Season of the Witch

Season of the Witch follows a Crusader and his hardened companion as they stumble back to a homeland scarred by the Black Death, a land where fear is nearly as dangerous as the disease. The Church commands them to transport a woman accused of witchcraft to a distant abbey, where monks plan a ritual they believe might end the pestilence. The path threads through plague tents, ash covered towns, and wary monasteries, exposing mutinous factions, political maneuvering, and personal grudges. Loyalties are tested and faith questioned as the men confront coercion, doubt, and mercy in a landscape where choice weighs heavily. The film favors practical effects, rough terrain, and action, delivering a tense mood that sustains suspense without easy answers.

Directed by Dominic Sena and released in 2011, Season of the Witch stems from Bragi F. Schut's original screenplay. Nicolas Cage headlines as Behman opposite Ron Perlman, with Ulrich Thomsen and Christopher Lee joining a tense, high-stakes cast for fans.

With a budget of 40,000,000, the film earned about $91,627,228 worldwide, indicating a solid return for a midrange genre piece. The cast and period setup helped draw audiences across markets. Its release strategy included distribution and 3D presentation broadened appeal.

Critical responses were mixed, with praise for the film's brisk action and dark medieval atmosphere, while some critics criticized pacing and tonal shifts. The narrative weighs faith against superstition, duty against mercy, and the heavy cost of choices made under plague and public pressure and fear it stirs in towns.

Among genre fans the film has a modest footprint, appreciated for its stark visuals and the performances of Cage and Lee. It offers a practicable take on medieval faith and power, and while it did not redefine fantasy cinema, it adds texture to the Crusades era on screen for viewers.