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The Headsman

  • 2005
  • R
  • 1h 55m
IMDb RATING
6.0/10
1.1K
YOUR RATING
The Headsman (2005)
Home Video Trailer from MTI
Play trailer1:50
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11 Photos
Drama

The story of time-tested loyalty of two friends during Europe's 16th-century Inquisition. Orphans Martin and Georg bond as children, but walk very different paths as adults. Georg follows hi... Read allThe story of time-tested loyalty of two friends during Europe's 16th-century Inquisition. Orphans Martin and Georg bond as children, but walk very different paths as adults. Georg follows his calling to join the church, while Martin becomes an army captain. When fate places Marti... Read allThe story of time-tested loyalty of two friends during Europe's 16th-century Inquisition. Orphans Martin and Georg bond as children, but walk very different paths as adults. Georg follows his calling to join the church, while Martin becomes an army captain. When fate places Martin in the role of executioner, he must choose between friendship and fundamentalist doctrin... Read all

  • Director
    • Simon Aeby
  • Writers
    • Steve Attridge
    • Susanne Freund
  • Stars
    • Nikolaj Coster-Waldau
    • Peter McDonald
    • Anastasia Griffith
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • IMDb RATING
    6.0/10
    1.1K
    YOUR RATING
    • Director
      • Simon Aeby
    • Writers
      • Steve Attridge
      • Susanne Freund
    • Stars
      • Nikolaj Coster-Waldau
      • Peter McDonald
      • Anastasia Griffith
    • 14User reviews
    • 7Critic reviews
  • See production info at IMDbPro
    • Awards
      • 1 nomination total

    Videos1

    The Headsman
    Trailer 1:50
    The Headsman

    Photos10

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    Top cast35

    Edit
    Nikolaj Coster-Waldau
    Nikolaj Coster-Waldau
    • Martin
    Peter McDonald
    Peter McDonald
    • Georg
    Anastasia Griffith
    Anastasia Griffith
    • Anna
    Steven Berkoff
    Steven Berkoff
    • Inquisitor
    Eddie Marsan
    Eddie Marsan
    • Fabio
    Julie Cox
    Julie Cox
    • Margaretha von Fry
    John Shrapnel
    John Shrapnel
    • Archbishop
    Lee Ingleby
    Lee Ingleby
    • Bernhard
    Maria Hofstätter
    Maria Hofstätter
    • Maria
    Brian Pettifer
    Brian Pettifer
    • Judge
    Richard Durden
    Richard Durden
    • Anabaptist
    Mel Raido
    Mel Raido
    • Spaniard
    Paul Brooke
    Paul Brooke
    • Mayor
    Leon Silver
    • Archbishop's Secretary
    Patrick Godfrey
    Patrick Godfrey
    • Bertram
    Michael Mendl
    Michael Mendl
    • Veit
    Péter Kertész
    • Lord Waldauf
    Joe Mason
    Joe Mason
    • Jakob
    • Director
      • Simon Aeby
    • Writers
      • Steve Attridge
      • Susanne Freund
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

    User reviews14

    6.01.1K
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    Featured reviews

    8FlorianSchirner

    Very good acting - great story

    I love historical films, even the bad ones. But this movie is one of the best. It hits the dark and depressing atmosphere in the shadow of the all-mighty catholic church well. The acting is on a high level by all actors, especially Coaster-Waldau and McDonald. Coaster-Waldau seems to be getting more and more to a main actor in movies. After seeing him alongside Bettany (another shooting star) in Wimbledon and Firewall, I was expecting a lot. And I was not disappointed. But I was most surprised by McDonald, never heard of him before, and his acting as a troubled prior torn between his duty and friendship.

    So if you want to see a great movie set in the middle-ages, buy or rent both "The Reckoning" and "The Headsman".
    6djhscan

    Intriguing, but too short period piece

    Shadow of the Sword is a good film with an interesting and different story that paints a picture of the Catholic Church and its cruel inquisition.

    However, it doesn't give much of an understanding of those who were being persecuted, the Anabaptists (or other groups that are mentioned without being explained). It would have been a clear improvement if we were given a deeper portrayal of especially the Anabaptists as well as the other main characters.

    The film should have been a little longer to give these better descriptions. It has a lot of good parts, but it is missing some depth in its character descriptions. The story is quite gripping and strong and it is a great period piece, but it lacks some depth and should give the viewer a better understanding of the background and develop the characters more.
    8Stevellion

    Good movie based on executioner in the middle ages

    I got this movie to watch without any preconceived ideas at all, no reviews to consider, but a good IMDb rating.

    The intro scene caught my attention and helped set the mood and character of the two leading roles for further into the movie.

    I liked the level of detail and griminess that would have been appropriate at that time and the overall setting both inside and outside the town. I'd say this was perhaps more realistic and less Hollywood than other similar period movies, such as perhaps Braveheart.

    Particularly, the feeling of social exclusion for a looked down upon yet 'approved' role was quite interesting, especially in comparison to the punishable 'unapproved' yet socially acceptable roles.

    Overall, this movie is one that I'd recommend and will likely watch again.
    5mesaxi

    There's a decent movie in there somewhere

    This movie gave me whiplash. It started off with about a History Channel Reenactment quality, then got pretty good through the middle, and then ended like an average B-Movie. I feel like the main issue was editing, there were moments where I laughed out loud. Like when the dude's life flashed before his eyes and they threw in a clip of the sex scene from earlier in the movie (a "we're definitely using that again" moment). I was expecting a movie more sympathetic to the church, but I liked the angle they took instead. Berkoff was doing some Star Trek bad guy acting, Coaster-Waldau was pretty good, and Eddie Marsen is always a pleasure.
    7searchanddestroy-1

    Hangman's balade

    Or Executioner's odyssey, this rather accurate history tale where action packed scenes are not priority but instead a good character depiction. Good settings, production design, some kind of details which you may find in most of series related to middle age period. Above most of Eastern Europe historical movies, submerged with CGI effects and lousy acting and directing. I did not see such a good picture since FLESH AND BLOOD, but Paul Verhoeven's film was more bloody and brutal. The common between those two features are the accuracy, though I am not a historian. But I am sure that most history buffs will be delighted to watch this film. Not so many movies were dedicated to heretic eras.

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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      Rather unusually, instead of listing all the cast members in the end credits, it mentions all the top players and then reads "and many many more".
    • Connections
      Referenced in Movie Friends - Eine Videothek stellt sich vor (2013)
    • Soundtracks
      Laetatus Sum
      Music by Ludovico Grossi Da Viadana

      Performed by Coro Palestrina

      Directed by Piergiuseppe Snozzi

      Published by Coro Palestrina

      Licensed by kind permission from Coro Palestrina

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    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • January 20, 2006 (Austria)
    • Countries of origin
      • United Kingdom
      • Austria
      • Switzerland
      • Luxembourg
      • Hungary
      • Germany
    • Official site
      • Official site
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • Shadow of the Sword
    • Filming locations
      • Steiermark, Austria
    • Production companies
      • Allegro Film
      • Eurofilm Stúdió
      • Film and Music Entertainment (F&ME)
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

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    • Budget
      • $8,500,000 (estimated)
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Tech specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 55 minutes
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • Dolby Digital
    • Aspect ratio
      • 2.35 : 1

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