Director Dominic Sena's muddled medieval drama can't decide whether it's a supernatural action movie or a dark demonic horror. Crusaders-with-a-conscience Nicolas Cage and Ron Perlman return home from a lengthy quest to find Europe in the grip of the Black Death. They are then charged by a pustule-faced cardinal (Christopher Lee) to transport an accused witch (Claire Foy) to a remote monastery where an ancient ritual will hopefully end the plague. It becomes apparent all too soon that there's more to the mission than they've been told, and while the embattled knights face many dangers en route, including possessed wolves and evil mind-games that pit them against each other, none creates much excitement or empathy. Despite some terrific locations in Hungary and the Austrian Alps, this ho-hum 14th-century history lesson remains routine and unconvincing right up to its all-hell-breaks-loose CGI-heavy finale. It skirts religious issues and steers clear of anything too scary, and a climactic cry of "We're going to need more holy water!" only prompts the giggles.

A 14th century Crusader returns with his comrade to a homeland devastated by the Black Plague. The Church commands the two knights to transport a witch to a remote abbey, where monks will perform a ritual in hopes of ending the pestilence.