was planned.
119	* SesquipedalianSmith: Solomon Kane.
120	* SinisterMinister: Father Michael. [[spoiler:Driven insane by his congregation turning into ghouls, he keeps them confined under the ruins of his church. He even ''feeds'' them other people. Solomon learns this too late to avoid being pushed in]].
121	* ShootTheDog: [[spoiler:Solomon finds his father locked in the dungeon, bound by chains made by Malachi. Josiah Kane tells him that deal he made means Malachi will always be stronger while he lives. Reluctantly Solomon carries out his father's request to kill him.]]
122	* ShoutOut: Intentionally or not, Solomon surviving crucifixion is reminiscent of another Robert E. Howard creation, Literature/ConanTheBarbarian. The magic recovery in particular reminds one of the [[Film/ConanTheBarbarian1982 Arnold movie.]]
123	* SlashedThroat: [[spoiler:Poor Samuel]]...
124	* WhatHappenedToTheMouse: For some reason [[spoiler:the Devil has Malachi summon a giant lava demon to kill Solomon, rather than, for instance, the Reaper that Kane nearly killed himself escaping from last time. Its appearance at the beginning of the film is also the last.]]
125	* SuperWindowJump: Kane escapes the Reaper by diving through an ornate stained glass window.
126	* ThrowingYourSwordAlwaysWorks: Well that's one [[spoiler:witch]] who should have spent more time ducking and less time taunting. Sword to the face... ouch.
127	* TrailersAlwaysSpoil: That [[spoiler:massive fire-demon-thing hasn't]] showed up yet and it's the final battle....
128	* VillainBall: It appears [[spoiler:the Devil himself is carrying this thing around the whole movie. He sends his reaper after Solomon essentially warning him he's doomed for hell unless he changes. He orders his minion Malachi to orchestrate a reign of terror on Kane family lands ''solely'' to bring Solomon out of hiding. Then has Meredith used as bait. All this to get Solomon's soul. Instead it only gives him new purpose and a noble reason to fight. Backfiring in every conceivable way. Honestly, Satan comes off as a SuperPersistentPredator who wastes an entire kingdom to claim a single soul.]]
129	* VillainRespect: Masked Rider (by using one of his mooks as proxy) expresses respect for young Samuel showing great deal of courage despite being held at knifepoint, likely as a jab at Solomon's stubborn insistence not to fight. [[spoiler:He still orders his mook to kill the boy.]]
130	* VillainousWidowsPeak: Malachi sports a glorious one.
131	* VolcanicVeins: The big magma demon, naturally.
132	* WarIsGlorious: In the intro it's clear Solomon Kane ''really'' loves his work. That is until he meets a reaper.
133	* WarIsHell: After recounting his own personal experience, William Crowthorn informs his son that the bloodshed of battle and taking another's life is far from glorious.
134	* WhiteMaskOfDoom: The Masked Rider.
135	* WickedWitch: Pretty much your classic ugly hag, complete with cackling.
136	* AWizardDidIt: As no amount of herbal medical techniques [[spoiler:can mend the devastating bone, muscle, and nerve damage having your hands nailed to a cross would do, especially in less than a few days]], the movie pretty much [[HandWave handwaves]] the miracle of [[spoiler:Solomon's ''100% fully functional'' hands as some strange pagan magic]]. Then again, they did HandWave it, which is more than most film do....
137	* YouCantFightFate: Solomon is pretty much cursed to a life of battle. The Devil's Reaper informs Kane he is damned and it's pointless to fight it.

Context Film / SolomonKane