The Reckoning

England, 1665, the year of “The Great Plague.” A time when these mass deaths and Pestilence were being blamed on witchcraft. The Reckoning is a Thriller centered around this dark chapter of history. Charlotte Kirk (“Ocean’s Eight”) plays Grace Haverstock, a mother to an infant daughter who becomes the victim of violent interrogation when she is accused of being a witch.

The story is reminiscent of the Salem Witch Trials and how personal politics and mob mentality led to deadly persecution and all the fear that came with it. The Reckoning is an iron clad revenge story. Director Neil Marshall and Cinematographer Luke Bryant were able to conjure up striking and surreal visuals. These moments capture the grotesque grandeur of a medieval painting.

You may have read about serious accusations against Charlotte Kirk and Neil Marshall, who are engaged. I am not here to talk about that, but rather the art. Neil Marshall, whose past credits include The Descent and Dog Soldiers, wrote the screenplay for The Reckoning along with Charlotte Kirk and Edward Evers-Swindell. This is the first produced screenplay from Charlotte Kirk.

The movie starts strong, with pivotal events that cut dramatically back and forth through time. This leaves Grace in a vulnerable position that quickly escalates. Danger and tensions rise as this well paced narrative plays out.

Overall, the production value, tone and story are top quality. The grime and primitive lifestyle of this time period are clearly felt. In a few moments however, the behavior of characters were not believable in the middle of life and death situations.

The Reckoning was well cast with actors who boldly portrayed this dark and challenging subject. Among the cast are Joe Anderson (“Abattoir”, “Hercules”) and Sean Pertwee. If you are a fan of period pieces, especially if they in-directly relate to the politically charged climate today, The Reckoning is one to watch.