Score: 1/5
Perhaps things would have been different with the fifth or sixth sons, because “Seventh Son” doesn’t work at all.
The film centers on Tom Ward, played by Ben Barnes, who is recruited by Jeff Bridges’ Master Gregory to defeat Julianne Moore’s evil witch Mother Malkin after she escapes confinement. Alicia Vikander also stars as a witch named Alice.
Moore acts as a poor man’s Maleficent. Jeff Bridges puts on a strange fake voice, which is simply distracting. Barnes and Vikander aren’t bad, but forgettable, as is the rest of the film.
Everything in this movie comes from other, better movies. It’s a very poor hybrid of the “Harry Potter” series, “The Lord of the Rings” trilogy and every other fantasy movie or TV show of the last decade.
Of the many things “Seventh Son” does wrong, the characters are close to the top of the list. They are boring, one dimensional and impossible to like. The movie makes it hard for the audience to care about any of them.
Another issue in the film is the poorly established world. What makes the “Harry Potter” series and “The Lord of the Rings” trilogy great, other than characters the audience can actually care about, is the characters’ universe. The audience is aware of what can and can’t happen, and is given an explanation if something previously thought to be impossible within the universe does happen.
In this film, it is unknown how the witches’ powers work and what their limits are. They apparently have no limits, as Moore can turn into a dragon-like creature as well as a killer interior designer. Moore’s character redecorates a run-down, desolate room by simply putting her hand up.
“Seventh Son” also has one of the most cliched, dull romantic subplots ever. Barnes and Vikander are serviceable actors, but they don’t have a lick of chemistry. Then again, chemistry doesn’t really come through when the characters literally meet and are already in love. Barnes meets her character and five minutes later they are ready to make out. Not to mention one of the most ridiculous parts of the film, the blue spark.
Vikander’s character is swimming in a lake when Barnes sees her. She appears to be naked, and tells Barnes to turn around. He does, and she gets out of the water fully clothed and dry for some reason. Barnes turns back around, and touches her hand. Then, a blue spark between their hands appears. According to her character, a blue spark appears when a witch is with the man she’s supposed to end up with in the moonlight. The spark is referred to repeatedly throughout the movie, and each time it becomes more and more comical.
The romantic subplot is unnecessary, and perhaps if more attention were paid to the actual story, “Seventh Son” wouldn’t be as bad as it is. Overall, the film is a predictable, cliched mess everyone should skip.