History Film / SolomonKane

* 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 nothing while half of the West Country is burning to the ground by a murderous warlord with Satanic overtones is rather farfetched. (Especially since her mother was reputedly a witch...)

* BigBad: Malachi. [[spoiler:There is a case for the devil himself being the true threat.]]

* TheMusketeer: Solomon.

* {{Satan}}

* SomethingCompletelyDifferent: For some reason [[spoiler: the Devil has Malachi send a 30ft lava monster through a giant portal to kill 6 foot Solomon. Rather than, for instance, the Reaper that Kane nearly killed himself escaping from last time. It looks more like something you hit repeatedly until [[CriticalExistenceFailure its HP bar reaches zero]] than, say, a movie villain.]].

* AnachronismStew: Okay, sure, it's hardly meant as a real historical film, but still, a puritan praying before a decorated crucifix just isn't right.

* BeyondTheImpossible
** Kane somehow manages to [[spoiler:''un-crucify'' himself from a cross]]
** Afterwards he [[spoiler:heals himself with some kind of pagan magic thing despite {{God}}, devils and stuff being real.]]

* ChildrenAreInnocent: Subverted. [[spoiler:Turns out that child who survived the witch attack was the witch in disguise after all. Solomon wasn't fooled, however.]]

* CrucifiedHeroShot: Solomon is literally crucified, though he escapes.

* TheDulcineaEffect: Solomon for Meredith.

* EvilSorcerer: Malachi.
** SorcerousOverlord

* 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....

* 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.]]
* HoldingOutForAHero: The local fighters don't fight back until Kane leads them. On a larger scale, what the hell are the armies of Queen Elizabeth the First doing while half of the West Country is burning to the ground? Although there wasn't so much of an army per se in the early 1600s... but there would have been badly trained (and drunk) local militias available for hire. If you want an army, you'd have to wait about another 40 years. Never-the-less Elizabeth I would surely have done ''something'' and since her mother was reputedly a witch....

* [[spoiler:LukeIAmYourFather: The Masked Rider is Solomon's brother.]]

* SequelHook: The film is after all a blatant origin story. Apparently a trilogy is planned.

* SomethingCompletelyDifferent: For some reason [[spoiler: the Devil has Malachi send a 30ft lava monster through a giant portal to kill 6 foot Solomon. Rather than...oh I dunno...the Reaper that Kane nearly killed himself escaping from last time. It looks more like something you hit repeatedly until [[CriticalExistenceFailure its HP bar reaches zero]] than, say, a movie villain.]].

* EatingTheEyeCandy: Meredith not-very-subtly hides behind a tree in order to check out Solomon when he's [[ShirtlessScene bathing in the river]]. Helps that the title character is portrayed by the very handsome James Purefoy.

* AlwaysSaveTheGirl: Solomon sees Meredith as the key to his salvation.

* EatingTheEyeCandy: Meredith not-very-subtly hides behind a tree in order to check out Solomon when he's [[ShirtlessScene bathing in the river]].

* IWillFightNoMoreForever: Solomon vows off violence forever. It doesn't last.

* CameBackWrong: [[spoiler:Marcus Kane, who is nothing more than Malachi's slave.]]

* {{Badass}}: Solomon. Complete with BadassLongcoat.

Released early 2010, ''Solomon Kane'' is based loosely on Creator/RobertEHoward's character 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 treasure within is vast but much to his horror Solomon finds he is not alone.

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."

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.

The film itself is unashamedly over-the-top with some gritty realism thrown inbetween the demons and witches being slain. Its dark atmosphere and James Purefoy's lead performance have 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.

'''Solomon;''' She ''is'' my soul

Released early 2010, '''''Solomon Kane''''' is based loosely on Robert E. Howard's character 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 treasure within is vast but much to his horror Solomon finds he is not alone.

* HeroicSacrifice: [[spoiler:In the end Solomon's willingness to sacrifice his soul to save Meredith ''even if it means his own damnation'', is [[YouFailReligiousStudiesForever exactly what redeems him]]]].

* MenAreTheExpendableGender: Played very straight when [[spoiler:the Crowthorn family is set upon by evil thugs and all the males, the father, eldest son and ''even the youngest'' Edward, are brutally killed. The two women, Mrs. Crowthorn and Meredith, both survive the movie]].

* 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]].

* 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/ConanTheBarbarian Arnold movie.]]

* PayEvilUntoEvil: Essentially Solomon's ''Modus operandi''.

* 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 infront of an ornate crucifix. Both Kane and the Crowthorns are Puritans, but this fact receives very little screentime.
* DamselInDistress: Meredith Crowthorn
* DarkAndTroubledPast: Solomon of course.

* EvilSorcerer: Malachi

* BullyingADragon: A group of thugs harrass 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]].

* 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 of died]] things might have turned out for the ''better''.

* InfantImmortality: Cruelly averted.[[spoiler: The Crowthorns' youngest family member, Edward, is the first to die by the hands of Malachi's mooks.]]

http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/solomon-kane-01.jpg
[[caption-width:450:He's reformed, honest.]]

-> ''If I kill you, I am bound for hell. It is a price I shall gladly pay.''

Released early 2010, the film is based loosely on Robert E. Howard's character 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 treasure within is vast but much to his horror Solomon finds he is not alone.

Well worth taking a look at the original inspiration, SolomonKane, along with his creator, author Creator/RobertEHoward.

!!This film contains examples of:

-->'''Malachi''': Why do you care for her? You came here to save your soul.
-->'''Solomon''': She ''is'' my soul

* 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]].
* AntiHero (Type II): Solomon Kane.

* BadAss: Solomon. Complete with BadassLongcoat.

--> '''Solomon''' If I kill you, I am bound for hell. It is a price I shall gladly pay.
* BeyondTheImpossible:
** Kane somehow manages to [[spoiler: ''un-crucify'' himself from a cross]]
** Afterwards he [[spoiler: heals himself with some kind of pagan magic thing despite {{God}}, devils and stuff being real.]]
* BigBad: Malachi. [[spoiler: There is a case for the devil himself being the true threat.]]
* BloodKnight: When talking of the hardships of war Solomon confesses this to William Crowthorn.
-->'''Solomon''': I was never more at home than I was at battle.

* 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.]]
* 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]].
* CameBackWrong: [[spoiler: Marcus Kane, who is nothing more than Malachi's slave.]]
* ChildrenAreInnocent: Subverted. [[spoiler: Turns out that child who survived the witch attack was the witch in disguise after all. Solomon wasn't fooled however.]]
* 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 infront of an ornate crucifix. Both Kane and the Crowthorns are Puritans, but this fact recieves very little screentime.
* DamselInDistress: Meredith Crowthorn.
** 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]].

* 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 and lands to heal his eldest son.]]
* {{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]].

** 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]].

* 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...

* HeroicSacrifice: [[spoiler: In the end Solomon's willingness to sacrifice his soul to save Meredith ''even if it means his own damnation'', is [[YouFailReligiousStudiesForever exactly what redeems him]]]].
* HeyItsThatGuy: We have {{Rome}}'s Mark Antony trying to save [[Film/PeterPan Wendy]] to redeem his soul.

* HoldingOutForAHero: The local fighters don't fight back until Kane leads them. On a larger scale, what the hell are the armies of Queen Elizabeth the First doing while half of the West Country is burning to the ground?
** There wasn't so much of an army per se in the early 1600s... but there would have been badly trained (and drunk) local militias available for hire. If you want an army, you'd have to wait about another 40 years.
*** Never-the-less Elizabeth I would surely have done ''something'' and since her mother was reputedly a witch.....
* HumanNotepad: 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.]]

* 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 of died]] things might have turned out for the ''better''.
* 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]].

* JerkAss: Marcus Kane comes across as a bully toward young Solomon. Solomon himself is very much one during the intro.

* MadeOfIron: Solomon: in the final fight [[spoiler: he gets a sword run straight through his shoulder, but is up and swinging in mere moments]].

* MenAreTheExpendableGender: Played very straight when [[spoiler: the Crowthorn family is set upon by evil thugs and all the males, the father, eldest son and ''even the youngest'' Edward, are brutally killed. The two women, Mrs. Crowthorn and Meredith, both survive the movie]].

* 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]].

* SinisterMinister: Father Michael. [[spoiler: Driven insane by his congregation turning into demons, 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]].
* 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]].

* ThrowingYourSwordAlwaysWorks: Well that's one [[spoiler: witch]] who should have spent more time ducking and less time taunting. Sword to the face...ouch.
* TrailersAlwaysSpoil: That [[spoiler: massive fire-demon-thing hasn't]] showed up yet and it's the final battle...
* 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]].

* WhatCouldHaveBeen: Christopher Lambert was offered the lead role at some stage.

* 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...
** To be fair the nails were the same size all the way through, no flat top. It would be painful to remove but not impossible. However the healing is still impossible.
* 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.

-----

* 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...
** To be fair the nails were the same size all the way through, no flat top. It would be painful to remove but not impossible. However the healing is still impossible.

* WhatCouldHaveBeen: Christopher Lambert was offered the lead role at some stage.

* DidNotDoTheResearch: At the time in which the film is set, Meredith was a ''male'' name.

* PrisonerOfZendaExit: Kane escapes from the Devil's Reaper by diving through a stained glass window into the ocean below.